[0:53] But
[2:01] Call the meeting to order
[2:05] at 10:01 a.m.
[2:17] or
[2:20] just for a second because they
be me.
[2:25] to right.
[2:29] was and
[2:34] All right, the meeting was
called to order at 10:01 a.m.
This is
[2:37] the Human Relations Commission
meeting of the City
[2:39] of Atlanta, today's date is
Wednesday
[2:42] March 4th, 2026.
[2:45] All right, next we're gonna move
forward with a roll call
[2:48] If we could start with
Commissioner Hunt Blackwell,
just state
[2:50] your name. Sarah
[2:54] Hunt Blackwell present Tony
Burke's present.
[2:57] Kevin Marshall present.
Personnel present
[3:02] Gabriel Clayborne Crescent. All
right, we'll next move to
[3:05] the statutory purpose of the
commission. That'll be done by
[3:08] our vice chair. The city of
Atlanta
[3:12] council created the Human
Relations Commission as a
vehicle
[3:15] for addressing illegal
discrimination in
[3:17] public accommodations, private
employment and housing within
[3:20] the city, the prohibited forms
of
[3:23] discrimination involve race,
color, creed, religion, sex
[3:26] marital status, parental status,
familial status
[3:29] sexual orientation, national
origin, gender identity
[3:33] gender expression, age,
disability, and criminal history
[3:36] Alright, perfect. Next we'll
move to the approval of
[3:39] the March meeting agenda, which
everyone should have in front
[3:42] of them. Do we have a motion to
approve
[3:46] Motion to approve. Second, All
those
[3:49] in favor? Aye. Are those opposed
[3:52] ? Any abstentions We've approved
[3:55] the March meeting agenda. Now
it's time
[3:57] for the review and acceptance of
February's minutes
[4:00] I sent those out to the
commissioners via email
[4:04] Um, do we have a motion to
approve those
[4:07] minutes or any amendments that
need to be made. Propose
amendments.
[4:11] Um, I'm proposing an amendment.
I made some
[4:13] um some updates last night, uh,
that I can recirculate. Perfect.
OK
[4:16] All right. Are you gonna email
those to us, sir
[4:20] ? Alright, perfect.
[4:35] And while we're getting those
[4:38] documents circulated. Is there
anyone here for public comment?
[4:41] by chance?
[4:45] All right? Yes
[4:47] OK. Do we want to just move
forward with public comment
[4:50] while we're waiting. All right,
let's go ahead and move forward
with public comment. Can I have
[4:53] the first individual just come
to the podium, please, and state
your
[4:56] first and last name. And please
note, Chairman
[4:59] the time that they have for
public comment. Yes, thank you
so much. You have 2 minutes
[5:02] for public comment, OK? And that
starts when you begin speaking,
all right?
[5:06] All right. You're free to go. My
name is
[5:09] Fern Scott. I am an owner at
[5:12] the Landmark Condominium at 215
[5:14] Piedmont Avenue. In addition to
myself
[5:17] being here, Miss, uh, Zita
Sarter
[5:20] is here, um, and another young
lady, Crystal
[5:23] who will speak um on her own, um
in just a
[5:26] few minutes. The reason I am
here is because
[5:29] I want to make the committee
aware of what
[5:32] is going on in terms of
[5:35] safety concerns for anybody at
the
[5:37] landmark condominium, but my
greatest fear
[5:41] as a senior is some of the
things that are transpiring
[5:43] right now in our facility. I
[5:46] have bought very graphic
pictures of
[5:49] what is going on at the landmark
I think it
[5:52] would be important to share
those. Can they be
[5:54] circulated, or should I hold
them up? I actually have a quick
question
[5:57] for you, and we could pause the
time if we can, Amaria. So we
are hearing
[6:00] uh, there is a hearing scheduled
today for Landmark. There
[6:03] was notice letter sent out to
the individuals. You
[6:06] may have been one of those
individuals. Did you receive a
notice letter for
[6:09] the hearing. I did indeed. So
actually, uh, because
[6:11] the hearing is scheduled for
today, we could see those
documents
[6:15] but I ask that you hold them
until the hearing
[6:17] starts momentarily. I'll be more
than happy to hold him if
[6:20] that's the proper protocol. Yes,
ma'am. OK
[6:23] And then everybody else is more
than welcome if you'd
[6:25] like to have a public comment,
you can, but if it's related to
the case
[6:28] I'll just ask you to hold it
until we start the case here
momentarily.
[6:31] Alright? That would be great. OK
Anybody else that wants to speak
[6:35] for public comment now? OK
[6:38] Hearing none
[6:42] we do, we didn't receive an
email
[6:44] from Commissioner Hunt Blackwell
regarding the minutes if we
could just take a
[6:47] moment to review those and see
if we
[6:49] have any proposed amendments
[6:53] to those.
[7:07] Can I, can I ask Madam Secretary
to just
[7:11] point out specifically what it
was. I read the minutes before
and I was OK with them. I
[7:14] just want to know exactly what,
uh, has been adjusted, if
[7:16] you don't mind doing that, that
would be helpful, I think.
[7:20] Absolutely. Um, I actually just
made some um
[7:24] formatting changes, um, moved
some
[7:27] um bullet points back. um, that
represented
[7:30] the Herod case and the Edgerson
Pattaway case
[7:34] I also um
[7:38] added a note under section K for
[7:41] new cases, um, that I was adding
the new applications
[7:45] um, and new cases to the
spreadsheet. Those are the
[7:48] only changes. The only thing
[7:50] that I see, uh, commissioner, as
I'm going through it, is just
[7:53] under the vice chair's updates.
D&E
[7:56] um, it looks like those
sentences just
[7:59] aren't uh complete on this
documentary. Yeah.
[8:22] That was my observations.
[8:30] I'm just continuing to take a
look
[8:33] at the
[8:36] remaining portions of the
document.
[8:44] I don't see anything else with
the exception of
[8:47] what I've pointed out, does any
other commissioner see anything
[8:50] that needs to be amended.
[8:54] And if you need more time, just
let me know.
[9:06] Sir, let me ask you this for D&E
do you know what that would
[9:09] have said or what the amendment
would
[9:11] be. I amended, um, updates to
the
[9:15] document should occur throughout
March and April. OK
[9:18] and then I
[9:20] do not
[9:24] I do not know what what the end
of D would have I
[9:27] would have been um D would've
[9:29] been uh, there's a the
[9:32] statute as it's currently
written, doesn't
[9:35] say who, uh, is supposed to com
uh appoint
[9:38] which commissioner. So I think
they, they legal had to work out
[9:40] or we were supposed to get with
legal and figure out who
[9:43] gets the additional appointment
for
[9:46] the commissioners who did the
who
[9:49] made it. That's that's what. I
thought that's what it was, but
I
[9:51] wasn't for sure. OK, thank you.
Alright
[9:54] do we have a motion to approve
with
[9:57] those amendments. I move that we
approve the
[10:00] uh February minutes, uh, as
amended.
[10:03] Second all those in favor
[10:06] ? All those opposed? Any
abstentions? Alright
[10:09] the February minutes are
approved. Up next on
[10:12] the agenda is the hearing for
Nadir Penjwani et
[10:16] al versus Landmark Condominium
[10:19] Moners Association Board. I'm
gonna do a roll call as it
relates
[10:22] to the complainants. If you're
here, uh, when I say your name
[10:25] please just stand up and just
say present so that we have it
[10:28] for the record. Um, when
[10:31] you come to the mic to say it.
We are just as
[10:34] an announcement for folks here,
we are recording today's hearing
[10:37] We just always like to let you
know that that is occurring.
[10:40] All right, Nadir Panjwani
[10:45] Alright, and just for the record
the
[10:48] commission did receive
[10:50] last night, basically yesterday
evening, we
[10:54] received an email from Nair
Panjwani asking
[10:56] the commission to dismiss her
complaint
[10:59] without prejudice, uh, which
basically means she doesn't want
[11:02] to move forward with her hearing
[11:05] today as a body, we do have the
ability, well, we do need
[11:08] to vote so that there's finality
or closure as it
[11:11] relates to that. Is there a
motion
[11:14] uh, to dismiss her case without
prejudice, without prejudice
just means that
[11:17] she can bring the case at a
later time. Oh.
[11:21] Yes ma'am I'd
[11:23] like to. Sure.
[11:26] But no. OK
[11:30] well, so we're not in public
comments, so you can't say
anything right now
[11:33] I'm part of Are
[11:35] you Panjwani? I am not Nadir
Penjwani, but Nadir Panjwani is
[11:39] not the the lead over this
[11:42] case. So hold on for one second.
