DISPLACED JACKSON HEIGHTS TENANTS
MARCH FOR ACCESS TO THEIR BELONGINGS
BY DEAN MOSES
Residents of Jackson
Heights, Queens, who were
displaced by an eight-alarm
fire on April 6 marched last
week in their latest effort to
gain access to their scorched
homes.
The full weight of a fivemonth
battle was evident on the
faces of the 88th Street tenants
as they gathered on Sept. 2 at the
corner of 78th Street and 34th
Avenue for what they called a
march for dignity. With many
holding a child in one hand and
a protest sign in the other, this
rally exhibited the true diversity
of ages and ethnicities who
were unfortunately uprooted by
the spring inferno.
Now, almost six months
later, the dozens upon dozens
of families say all they want
is to retrieve their belongings
before they are tossed away.
“Over 50 families in 43
apartments still have never
re-entered once to retrieve
belongings. We’re doing this
action because it’s fundamentally
important to understand
why city agencies and the
owner have not yet come to a
consensus to salvage our belongings
at 89-07 34th Ave.,”
Angie Espino, a member of
the 89th Street Tenant Association
said.
As immigrants, those who
once resided in the apartment
building spoke of the importance
of the personal effects
they yearn to retrieve. From
photographs to trinkets, these
items that remain behind
boarded windows and police
tape are their last link not
only to their native countries,
but also to long-deceased family
members.
“We know that many apartments
have been robbed since
the fire, and that high-value
items have gone missing.
Some of our neighbors migrated
to the United States with
nothing but identifying documents
and few items that connect
to their country of birth.
After months of being displaced due to an eight-alarm fire, tenants march demanding apartment access to retrieve their belongings.
We have lost access to more
than our identity documents
in this fire that remain in the
building. We have lost pictures
of our loved ones, original
documents that will be
hard to replace, moreso during
a pandemic,” Espino said.
“An equitable opportunity to
recuperate our belongings is
the least we deserve.”
Since the fire, families
have dwelled in hotels and
shelters all across the city as
they attempt to locate affordable
housing that matched
what they once had. However,
for many this has been an
extremely difficult feat without
the access to important
documents and the economic
struggle induced by the pandemic.
Marching and chanting,
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.32 COM | SEPT. 10 - SEPT. 16, 2021
the tenants made their way
from Travers Park down to
their apartment building,
calling for Kedex Properties
(the owner), Department
of Buildings, Department of
Housing Preservation and the
development to coordinate a
plan that allows residents to
salvage their items.
The tenants are begging
for Kedex Properties to allow
them to retrieve what is rightfully
theirs and what they say
are not valuables but merely
identifying factors to their
heritage.
As the marchers descended
upon their old homes,
they were watched by several
security guards who patrol
the property day and night,
preventing anyone from gaining
access. So, in the shadow
of their lost apartments, they
admonished their landlord
for what they say is mistreatment.
Jah has lived at this location
for over 60 years with her
family. She says she was led to
believe that once the building
was deemed safe, she would be
permitted back into her home.
Since then, she stated, Kedex
Management has told all
of the tenants that nothing is
salvageable, although she and
the other tenants claim the
building’s owner was able to
retrieve his belongings.
“I am disgusted and disappointed
by how the Bolanos
family has neglected our
rights to enter our apartments,”
Jah said in anguish
over the property manager’s
lack of communication and
Photo by Dean Moses
compassion for the plight of
over 100 families.
Nube Bermejo resided at
89-07 34th Ave. for about eight
years with her husband and
three children as well as other
family members. Pleading
with the owners, Bermejo requested
that anyone who has
the power to help to please do
so.
“We ask for mercy to the
owners or to the city to please
put their hand on our heats
and give us an evacuation
plan for our belongings that
means a lot to us. It was and
is my home, and everything
left inside is still mine. We
also ask our elected officials
who are here to help us clarify
this situation that has us
feeling emotionally drained,”
Bermejo said.
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