Jane Addams Senior Caucus

Ms. F isn't leaving.

Why not?

Her landlord exposed her and her neighbors to asbestos, requiring everyone to temporarily relocate. After first promising to test asbestos air concentration in the units, they are now refusing.

The Illinois EPA identifies the risks of asbestos as "Major health effects- include lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen), and asbestosis (a long-term, progressive lung disease)." Noting that, "The greater and longer the exposure, the higher the chance of harmful health effects. Symptoms of asbestos-related illness can take many years to appear, and these conditions can be difficult to diagnose."

This is why air quality testing is CRITICAL. Residents could become symptomatic or ill years after this exposure and without the necessary documentation they will have less tools for diagnosis and holding the proper people accountable.

This accountability is exactly why the landlord, Essence is avoiding this demand. They believe that relocation and basic cleaning is enough. We demand that they take responsibility for why this occurred, and for the potential long term health impacts on their tenants

However, Ms. F can not wait forever. We are currently looking to raise $1,000 for this test to be done.

Click here to donate: https://donorbox.org/jane-addams-senior-caucus-donation

🚨 Tenants Deserve Safety, Not Silence 🚨
On April 3rd, residents delivered a clear list of demands to management — after ongoing issues were ignored. These aren’t optional. They’re necessary.
Before ANY relocation for asbestos exposure, we demand:
• Air quality testing BEFORE residents leave
• A clear, written relocation plan — reviewed with tenants
• Transparent test dates + shared results for ALL units
• Answers on what caused the exposure
• Clarity on when (and if) we can return
• Access to mail + packages
• Compensation for damaged or stolen belongings
• Safe, accessible relocation near transit + schools (or travel support)
• The right to bring support animals
• 24/7 security for our homes + belongings
• Mold remediation included in ALL rehab plans
• A relocation agreement signed by residents BEFORE anything begins
💥 We will not move without protections. We will not accept uncertainty.

Building Commissioner Hopkins and city attorney (now judge) Steve Mckenzie lied to tenants at Ellis Lakeview. After promising to oppose a deal that bypassed the Tenant Association, they completely flipped their position in court.

Why did they lie? A company called Standard Communities is trying to buy Ellis Lakeview without any signed agreement on basic needs: routine maintenance, trash collection, and emergency relocation plans. In fact, they threatened to walk if they had to, so the City caved at the last minute. They decided it was in the ""best interest"" of tenants for the sale and ""rehab"" to go ahead.

But recent history proves we can't just trust ""reputable"" buyers to deliver:
❌ Waukegan: Tenants lost hot water and security after a similar sale. bit.ly/4emkq2X
❌ Aurora: Tenants faced asbestos exposure and two-month delays on basic repairs. bit.ly/fox-shore-apts-epa
❌ Pullman, Chicago: Tenants were relocated into units without functioning showers.

The Bottom Line:
The Tenant Association isn't ""blocking"" progress—they are demanding accountability. Ellis Lakeview tenants deserve a buyer who puts their safety in writing. We are calling on the City to stop the ""trust us"" narrative and start protecting the people who actually live in these buildings.

Lamont J. Robinson Chicago Mayor's Office Chicago Department of Buildings Steven Q. McKenzie for Cook County Judge

Building Commissioner Hopkins and city attorney (now judge) Steve Mckenzie lied to tenants at Ellis Lakeview. After promising to oppose a deal that shut out the Tenant Association, they completely flip flopped in Court.

Why did they lie? A landlord called Standard Communities is trying to buy Ellis Lakeview while refusing any agreement on basic needs: Routine maintenance, trash collection, and emergency relocation plans. In fact, they threatened to walk if they had to. So the City caved at the last minute, disguising their cowardice in the ""best interests"" of tenants.

Tenants know their own best interests. They demand a signed guarantee of basic living standards:

✅ Routine maintenance
✅ Reliable trash pickup
✅ A signed plan for emergency relocation

Lamont J. Robinson, Chicago Mayor's Office, Chicago Department of Buildings, Steven Q. McKenzie for Cook County Judge

Building Commissioner Hopkins and city attorney (now judge) Steve Mckenzie LIED to tenants at Ellis Lakeview. After promising to oppose a deal that shut out the Tenant Association, they completely flip flopped in Court.

Because of their cowardice, tenants have to just hope that the new landlord will follow through on their promises. But hope is not a strategy, other landlords promising big rehabs have routinely failed on their promises:

❌ Waukegan: Tenants lost reliable hot water and onsite security after a similar sale. bit.ly/4emkq2X
❌ Aurora: Tenants faced asbestos exposure and two-month delays on basic repairs. bit.ly/fox-shore-apts-epa
❌ Pullman, Chicago: Tenants were relocated into units without functioning showers.

Tenants return to Court on April 22nd and will not allow a deal to ends the Code Enforcement Case without guaranteeing basic protections: routine maintenance, trash collection, and emergency relocation if the water, hear or elevators shut down.

Lamont J. Robinson, Chicago Mayor's Office Chicago Department of Buildings Steven Q. McKenzie for Cook County Judge

Building Commissioner Hopkins and city attorney (now judge) Steve Mckenzie lied to tenants at Ellis Lakeview. After promising to oppose a deal that bypassed the Tenant Association, they completely flipped their position in court.

Why did they lie? A company called Standard Communities is trying to buy Ellis Lakeview without any signed agreement on basic needs: routine maintenance, trash collection, and emergency relocation plans. In fact, they threatened to walk if they had to, so the City caved at the last minute. They decided it was in the ""best interest"" of tenants for the sale and ""rehab"" to go ahead.

But recent history proves we can't just trust ""reputable"" buyers to deliver:
❌ Waukegan: Tenants lost hot water and security after a similar sale. bit.ly/4emkq2X
❌ Aurora: Tenants faced asbestos exposure and two-month delays on basic repairs. bit.ly/fox-shore-apts-epa
❌ Pullman, Chicago: Tenants were relocated into units without functioning showers.

The Bottom Line:
The Tenant Association isn't ""blocking"" progress—they are demanding accountability. Ellis Lakeview tenants deserve a buyer who puts their safety in writing. We are calling on the City to stop the ""trust us"" narrative and start protecting the people who actually live in these buildings.

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We are not done fighting, whether in the hallway, or in the courtroom. Five years of litigation and tenant actions, and still no Consent Decree that meets tenants’ basic need for emergency temporary relocation.

Despite telling us in a March 25th meeting that she would oppose a Consent Decree without these terms, she did the exact opposite and supported it in Court less than a week later.

This relocation support is essential for elderly tenants and families facing critical issues such as loss of heat or broken elevators—both of which JASC successfully addressed in our buildings this past year.

Chicago Department of BuildingsChicago Mayor's Office@lamontjrobinson Stand with constituents, not developers.

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