So that being said,
[11:45] there's still other cases that
can move forward, but she just
asked that
[11:48] hers be dismissed. So we have to
vote on that as a
[11:51] commission. Well we're part of
that we're, we're under
[11:54] the umbrella. We're with the the
landmark, so that the purposes
[11:57] of me saying that is So at
[12:00] this point in time, because
we're not in public comment
[12:02] we can't hear public comment,
but the remainder of the cases
[12:06] will be able to move forward. Uh
we would just be closing
[12:09] her case. OK, it's a man, by the
way, but
[12:12] um, Nadia Panjuwai is a man.
He's a man. OK
[12:15] you're welcome. It's fine. Um,
so are you saying
[12:18] that high? Are you saying that
we
[12:20] can still give our Yes, thank
you
[12:23] thank you, thank you. You're
right, so we'll move
[12:26] forward with the motion to
dismiss Nadir Panjawani's
[12:29] case without prejudice. Is there
a motion I
[12:33] move to dismiss that the case
without prejudice
[12:35] Is there a second? All those in
[12:38] favor? All those opposed? Any
[12:41] abstentions? Alright, that case
has been dismissed without
[12:44] prejudice. Crystal Augustine, is
that individual here today?
[12:49] All right, thank you Hey ma'am,
would you like
[12:51] to move forward with your
hearing today?
[12:57] Yes. Yes, OK, thank you.
[13:00] Bern Scott
[13:06] Present. Thank you so much.
Would you like to move forward
with your hearing
[13:09] today? All right. Thank you. And
the reason why we're having
everybody come up to
[13:12] the microphone is that this
proceeding is being recorded, so
[13:15] we want to make sure that we get
your statements on the
[13:18] record. Jeffrey Cave
[13:21] absent.
[13:25] Was it Nicky Bugs
[13:34] All right, would you like to
move forward with your hearing
today? I would
[13:42] And Zeta Stanley Sartor.
[13:48] Do we have a, uh, Candice, do we
have a mic
[13:52] that's movable by chance? OK,
just
[13:56] here. All right, would you like
to move forward with your
[13:59] hearing today? I am not going to
be able to
[14:03] speak because of fear of
retribution. Yes
[14:07] ma'am. So are you, are you
asking that we move forward with
it? Are you asking that
[14:10] the matter be dismissed or how
would you like for us to
[14:14] proceed? OK,. Is there a motion
[14:17] to dismiss the case of Zetta
Stanley Satter?
[14:20] Moved to dismiss the case of
[14:22] Zettaani Tarter. All right, do
we have a second? Second
[14:25] All those in favor? Aye. All
those opposed
[14:28] ? Any abstentions? Do we have a
representative
[14:30] from Landmark Condominium
Homeowners Association Board
present.
[14:35] All right, Seno representative.
It
[14:39] looks like we're moving forward
with the hearing for
[14:44] Crystal Augustin
[14:46] Bern Scott and Nicky Bugs.
[14:51] OK
[14:55] at this point in time, we will
have
[14:58] opening statements. I ask you,
it's up to
[15:01] you all since they're
technically different cases. I
[15:04] I would like if there could be
one individual potentially to
make
[15:06] an opening statement on behalf
of the group. I think that would
be the
[15:10] most productive Is there
[15:12] a representative that could
potentially speak on behalf of
the group
[15:15] for opening statements. Chair,
point of privilege, let's
announce
[15:18] the timing um before we
[15:20] ask folks to come up so that
they can just organize
[15:23] themselves appropriately. Thank
you.
[15:26] Let's see
[15:29] All right, so for opening
statements,
[15:33] traditionally the complaint gets
5 minutes.
[15:37] So for those if you wanna break
them up, you can if you want to
[15:40] have a representative just speak
on behalf of the group for those
5 minutes. You
[15:43] could do that as well. They can
also
[15:46] have an individual opening
statement for
[15:49] each case if you desire. That is
also part of the structure. And
[15:52] then for each witness, I would
go ahead and tell them
[15:55] And then for each witness that's
called, uh, you
[15:58] have 10 minutes in all to
present, uh, those witnesses.
[16:04] We are also happy to answer any
questions, just to make sure the
process
[16:07] feels clear.
[16:14] Do y'all wanna take a second to
kind of huddle and decide how
[16:18] to move forward. OK.
[16:47] she's got. OK.
[16:50] Oh OK. Thank you
[17:12] me
[17:21] is about
[17:23] I see has.
[17:26] and make the
[17:30] would be like to establish
something
[17:34] All right, so it's
[17:37] 10:17. We'll give until 10:19, a
couple
[17:39] more minutes just to decide how
you all want to present the
[17:42] opening. Stand by. All right.
[17:57] OK
[18:15] graphic It's
[18:19] like OK. this
[18:22] is
[18:31] Stimulant
[18:42] I see chances in.
[18:45] Yes it's fine and you'll have
that future.
[18:49] Yeah If you don't want you Yeah
[19:01] problem
[19:05] Oh my.
[19:09] All right, it's 10:19. Do we
have a
[19:12] consensus for how you want to do
the opening statement?
[19:23] Your timekeeper is sitting to
your right, and
[19:26] she will have a buzzer that will
let you know when
[19:29] time has has expired.
[19:34] right, right, good morning. Uh,
thank you very much
[19:37] for having us. This has been an
ongoing battle for the
[19:40] last 5 years, speaking in front
of the city
[19:43] the Senate, and what have you.
Also speaking in front of
[19:46] the media and trying to get this
handled before it
[19:50] had gotten this far. At this
point, we
[19:52] have 200 units in the building,
and
[19:55] from there there may be about 10
of us left in the building.
[19:59] from being pushed out um via
investor.
[20:03] property investors. So basically
what we're highlighting
[20:06] today is uh the disparities and
unsafe conditions and
[20:09] retaliatory actions that
residents are facing in
[20:12] the landmark condominium at this
point. We
[20:14] realize that World Cup is coming
in and some, you know, really
[20:17] big events and the option at
this point
[20:20] is that they want the building
[20:23] and the main thing is just, you
know, so that they can. get the
[20:25] rest of the, the homeowners out,
if you
[20:28] will, and, and then take over
the building. So that's where we
are and this has been
[20:31] an ongoing battle for the last 5
years
[20:33] We had a resident that died
during
[20:37] this fight. We had a husband
that died during
[20:39] this fight. We had a parent that
died
[20:42] during this fight.
[20:46] So we asked that, um, and we
humbly
[20:48] respect your time. We want to do
[20:51] our best to explain without
getting into
[20:53] the minutiae because there's a
great deal of it to share, but
[20:57] there's a great deal of
information are
[21:00] proposed to what is transpired,
and it's strictly
[21:02] pertains to the safety and the
welfare
[21:05] and the well-being of the
homeowners of the
[21:08] landmark condominium and the few
of us that are left and are
[21:11] being targeted. All right, is
that your opening statement?
That is
[21:13] my opening statement. I clarity.
I want
[21:16] to make sure that this is on the
record and the commissioners
hear this
[21:19] as well, with the individuals
that are moving forward with the
[21:22] hearing today, uh, Crystal Fern
as well
[21:25] as Nicky, can you state the
[21:27] protected classes, uh, that you
believe that you're a part of,
that you
[21:30] believe you were discriminated
against for those classes so
[21:33] that we know going in what to be
on the
[21:35] lookout for. I am a homeowner
and then the
[21:38] protective classes are the
homeowner residents a
[21:41] long-term homeowner residents
and the seniors in the building.
So we have people
[21:43] that lived in a building for
well over 15 years.
[21:47] and this, this was their forever
home. OK, is that
[21:50] for the other complaints as well
That
[21:53] is Thank you so much. At this
point in time
[21:56] we'll now hear the uh
presentation of the case
[21:59] I'm sorry, could you say that
again, please? Yeah, at this
point
[22:02] in time we're now hear the
presentation of
[22:04] the case. You get 30 minutes for
the presentation of
[22:07] the case. You're free to speak,
you're free to call witnesses
[22:10] during that time period, but you
have 30
[22:13] minutes collectively to present
whatever case you'd like to in
front of
[22:15] the commission. Roger that.
Thank you very much.
[22:18] I'll give you about 5 minutes
just to prepare, OK?
[22:21] Thank you So it's 10:22
[22:23] 23, 24 to 56, 27. Maria
[22:27] can you let me know when it's
10:27
[22:29] please.
