Whitehaven Residents Demand Change: Potholes and Water Leaks on the Agenda
Residents of a mobile home community in Whitehaven, Memphis, are raising their voices in a unified call for improvements as they grapple with ongoing issues that have become a source of frustration. Over a month ago, nearly 200 residents filed a petition demanding action from the property management. However, as time passes, many feel their concerns have been largely ignored.
Empty Promises and Unattended Issues
Kassandra Garibay and her boyfriend Juan Contreras are one couple among many who are not backing down until their concerns are addressed. They’ve been residents at Wheel Estate for four long years and are seeking simple yet necessary repairs, like fixing water leaks and repaving those troublesome potholes.
“In the four years we’ve lived here, we’ve always had trouble kind of communicating with the office,” Garibay explained. It’s a feeling echoed by many in the community who feel their pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears. When they attempt to connect with the office that’s meant to assist them, they’re often met with empty chairs at the office desk.
Communication Breakdown and Basic Needs
Garibay further laments the communication troubles, stating, “They claim they have these office hours, but majority of the time when we do try and go, they’re never there.” It’s not just a matter of inconvenience; it impacts their daily living conditions. While Garibay mentioned they haven’t personally dealt with severe water leaks, she acknowledged that the situation affects all residents, especially when inconsistency in water supply becomes a reality.
“They did something to it, but honestly it was just a temporary fix,” she shared. When the rains came, the potholes returned, leaving residents feeling hopeless about the progress, or lack thereof, that’s been made to improve the situation.
Frustration Mounts as Costs Accumulate
The water supply issues have caused significant inconvenience, with residents occasionally going without it for up to five hours. Garibay expressed her displeasure, “It’s really troublesome for us.” Meanwhile, Contreras has been facing a different kind of pain — the financial strain of car repairs caused by the poorly maintained roads. “Man, a couple of hundred bucks already,” he lamented, expressing his frustration over the financial burden that these potholes have created.
A Glimmer of Hope or More of the Same?
Despite the frustrations, there is the hope of change on the horizon. Last month, officials from the City of Memphis code enforcement cited the property for a water leak, leading Roots Management Group, the owners of Wheel Estate, to announce plans for a new water main aimed at avoiding future leaks. In a letter to residents, they mentioned they are considering adjusting the community manager’s availability on-site to ensure better communication.
The community is holding its breath as Wheel Estate gears up to be addressed in environmental court this week. Many residents are anxiously hoping that the court hearing will pave the way for the changes they’ve been yearning for.
A Community United
As the dust settles from the ongoing issues, Garibay and Contreras represent a unified front among the residents of Wheel Estate — determined to stand firm until their voices are heard and their living conditions are improved. “We will not quit until our concerns are addressed,” Garibay asserted, embodying the spirit of resilience found within this community.
In the heart of Whitehaven, the residents are finished waiting for change. They want to see action, and they’re banding together to ensure their demands do not go unheard any longer. Only time will tell if their fervent pursuit will yield the results they have been desperately seeking.