[22:34] to of butter
[22:37] Yeah, we, the first.
[22:39] I think. Len
[22:43] more Caramels Atlanta.
[22:45] that I that I miss what you're
trying to do.
[22:52] needs to be stupid but
[22:54] I feel like the communism. I
[22:59] I. this and that.
[23:03] but I, I actually feel
[23:10] me.
[23:14] Is this like down tackle this
[23:17] kind of between midtown and
downtown. I
[23:21] I think yeah, yeah, so.
[23:24] you.
[23:28] once was
[23:30] since we have rules of time down
the conci er ge
[23:33] and move the opportunity the way
that commentate
[23:38] insecurity and in the commodity
[23:41] because um all those bars
looking at it and the water
[23:44] and you didn't have this
[23:48] I think that's I need that
problem so we
[23:51] understand you for.
[23:55] you you just.
[23:57] If you want, and it's up to you
guys. I
[24:00] I just here, but it's where you
start, but
[24:03] I don't want that It is.
[24:06] great I don't
[24:09] I. I want to go
[24:11] but and
[24:15] that it so.
[24:18] yeah, so yeah and this, but it's
[24:22] and we all take up, up there
with that, but we have
definitely
[24:25] because it's, that's how when I
broke the case
[24:28] I was in a bit too that that we
went to
[24:31] visit with her many times.
[24:34] We have to take that name that's
who who need to be done and we
just said
[24:36] which just
[24:40] and extreme. did not
[24:45] do that um just now we're all
[24:47] part of the discrimination to
see that this can't
[24:52] this signs reporting, it just
makes my business
[24:55] right, um. yes,
[24:58] to children. That's OK. Right,
20
[25:03] 25 So you just say you just
[25:07] lot of.
[25:10] She knows the state system.
[25:14] I bit this of that
[25:19] I mean, yes. No problem.
[25:25] I to sleep sometimes, you know
this
[25:28] sometimes just to
[25:34] d in
[25:41] Of course. um
[25:45] No, I, I I
[25:50] she's I see just I.
[25:58] No, but I
[26:06] she was for home.
[26:10] what you
[26:13] do here. hurt me off
[26:16] next week. What the best of the
way we looked at me and that's
[26:22] so used to be All right
[26:26] we have about one more minute.
Thank you.
[26:28] right
[26:37] So
[26:42] the Yeah
[26:46] and like do
[26:51] yeah Mhm.
[26:59] she's 3 She's the
[27:02] We
[27:06] She's gonna follow you when
[27:09] really
[27:18] All right, the time is now 10:27
a.m. Is there
[27:20] a consensus for how the case in
chief will be presented?
[27:24] Yes. OK. Also
[27:27] uh, for the record, I'm I'm
pulling up
[27:30] the remaining complaints
complaint forms. I just
[27:33] wanna make sure that the
commissioners know going in with
the
[27:36] actual protected classes were.
Crystal, you
[27:39] uh submitted your complaint form
You said that disability was the
[27:42] protected class that you believe
you were discriminated
[27:46] uh, for. Is that still the
protected class that
[27:48] you're alleging? Yes, OK.
[27:58] Just bear with me. I'm, I'm
going through the
[28:03] complaint forms. Bern Scott,
looks like
[28:06] the protected class that you
listed on the complaint form
[28:09] was age. Is that correct? OK.
[28:19] And then Nikki, on your uh
complaint form, I
[28:23] think you listed financial
exploitation and
[28:25] selective discrimination, uh,
which are, are not necessarily
[28:28] protected classes in the city of
Atlanta are are those the claims
that remember
[28:32] you said something about seniors
or age, a moment
[28:34] ago, but I just want to clarify
for the record what
[28:37] protected class. uh, it will be
the discrimination
[28:40] for seniors and then age, but
it's, again, it's
[28:43] it's a mazurka. Understood, OK.
Mr
[28:46] Chair. Yes. Is it possible for
me to restate the
[28:50] last part of the statutory
purpose that outlines the
[28:52] protected classes. You can, but
really it's gonna have to be
based off
[28:56] what their complaint forms said,
um, you could you could
[28:59] you could say it just so that
they're aware of it.
[29:02] The creative forms of
discrimination involve race,
color, creed
[29:05] religion, sex, marital status,
parental status
[29:08] familial status, sexual
orientation, national origin
[29:11] gender identity, gender
expression, age, disability
[29:13] and criminal history. All
[29:17] right, if we're ready to move
forward, you present your case
in chief.
[29:28] Good morning. All right, you get
30 minutes, we'll start the time
now. Thank
[29:31] you very much. Um, my name is
[29:34] Nikki. I am a homeowner, long
[29:37] term, long term homeowner of the
landmark
[29:39] condominium. I have a few
witnesses behind
[29:42] me. We like to go ahead and get
started, if
[29:45] you will. Um, I want to
highlight
[29:48] the seriousness of the disparity
on safe conditions, and
[29:51] a retaliatory actions, the
residents at the landmark
condominium
[29:54] are facing under the property
[29:57] um investor board. Safety and
[30:00] fear retaliations. The
homeowners feel unsafe due to
[30:03] the constant transient traffic
and
[30:06] short-term renters controlled by
the the property
[30:09] investors. Decades of
[30:12] 24/7 concierge security. has
been removed from
[30:15] the building and the residents
are ultimately
[30:18] left vulnerable. Security
measures like
[30:20] butterfly system, which were
added are futile, and they've
been
[30:23] added for the benefit of the STR
[30:27] investors. Again, leaving the
homeowners there
[30:29] vulnerable. An unlicensed
property manager
[30:32] is verbally and physically
abusive
[30:36] often retaliating against
residents with unfettered
support.
[30:40] from the investor board The
building
[30:42] is effectively operating like a
motel
[30:45] creating, creating noise,
traffic, drugs, violence
[30:48] and unsafe conditions. Illegal
and
[30:51] unsafe activities, including
weed
[30:54] use vandalism, fights, stabbings
shootings
[30:57] other violent incidents
[30:59] transient behavior, homelessness
sleeping in the stairwells
[31:02] and throughout the building.
[31:05] It increases the homeowner's
concerns. We're not certain who
[31:09] is outside of our door when we
open our doors or when we
[31:12] go through the building. The
lack of adequate security
[31:15] and emergency protocols while
STR investors
[31:18] and visitors enjoy better
protective services and
[31:21] are treated. better than the
homeowners themselves.
[31:25] Financial abuses and legal
exploitations
[31:28] and retaliation. We have the
highest HOAs.
[31:30] in the jurisdiction. We're
paying upwards of
[31:34] $1500 a month. for gas
[31:37] electricity, and a double
billing of water.
[31:41] The ancient ways were raised 26%
[31:46] a combination of a few years.
[31:48] and that's what caused our HOAs
to
[31:51] to rise. A federal lawsuit filed
by
[31:54] an insurance company due to a
fire.
[31:57] The homeowners now have been
placed liable for that.
[32:01] that matter We had nothing to do
with
[32:04] the fire. The fire did not take
place in our personal unit. It
took place
[32:06] in a private office. with a
[32:09] private company
[32:12] The building is run as shared
like a
[32:15] motel prioritizing investor
profits over resident
[32:18] welfare. Homeowners who actually
[32:21] uh further abuse throughout the
retaliatory measures
[32:24] poor communications and
transparency investor board
[32:27] rarely communicate with
homeowners.
[32:29] Decisions about funding,
maintenance policies are
[32:32] opaque. Homeowners are ignored
[32:35] marginalized, and retaliated
against when they advocate
[32:38] for their rights.
[32:42] STR investors and and
[32:45] visitors enjoy better property.
better benefits
[32:48] than the homeowners. We pay the
HOAs. We are
[32:51] the ones that are now at the end
[32:55] Emotional and community impact
[32:58] Homeowner's experience stress,
anxiety, fear
[33:01] for personal safety Retaliation
[33:05] as Maita shared. She's not going
to speak due
[33:07] to retaliation.
[33:11] because I spoke in front of city
council, several of us
[33:14] we received a xenophobic packet
[33:20] Yes
[33:22] a xenophobic packet, and we were
accused
[33:25] of allegedly sending that to
them, which we did not.
[33:29] And in the letter, it's
specifically
[33:32] states that we need to come back
in front of city council
[33:34] and recant what we said.
[33:38] Dead bodies lynched black bodies
[33:43] That's what we got A
[33:45] month later, maybe a month and a
half.
[33:49] we received a defamation lawsuit
[33:52] with said xenophobic package
included.
[33:57] That's what we're living with
[34:03] I have exhibits here for you.
[34:06] Um, they're a bit graphic.
[34:10] and um I will hold on, I just
wanted pull them
[34:12] up for a second. We have people
that come through
[34:17] the building. unclothed
[34:19] you'll, you'll see it a little
bit closer.
[34:23] This is what we have coming
through the building. People in
front of
[34:26] the building. The landmark was a
prestige place
[34:30] The senators actually lived in
the building when they were in
session.
[34:33] We still have a few left, but
the senators, when they were
[34:36] in session, they were there.
[34:39] Isaac Hayes, um, uh, Willie Mays
we have several
[34:43] baseball players. What's the
other baseball player?
[34:46] Hank Aaron. Some great people
lived in the building
[34:51] because of the investor was
happening, that's what we have.
[34:55] People that come by ring the
doorbells. We all have
[34:59] doorbell cameras on our doors
now. We've all agreed to get
them.
[35:02] because we have no idea what's
going on in the building.
[35:06] These are kids, they're running
from door to door, ringing the
doorbells.
[35:11] kids
[35:15] this is a party that took place
in the building
[35:18] It was inside of a unit The
hallway was so
[35:21] the party was so full that they
it spilled out into the hallway.
[35:27] another heckler walking by doors
and
[35:29] licking his tongue. In
[35:32] the hallways of the stairwell,
it states specifically
[35:35] no smoking.
[35:38] The remnants of marijuana.
[35:44] cigarette ashes throughout the
stairwell and the and the
windows
[35:47] a syringe. This syringe stayed
[35:51] in the window for about 3 weeks.
[35:53] When it was there, we alerted
them then. No one
[35:56] did anything. There was a
stabbing.
[36:00] and an STR investor visitor got
into
[36:02] a fight with someone? and the
person started
[36:06] stabbing them. The person ran
down the hallway trying
[36:09] to get assistance, banging on
doors
[36:12] Eventually made it to the
hallway. His hands
[36:15] were so bloody that he could not
turn the doorknob.
[36:18] He eventually got a good grip.
The person stabbed him one
[36:21] more time and he stumbled down
the stairs.
[36:25] These are kids coming in to
party
[36:31] They eventually can't get into
the building. Somebody goes
through
[36:34] the exit door, they go through
the exit door. Had we
[36:38] done any of those things, there
would have been a fine.
[36:41] People sleeping in our lobby now
[36:45] We have a butterfly system,
codes the
[36:49] the homeowner's codes deactivate
it. where
[36:52] we can't get into the building
[36:56] Homelessness This is
[36:59] the landmark. This is our home.
This
[37:02] is where we come. and
[37:05] we live. The investors don't
live there.
[37:12] This person's sleeping on the
floor. He got into the building
[37:15] He's always slept on the floor.
He
[37:19] his suitcase and his bottle of
whatever he's drinking.
[37:23] Somebody had to come out to that
We received
[37:26] double billing of water which
[37:28] has skyrocketed our HOAs, but
it's not because
[37:32] of the different use of water.
The, the, the fact that we're
[37:35] using more water, it is the fact
that they're constantly washing
clothes
[37:38] and linens and servicing their,
their, their
[37:41] and their properties We
[37:44] no longer have comment space
anymore
[37:48] Our basement has been taken over
by them. Our gym has been
[37:51] turned into a conference room.
[37:59] One day they showed up and they
they
[38:02] started wearing t-shirts called
Our Landmark, the Employees.
[38:06] Our landmarks We live there
[38:10] That's our home They don't
[38:13] but they they've been wearing
t-shirts, our landmark.
[38:22] I no longer have mail sent to
the landmark because
[38:24] I had a document sent there
[38:27] and an an employee was generous
enough and that would
[38:30] be hearsay, but someone was
generous enough to
[38:33] share that. That was what was
happening in the history of
[38:35] the landmark that has never
occurred. You have meals sent to
your home, you
[38:38] have packages sent to your home,
and you retrieve them.
[38:43] Mailboxes broken into. And
additionally, they
[38:46] uh, we were told that, oh no,
it's the the the people coming
in
[38:49] the visitors coming in.
[38:52] I, I've never known people to go
to a hotel and just
[38:54] break into mailboxes, unheard of
[39:01] This is the landmark We are part
of
[39:04] the skyline. where this little
building
[39:07] right here. where I'm prime
[39:09] real estate.
[39:12] beautiful location We have full
[39:16] view of going into Stone
Mountain, going into Buckhead.
[39:20] prime real estate This is a
gentleman
[39:23] that has, he's he's
[39:26] a visitor, rather, forgive me.
and we
[39:29] have homeowners that have
animals. and
[39:31] the animal, they would have to
go through the basement, carry
the
[39:34] animal through. This person did
not. He's walking the door
[39:37] straight through the front,
straight through the lobby. Had
[39:40] that been one of us we would
have received a fine
[39:45] This woman shows up for some
reason in front of
[39:48] my door.
[39:52] I have no idea who she is
[39:55] So I sent an email
[39:58] to the investor board president
and
[40:00] I ask who is this person?
[40:04] No answer So when we contact
[40:08] the board, we have no answer.
Most of the time when we contact
[40:11] the unlicensed property manager,
we get no response.
[40:16] I received fines to give you a
retaliatory measure. I
[40:19] received fines for helping
someone move a chair.
[40:24] And because they were after me
[40:28] I received a $1000 fine.
[40:30] I forwarded it over to that
homeowner.
[40:33] The homeowner shared with the
management
[40:37] that, that I was helping them.
[40:40] and in short, and paraphrasing
the manage the
[40:43] the unlicensed manager told her
to mind her business.
[40:46] This has nothing to do with you
[40:51] We want to talk about, I want to
bring up Fern Scott. We'd
[40:55] like to talk about the
[40:57] additional disparities of what
we're going through
[41:00] as homeowners, as seniors
[41:04] as regular homeowners, as for
people that have disabilities,
we want
[41:06] to talk about that like to bring
up Fern Scott, please. And just
[41:09] a time check, how much time do
we have left?
[41:12] 18 minutes. Thank you. You're
welcome.
[41:32] I have to take a deep breath
[41:37] I'm the homeowner that um
[41:41] Nikki spoke about who
[41:46] the spouse has passed away.
[41:51] One of the last things he said
to me was,
[41:56] when is this going to be over?
[42:00] Because I spend so much time
[42:05] battling these people and all
[42:08] the problems that we're having
in the
[42:11] landmark. So he left
[42:14] here probably extremely
concerned for me
[42:16] to be alone, um
[42:20] I fear not only for myself, I
[42:23] feel for Miss Sita. I
[42:27] fear for Nikki because I know
they retaliate
[42:29] against her. I want to know that
[42:32] she gets home safely. I
[42:35] have her text me sometimes to
make sure
[42:38] she's OK. If I don't hear from
her
[42:41] I worry about her. Because when
I received
[42:43] my retaliatory letter for
speaking in front of the council
and
[42:46] I don't like public speaking,
but I got the courage to go up
there
[42:50] and speak. And then I received
[42:52] a defamation letter. from
[42:55] the board for speaking
[42:58] Nicky wrote a great helped me
write a great letter.
[43:02] which thank goodness, um
[43:05] they didn't come back in sue me.
[43:10] and I appreciate that for Nicky,
but Nikki did get
[43:15] Thank you. Nikki did get the,
the lawsuit
[43:19] but she's, she's very courageous
Um, so I
[43:21] just want to say that
[43:24] I'm 71 years old and this is
just a lot and at
[43:28] this phase of life, to have
[43:30] to deal with. Now, my husband
was handicapped and so
[43:33] was Zita. The elevators go out
all the time. That's
[43:35] a huge safety issue. So my first
thought is when
[43:38] the elevators are out, if
something
[43:41] happens, is Zita gonna be able
to get out of the building.
[43:44] because they're out for extended
periods of time.
[43:48] Like Nikki said, if you don't
have a camera
[43:51] you can't just open your door
like we used to be able to
[43:53] do and walk out into the hallway
because
[43:57] you don't know who might be
there. You, you
[43:59] get on the elevator with these
individuals
[44:02] They're packed on the, they get
on the elevator with their
cocktails
[44:05] or whatever, and their behavior
is just
[44:09] terrible When you're coming into
[44:13] the building and you're a senior
citizen, in
[44:15] the past, we had a concierge. So
when you come
[44:18] in the building and all these uh
short-term
[44:20] renters are coming up behind you
[44:24] They can um tailgate behind you.
[44:27] And if you say something that
they
[44:31] don't like or I'll say, oh, wait
let, I'm gonna put my
[44:33] code in and then you can enter
the building.
[44:38] they can get a little aggressive
OK?
[44:42] So the best thing to do is to be
very careful.
[44:45] which door you enter. Park, look
around
[44:49] make sure there's nobody around,
and enter a door where no one
[44:52] is coming in behind you because
if you come in the front, where
[44:54] they come in and there's 5 or 6
of them, first of all, they're
[44:58] gonna tailgate. They're gonna
hold the doors open and
[45:00] anybody, anybody can come in
that building at any
[45:03] point in time. And there's no
one there
[45:07] to protect you. There's no
concierge. So I cannot say don't
tailgate
[45:10] behind me. They can see your
code when you put it in.
[45:14] So people get the codes and they
can come in the building
whenever they
[45:17] get ready. So after their
[45:19] short-term rental is up, if the
homeowner of
[45:22] these STR companies have not
changed the code
[45:25] Somebody still has access to the
building.
[45:29] So I just want you to understand
[45:32] how frightening this is for a
senior citizen
[45:36] My mother owned in that building
32 years ago.
[45:41] And if I was concerned about my
mother. I knew the
[45:45] concierge on a first name basis,
and I could say Paul, can you
[45:48] go upstairs and check on Mom?
She's nodding answering. He'd go
up
[45:50] he'd check on her, she would
call me back and he
[45:53] would call me back and say she's
OK. There is
[45:56] no one to call, no one to help
us.
[45:59] And we have pleaded with the
city
[46:01] again and again and again. And I
just
[46:04] cannot believe. that this could
[46:07] go on and nobody cared, and
nobody helped.
[46:13] So that is what I wanted to
contribute to. Was there
anything else?
[46:17] ease cases
[46:20] providing them a mask to keep
mask to
[46:23] keep to your place that you buy.
and
[46:26] you pay for and what you do is
[46:28] you have to pay, you have to
fill out the
[46:31] phone and you know so providing
the master key, and then they
[46:35] can take their homes. Right
[46:37] That one really doesn't make
sense, does it? Yes, um, we have
[46:40] to give them a key to our unit
so that they have access
[46:43] if they feel like there's an
emergency going on, but you have
to pay for use
[46:46] for that key if you have an
emergency. You don't
[46:49] have your key and you need them
to unlock the door for you
[46:52] You have to pay for that. You
have to pay for everything
[46:55] Um, it, it, it, and the fines
[46:58] you don't get a warning. You
just get $1000 fine
[47:00] I think the attempt there is to
get
[47:03] at least, uh, maybe $2000 worth
[47:06] of fines or, you know, lack of
payment in
[47:09] arrears. It doesn't, not your
HOAs. This is just a fine you
[47:12] got frivolous fine with no
warning, and they can
[47:15] put a lien on your property. So
they, you know
[47:17] there's ways that they are, are,
are going to be able at some
point, I guess
[47:21] to get all the rest of us
remaining homeowners
[47:23] um, out of the building. There's
there's only just a few of
[47:27] us left. I wouldn't still be in
this fight if it were not
[47:29] for Nikki. She's giving me the
courage to get up
[47:33] go every day or every other day,
City Hall, wherever we have
[47:35] to do, uh, insurance
commissioner
[47:38] anybody that we have to do to
try to fight this, because I
couldn't do
[47:41] this alone at my age. I could
not do this.
[47:47] So that's basically what I
wanted to say.
[47:50] All right, thank you so much.
How much time do we
[47:54] have remaining for 11 minutes
and 30 seconds.
[47:59] Hello. Just speak up a little
bit louder for me.
[48:03] Or try try to pull the mic up.
It's a little tough to hear
[48:05] you. OK. I
[48:08] am Crystal Augustin.
[48:11] and well I'll
[48:14] be speaking specifically about
the fire that happened
[48:17] in January 2024. And
[48:20] for context, I am a 3 time war
[48:23] veteran consecutive years, and
[48:27] um I had been diagnosed with
PTSD.
[48:32] anxiety disorder, agoraphobia,
and um
[48:39] living under these
[48:43] conditions to where
[48:45] my unit was literally right
above the fire.
[48:50] Um where my
[48:53] unit actually experienced a lot
of damage
[48:56] that till this day has not been
repaired.
[48:59] um
[49:08] ash covered nearly every surface
[49:11] I was forced to dispose much of
my
[49:14] furniture and to this day I'm
still living out
[49:17] of moving boxes. The window in
[49:20] my unit had been shattered
[49:22] um, during the incident and has
never been replaced.
[49:26] I cannot open my windows for
[49:29] fresh air. And when I have
episodes
[49:33] of acrophobia, that's typically
my
[49:35] way of getting outdoor air just
[49:38] by cracking my windows and
[49:40] um I can't do that. I haven't
been able to do that
[49:44] for 2 years now. Um.
[49:49] 2 of the three central air
[49:53] conditioning units have
sustained electrical damage
[49:55] and they haven't fixed it, which
means during the
[49:58] winter months, I have no heat
[50:02] During the summer, I have no
cold air.
[50:05] I have like these portable fans.
[50:18] And at times, no hot water.
[50:22] Now, for much of that year, in
particular
[50:25] um, there were reoccurring
[50:28] carbon monoxide leaks in the
building, and there
[50:31] was no consistent ventilation
because I couldn't
[50:34] crack open my windows
[50:37] so some of the side effects I
would be sleeping
[50:39] all day and I never coincided
[50:42] it with the carbon monoxide
poisoning
[50:45] and I was told that, oh we've
evacuated the building, but
[50:48] no one told me, and I would just
be
[50:51] confined in my home, um.
[50:59] so with no clear evacuation
notices
[51:03] no meaningful interventions. I
believe
[51:07] that my life has been placed in
danger multiple times.
[51:11] and uh without
[51:14] assistance, without proper
repairs, and
[51:17] without relocation support, I
have literally
[51:21] been re-traumatized, so I would
have versus a
[51:24] few months of agoraphobia, like
I'm
[51:30] unable to work outside of my
[51:33] home and that has
[51:36] been trying for me. Uh
[51:43] So having
[51:46] been forced to survive in an
environment
[51:49] that feels unsafe
[51:52] as Nikki has mentioned with
[51:54] the photos, my floor is
disgusting.
[51:59] People bang on my doors. I don't
know who they are. I don't have
company
[52:04] so that again, reactivates my
anxiety.
[52:08] and I can't call for help when I
[52:12] call the um non-emergency 911,
no one comes
[52:15] out there.
[52:22] It's unstable, it's hazardous. I
haven't been able to
[52:26] open the kitchen lights because
again
[52:30] electrical damage, like that
whole side is
[52:35] in shambles. So I'm literally
living out of boxes in
[52:37] my own home. I had to get rid of
everything
[52:40] Um
[52:45] so
[52:48] I'm just asking this commission
to recognize that
[52:51] what has happened is not simply
a maintenance
[52:53] delay. It's prolonged neglect
and what
[52:57] I believe is discrimination. and
that
[53:00] has endangered our health, our
safety, and
[53:04] our dignity and no residents
should be left
[53:07] to live, as though they are in a
war zone
[53:10] having experienced it firsthand
[53:13] uh, within their own home,
especially in America.
[53:17] Thank you Thank you so much. How
much
[53:20] time is left for the case in
chief?
[53:22] 6 minutes. All right, y'all have
6 minutes. Would you like to
utilize
[53:25] that time? Yes, please. OK.
[53:28] I forgot to mention that I
[53:31] have sent repeated letters to
the landmark. I
[53:33] will email and the proper way to
do that, in addition
[53:36] to emailing, is to send
certified mail
[53:38] and they don't accept my
certified mail. It comes
[53:41] back. So I, I just waste money,
you know,
[53:44] 10 $10 a pop, you know, sending
[53:47] certified mail, and they will
not accept our
[53:49] letters of complaint
[53:52] or letters sent to address
[53:55] certain situations, um, that
we're incurring
[53:57] Just wanted to make sure that I
put that in the record. I
[54:00] have a lot of these.
[54:12] I will do closing if you don't
mind, so that
[54:14] will have I will ask this uh
you're free
[54:17] to do your closing how you deem
appropriate if you're done with
the case
[54:21] in chief for closing its 5
minutes
[54:23] that you have in total. I would
like though
[54:26] my my request as the chair
because I wanna make sure
[54:29] everything is on record. I mean
[54:31] we have this is your shot to
kind of get out everything. I
[54:34] do want to specifically
[54:36] know from um each individual if
you can't give one or
[54:39] two minutes in your closing to
each person. I want
[54:42] to know based on what they
alleged in their complaint was
the reason they
[54:45] were discriminated against,
whether it be disability
[54:47] or age or a closing regarding
[54:50] that specifically. OK? Stand by.
OK, sure.
[54:53] I'll give you a couple of
minutes to do that and we'll
come back
[54:56] in about 10:57. Thank you.
[55:06] I You'll also
[55:08] be crying Yes. children
[55:11] have
[55:15] I guess would have folded up
line
[55:19] Yeah
[55:35] All right, you can show whatever
[55:37] Thank you
[55:42] That
[55:46] people.
[55:51] That's, let's see
[55:55] all
[55:58] did to get dressed you
[56:04] to this because you know
[56:07] Yeah. still
[56:10] got a shape. I me
[57:52] All right, it's 10:57. Do we
have a consensus in terms of
[57:55] the closing statement?
[58:01] Uh, it's 10:57. Is there a
consensus for
[58:04] how you'd like to present the
closing statement?
[58:12] and we will start the timer now,
there's
[58:15] 5 minutes for closing statements
Yes ma'am.
[58:26] It's a little bit difficult.
Let's let's see if there's
[58:29] a microphone issue. It's a
little difficult to hear you.
[58:38] We just pause the time mark.
[58:44] testing. I want to reiterate the
fact
[58:47] that age in this scenario is a
huge
[58:50] factor because I am fearful. I
[58:53] uh, because of my age and
several other seniors in
[58:56] the in the building. There are
two other seniors
[58:59] that come to mind, uh, that are
in
[59:02] their 80s. This is scary for us
[59:05] This is difficult. So it, it
[59:07] I think that they feel like it's
easy
[59:11] to intimidate us because of our
age. There it's
[59:13] hard for us, harder for us to
fight back. You
[59:16] it, a defamation letter sent to
[59:19] a senior citizen in their 80s.
That's gonna shut them down
[59:22] I guarantee you. They are not
gonna be able
[59:25] to retaliate. I'm not re
retaliate
[59:29] but respond to that. um, with,
without some help or
[59:31] some assistance. It's scary. and
I
[59:36] feel like because of my age,
Masita and some of
[59:38] the other people in the building
we're
[59:41] targeted because we're an easy
target. because
[59:45] uh, you know, even something as
simple as
[59:47] saying that we cannot pay
[59:50] our HOA fees by check anymore
[59:54] We're forced to use one of these
websites that
[59:56] you need some assistance with
when
[59:59] for us, it was so much easier to
write a
[1:00:02] check and put it into the box to
pay
[1:00:05] your fees. They are no longer
[1:00:08] accepting checks. in the
[1:00:10] Dropbox. You're forced to pay
online.
[1:00:14] So if you don't have a
[1:00:17] computer experts expertise or
you're
[1:00:21] not, um, you know, accustomed to
doing that kind of thing, paying
[1:00:23] your bills online or whatever.
This is tough
[1:00:26] for us. So that's one of the
things that I
[1:00:30] feel like is, is, is
discriminatory. Why would you
take
[1:00:33] that? You could just walk
downstairs right outside
[1:00:35] the office, and drop your check
into
[1:00:38] the mailbox. There's no one
there now, by the way. There
[1:00:41] is, there, the office manager is
[1:00:44] invisible wherever she is. I
haven't seen her in, I don't
know how long
[1:00:48] So the days for you, if you had
an issue when you were an
[1:00:50] older person and didn't know how
to do these
[1:00:54] things electronically and could
go down to the office manager
and
[1:00:57] get some help with filling out a
form or submitting
[1:01:00] a maintenance request and that
type of thing
[1:01:03] Those days are gone So I
[1:01:06] I think that is definitely uh
discriminatory.
[1:01:09] against older persons and just
another way to try to get us
[1:01:13] out of the building. Thank you.
How much time is left for
[1:01:15] closing statement, Samaria?
[1:01:18] 2 minutes. All right, y'all have
2 minutes collectively.
[1:01:22] Yes, ma'am.
[1:01:27] The discriminatory actions
against
[1:01:29] disability, I feel. um, with
each
[1:01:32] property management company, uh
I make
[1:01:35] it a point to notify them
[1:01:38] of my specific disabilities and
[1:01:40] what I found was that
[1:01:46] I believe that it's
[1:01:49] intentionally, some of the
actions have
[1:01:52] been intentionally done to
activate. my disability
[1:01:56] or reaggravate it. And I say
that because
[1:02:00] although there are signs by the
city that state to
[1:02:04] no longer do construction. Um.
[1:02:07] to be below me that endured the
fire, um
[1:02:12] the banging constantly knocking
on
[1:02:14] my door, saying that they needed
to inspect
[1:02:18] um the units so that they can
see what damage is, but
[1:02:21] nothing is done. They just want
[1:02:25] access to my unit and
[1:02:27] walk around and nothing gets
done. And this has
[1:02:30] been for the past 2 years
[1:02:33] absolutely nothing. Um different
[1:02:36] um, companies that they would
get
[1:02:39] to fix, I forget the names of it
Epic, was
[1:02:41] one that I remember the most
that would come into my
[1:02:45] unit and absolutely nothing
would be. done
[1:02:48] OK Um
[1:02:51] but nonetheless, they have been
notified and
[1:02:54] nothing has been done to
[1:02:57] assist or fix any of the issues
that were caused in the unit.
[1:03:01] Thank you. Thank you. We have a
[1:03:05] 32nd warning. All right, 30
seconds. Thank
[1:03:08] you. So in short and in closing
[1:03:10] um, we are, um, in a, a
[1:03:13] very precarious situation. This
has been a five-year fight and
[1:03:16] ongoing. Um, they've also placed
cameras in the hallways and
throughout
[1:03:19] the building, not merely for the
security of it, but to
[1:03:22] watch us. So, so we're clear
about that. This
[1:03:24] is financial genocide, if you
will. This is a
[1:03:27] systematic way of expelling the
building
[1:03:30] or location of what they want.
Um, this is a
[1:03:34] racial matter because one of the
upper staff of
[1:03:37] that group told another person
that not to rent to
[1:03:39] black people. because we are
[1:03:42] a problem And that's time, I'm
[1:03:46] sorry, Miss. But. It's OK. Thank
you. All right
[1:03:48] Getting tired. I think you all
very much. Thank you so much for
coming out
[1:03:52] Within 30 days of today's
hearing date
[1:03:55] we'll send out a finding 00 yes,
OK
[1:03:57] Look, I was about to skip the
for for the questions, but yeah
[1:04:01] so now we'll allow commissioners
a chance, but just so I
[1:04:04] get my thought out. So within 30
[1:04:06] days after the hearing, you'll
receive findings of fact
[1:04:09] What I want to say before the
commissioners uh ask their
[1:04:12] questions just while it's on my
mind. Uh, do you know if
[1:04:15] anybody has provided a proposed
findings
[1:04:18] of facts from from the group
just yet
[1:04:21] And that's just basically uh a
proposed list of
[1:04:23] facts that you want us to take
into account when making a
decision.
[1:04:27] We did not bring them with us,
but we did definitely compile
them and get them to
[1:04:30] you. Yes, so what I'll ask that
you do is by
[1:04:33] Friday at 5 p.m. just submit to
the Office
[1:04:36] of Constituent Services. We have
a HRC
[1:04:39] uh, email handle. If you can
email those to us, we'll take
[1:04:42] those into consideration
whenever we make our decision
[1:04:45] OK? That would be our honor.
Thank you. All right, so at this
point in
[1:04:48] time I will allow the
commissioners to ask questions
regarding
[1:04:51] um, anybody can answer those
questions or if they have
questions for a
[1:04:54] specific complaint they can.
We'll start with Commissioner uh
[1:04:57] Humpback Will Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Um
[1:05:00] thank, thank you all for, for
being here
[1:05:03] this morning, um, and sharing
your experience with us
[1:05:05] Uh, a question that I have is
[1:05:09] the packet that you all that you
said that you received with the
[1:05:12] the photos and images. Do you
[1:05:14] is there, do you have, do you
still have that? I can get that
to you
[1:05:17] as well. OK. Yeah. Um
[1:05:25] um, the investors, where are
they where are they located
[1:05:28] They don't live in the building,
I'll tell you that
[1:05:31] they reside um in various places
throughout
[1:05:34] the city, um, up into
Alpharettas. Most of them, a
great
[1:05:36] deal of them are out of the
[1:05:39] country. But they are they're
not residents of
[1:05:43] the landmark. They don't live
there. They have never lived
there. OK.
[1:05:45] Um do you all have any contact
[1:05:48] with them at all outside of them
[1:05:52] sending fines. Would
[1:05:54] you rephrase your question,
please? Do you have any contact?
Do you have
[1:05:57] any verbal or email contact
[1:06:00] with them at all? We have
contact with them
[1:06:03] when they inflict a fine or when
they want us to
[1:06:06] pay dues or assessments. OK.
[1:06:10] Uh, I think that's all my
questions right now. All right
[1:06:12] Commissioner Burks, a couple of
questions. Um
[1:06:15] just points of clarity to make
sure I'm, I'm following
[1:06:18] this correctly. There are 200
units, and
[1:06:21] of those 200 units, 10 or or
[1:06:23] roughly thereof are occupied by
owner residents
[1:06:26] Is that correct? That is correct
OK
[1:06:29] Um, in terms of
[1:06:32] interacting with the investors
you interact with
[1:06:35] the investors through the
vehicle of the
[1:06:38] homeowners Association or is
there a separate body through
which
[1:06:41] you interact with them? Well,
let me give some clarity so this
[1:06:44] will make sense. The board
actually now
[1:06:47] is encompassed of all property
[1:06:49] investors. We're estate agents,
investors, there are
[1:06:52] no homeowners or residents that
actually are
[1:06:55] on the board. They've blocked
many of us from
[1:06:57] voting. So they've actually just
taken over
[1:07:00] a confiscated the board much
like they confiscated our common
areas. President and treasurer
[1:07:04] and the president and Treasurer.
How many members are on that
board?
[1:07:07] 5.5 Um
[1:07:10] we'll find visible ones. In
terms of the uh elevators
[1:07:13] what's the frequency, uh, with
which they tend to
[1:07:15] go out. If you had to say in a
given month how many times in a
given month?
[1:07:20] from your experience Well, there
was a time where the elevators
[1:07:22] were completely down for about a
week
[1:07:28] OK Um, I could, I if someone
says
[1:07:31] something, I just couldn't hear
that. I just want to make sure
I'm hearing clear
[1:07:34] clearly. OK, so there, there was
a
[1:07:37] point where there's a point
where the elevators
[1:07:40] were down simultaneously for a
week.
[1:07:43] There was a point where we'll
have we have 3 elevators. One
[1:07:46] would be down for months
[1:07:49] or 2 would be down from us, and
we'd have 1 operating elevator.
[1:07:53] Just got about 3 more questions.
In terms of In terms of in terms
of
[1:07:56] the elevator when there are
concerns when it goes out you
have a
[1:08:01] uh, I'm assuming this this
homeowners association has a, a
process for
[1:08:04] submitting tickets or
maintenance requests, and
[1:08:06] I'm assuming you all followed
those, but if, if not, tell me
what
[1:08:09] that process is quickly, if you
don't mind. There is
[1:08:12] no process. OK. Um
[1:08:16] you talk about your association,
uh, your
[1:08:18] your monthly, um, association
[1:08:22] uh, fees, increasing to roughly
[1:08:25] $1500 when you started out at
Landmark, what were they?
[1:08:29] Re roughly $300 and I thought
that was a lot and
[1:08:32] so when I moved in, I knotted up
about that
[1:08:36] um, and incrementally throughout
the years, they would raise them
We had
[1:08:39] a healthy reserve. and so there
would be
[1:08:43] you know, maybe a 1 or 2 years
where they would not, they
[1:08:46] didn't feel necessary to raise
them, but they would
specifically raise them
[1:08:48] no more than the CPI, which is
usually 1.2 to
[1:08:52] 1.5%. Um, and in this case
[1:08:55] um, the largest HOA is over
$1500.
[1:08:58] over and that
[1:09:01] that's excluding the assessments
that they've, um,
[1:09:03] inflicted upon us.
[1:09:06] The last one, centers around
just the
[1:09:10] types of, I've heard you you all
individually talk about we
[1:09:12] were charged for this charge for
that just if I could
[1:09:15] get just hear some of what those
are
[1:09:17] just beyond just we were charged
additional fees where you
[1:09:20] charged for X
[1:09:23] What are those specific charges?
Are
[1:09:26] you referencing assessments or
you
[1:09:28] specifically speaking lines. Let
me, let me clarify that
[1:09:32] Fines in particular. I'm curious
what
[1:09:35] the finds the fine amounts were.
But the types
[1:09:38] of fines, even if you don't know
the amount, just
[1:09:40] the tax amount amount Sure. Uh,
I can, I can give you a couple
[1:09:43] Um, as I stated earlier
[1:09:46] I, a neighbor just asked me to
help move a chair. It required
[1:09:49] two people to carry said chair.
It's just, you know, not two
people had
[1:09:52] to carry it, that was just the
bottom line. And
[1:09:55] no problem. You're my neighbor.
I have no problem
[1:09:58] doing that. And we did. And this
was at this point, I've been
speaking in front of
[1:10:01] city council and the Senate,
multiple times
[1:10:04] a week. So I was on, I was at
Target and I
[1:10:07] ended up receiving a $1000 fine.
[1:10:09] The fine specifically read that
I did
[1:10:13] not rent the elevator.
[1:10:15] That was a $500 fine, and the
fact that I moved a bulky chair
[1:10:18] Another find that I did receive
when the
[1:10:22] butterfly system was activated
April 1st
[1:10:25] of 2025. Um
[1:10:28] the concierge at the time was
explaining something to me, so
[1:10:31] I'm standing in the door and the
[1:10:33] unlicensed property manager.
[1:10:36] became combative and she came
outside I needed to close the
door, that there was
[1:10:40] an alarm that would sound in 3
[1:10:42] seconds, 3 to 8 seconds, and, um
which made no sense
[1:10:45] because if you have people
coming in with disabilities
[1:10:49] it takes longer than 3 to 8
seconds to, you know, that that
[1:10:51] that would, that's unnerving. So
[1:10:54] um, she proceeded to push past
me, and she starts
[1:10:58] to push the door that didn't
[1:11:00] go well. Um, I stood back
outside of
[1:11:03] the door and I started recording
and she advi
[1:11:06] s ed the concierge in short, to
call the police
[1:11:09] The police were called. I waited
I spoke with
[1:11:11] them, and
[1:11:14] she filed a report alleging that
it was disorderly conduct in
conjunction
[1:11:17] with that, I received a fine of
[1:11:20] $500 for my disorderly conduct.
OK
[1:11:22] Uh, there is one other that,
that I'm, I'm glad you said what
[1:11:25] you said because it triggered
that, that one I've been trying
to remember
[1:11:28] I've heard all of you talk about
concierge in some
[1:11:31] shape, form or fashion, just a
point of clarity
[1:11:35] Is there a concierge at
[1:11:37] the property now that functions
the way it functions when you
all
[1:11:40] first started as owners
[1:11:43] Absolutely not. There is not.
There, there
[1:11:45] there is a concierge sometimes.
[1:11:48] and you never know when that's
going to be
[1:11:52] And I, and so the last time I
entered the building, there was
no one there
[1:11:54] And there, and, and as a part of
your monthly fees
[1:11:57] you're paying for that salary.
Yes, you're paying
[1:12:00] for a concierge to be on staff,
but let me, let
[1:12:03] me, if I can, uh, clarify
[1:12:06] um, if I can, if I could further
clarify that
[1:12:09] as well. And it's not
necessarily concierge. These
[1:12:12] concierge, it's a regency
company that will
[1:12:15] sit in every so often and then
they have um one
[1:12:18] of their people that'll sit in
as conci er ge but it's not to
[1:12:21] help us, and they only sit there
for a few hours. It's to help
[1:12:24] sign in the um the STR investor
[1:12:28] guests that are coming in. Thank
you. No further questions
[1:12:31] for me. Alright, Commissioner
Sne.
[1:12:34] Thank you for your
[1:12:37] appearing today. A couple of
questions, um,
[1:12:42] when, when you talk about the
investors
[1:12:46] when did that group begin as a
group that you
[1:12:49] would refer to as investors.
[1:12:52] They began around 2020 is when
the ball
[1:12:55] started rolling so people
started moving out
[1:12:58] and renting as Airbnb, so more
[1:13:02] or less. No, what ended up
happening, once
[1:13:04] these, this group managed to
infiltrate
[1:13:07] the board. Then they
systematically started
[1:13:11] making matters more difficult
for homeowners and a, and a
great deal of
[1:13:13] the homeowners that did move our
seniors. It was
[1:13:16] a former a person that recently
moved. She was going to move her
mother
[1:13:19] into the building, but due to
the
[1:13:22] cantankerousness that occurs in
the building on
[1:13:25] a 24/7 basis. that
[1:13:27] option she decided to sell the
unit and
[1:13:31] um, you mentioned that
Xenophobic package that
[1:13:34] was sent to you, was there a
name of
[1:13:38] who sent that? What do you know
exactly where that
[1:13:40] came from? Yes. and
[1:13:43] and the, the xenophobic package
[1:13:46] as surrounded by the unlicensed
manager and the board.
[1:13:50] So the unlicensed manager is the
one that, and it
[1:13:53] came from a law firm. OK. And
[1:13:56] kind of infiltrated that way. OK
[1:13:58] And, uh, I think my
[1:14:01] last question, when did you go
to the city council and
[1:14:04] present all your information
approximately.
[1:14:08] I've been battling this for
about 5 years now, so I'm so
[1:14:11] sorry. You've been there more
than once. Yes
[1:14:14] OK. And has there been any
recourse yet
[1:14:17] ? No. Do they, are they in touch
with you at
[1:14:20] all? or is there an ongoing
[1:14:23] situation with them that you
return or how, how do you
[1:14:26] end up appearing before them
more than once.
[1:14:30] I get up the night, I write of
his of his speech the
[1:14:32] night before. I prepare. I come
in every time there's a
[1:14:35] uh an opportunity to speak in
front of a
[1:14:39] committee or a safety zoning or
um if they
[1:14:42] have full committee, I actually
[1:14:46] public comment section. OK. All
right.
[1:14:49] Thank you. Can you hear me
better? I could
[1:14:52] hear you. Yeah, right, and we'll
go with
[1:14:55] uh, Commissioner Claiborne Can
you tell us what are
[1:14:59] the percentages of Airbnb
occupants
[1:15:04] um, that currently occupy this,
this, uh, property
[1:15:06] Do you know it is, when you say
there's
[1:15:10] 10 homeowners left or
[1:15:12] the balance Airbnb, occupants
[1:15:15] The, the building operates as a
whole town, so none
[1:15:18] of those investors reside in the
building
[1:15:21] So if they've not um
[1:15:24] rented their unit out. if you
will, Airbnb using
[1:15:26] that just as an example. Um,
then the unit
[1:15:30] just stays empty until, but they
they have pretty regular
[1:15:35] visitors coming in. I, I
[1:15:37] I'd like to ask this question.
In addition
[1:15:40] to the uh HOA that you're paying
[1:15:43] Are any of you all
[1:15:46] paying uh a mortgage or, or on
top of
[1:15:49] the HOA? Are y'all doing that?
Yes
[1:15:53] OK. Is it pretty much all of
y'all?
[1:15:56] or OK, um
[1:15:59] last question. When you
presented or approached the
[1:16:02] city council, what
[1:16:04] was their response to your
comments? Well
[1:16:09] I think shock first and honesty
[1:16:11] because of the egregiousness of
what's taking place
[1:16:14] Um, we were fortunate enough
[1:16:17] uh, March 25th of 2025, there
[1:16:20] was a um a committee meeting, if
you will. So most
[1:16:23] of the people that are
[1:16:26] STR investors or property
investors were
[1:16:29] in-house. None of, we were not
aware of it. So had we known we
[1:16:32] would have been there. So, in
short
[1:16:35] the landmark condominium bought
their concierge.
[1:16:39] Um, they bought an investor.
They bought
[1:16:43] the cer a board member and then
the unlicensed manager spoke
[1:16:47] And if you get a chance, you can
pull it up. It's the March
[1:16:49] 25, 25 uh hearing
[1:16:53] And um Liliana Bahtiari actually
[1:16:56] gave them a bit of a tongue
lashing.
[1:16:59] and um and, and, and, and it
went from there. So
[1:17:02] we felt hopeful that
[1:17:05] somebody understood and that
somebody was stand
[1:17:07] up and and help us, and I think
again in April
[1:17:11] was when we spoke in front of
you know them again
[1:17:14] the full council and um
[1:17:17] and Liliana again spoke, and
this
[1:17:20] is when we received the, the
packet as well
[1:17:23] but Liliana spoke up again and,
and so
[1:17:25] she understood. I think she
really understood. She had, she
had a grasp of
[1:17:28] what's going on. Um, and again
[1:17:32] I'm going to leave speculation
out of it as to why I
[1:17:35] I think no one's helping us
because we've been
[1:17:37] in front of every
[1:17:40] governmental agency that was
available to us and then some
[1:17:44] And it always turns back to,
well
[1:17:46] you guys just need to pay your
HAs. The problem with
[1:17:50] that is everybody's so upside
down we spent
[1:17:53] over $200,000 between the
[1:17:56] homeowners, between us getting
attorneys.
[1:18:02] attorneys, because we just, we
didn't have a way out. This
[1:18:05] has been 5 years. Over
[1:18:08] $200,000. I will say this just
for the sake of time,
Commissioner Claiborne, do you
[1:18:08] have
[1:18:11] any follow-up questions briefly?
Just one final question
[1:18:14] Does landmark know you all are
here today? They probably
[1:18:17] do because they initially when
we had the meeting, the meeting
was scheduled
[1:18:20] for August 8th of last year, and
for some reason it
[1:18:23] was canceled. They didn't let,
we weren't alerted about
[1:18:26] it, so we actually, I flew in
from out of town. We all
[1:18:29] came in and then they alerted us
that the meeting had
[1:18:31] been canceled and that the
landmark allegedly
[1:18:35] said that they had, they didn't
have enough
[1:18:38] information or something was
missing and so they didn't allow
them to
[1:18:42] prepare properly. And so, you
know, it was just pushed back
[1:18:44] to now, so that's where we are.
So yeah, absolutely
[1:18:47] Thank you. And I will say for
the commissioners that are
present, um
[1:18:51] uh, OCS did send out notices to
everybody as well and
[1:18:54] in August there was a lapse in
commissioners and we
[1:18:57] didn't have quorums, so I had to
be pushed out to when it was
[1:19:00] I'll just have one final
question just briefly, if there
is
[1:19:02] a finding that there was some
form of
[1:19:05] alleged discrimination. What
would you all like to see as the
recourse
[1:19:08] ? What would you like for us to
do if we can
[1:19:11] we can't offer monetary
compensation
[1:19:14] um, but is there something that
you would like to see happen
after this
[1:19:16] ? Outside of monetary, yes.
let's
[1:19:20] let's, let's caucus this. OK.
[1:19:28] There's nowhere
[1:19:33] OK. Well, you OK. Mhm.
[1:19:38] As Nikki has stated, we have
gone before
[1:19:40] the council multiple times. Um
[1:19:43] council member Batiari is no
longer
[1:19:47] our councilperson. We have a new
councilperson.
[1:19:51] and it is Winston
[1:19:54] Jason Winston.
[1:19:56] and I feel like we need
[1:19:59] his support. Um
[1:20:02] citywide council member Julian
Bond
[1:20:05] spoke in our favor also that
Nikki has come
[1:20:08] up here every month, and we need
to
[1:20:10] do something. We need to stop
the
[1:20:14] the STR situation in the city
and
[1:20:17] support them, and they voted
that down, or they put it
[1:20:20] on hold. So it's just sitting
there. So we need
[1:20:22] the city to support us.
[1:20:26] It's extremely frustrating to
come before
[1:20:28] write letters and do these. This
is the process.
[1:20:33] as citizens in Fulton County
that we're supposed
[1:20:36] to follow. We are following that
process. It's
[1:20:39] part of whatever it is we're
supposed to submit, we can give
[1:20:42] you the letters. We can give you
the, the fine
[1:20:45] We can, I've, we've talked to
the city solicitor.
[1:20:50] uh, Erica Smith. Uh, we've been
to court when they find them
[1:20:53] We do everything that we are
supposed
[1:20:55] to do. We just need help. We
can't do it on
[1:20:59] our own. All right. Understood,
you all are free to go. Again
[1:21:02] remember finding the facts. You
could uh submit that to
[1:21:05] the HRC email address by 5
[1:21:08] p.m. Each individual can, or you
could do one collectively as
[1:21:10] a group and then within 30 days
you'll receive our decision
[1:21:13] OK? Thank you all so much for
the go. Thank you
[1:21:16] for coming. Thank you Thank you.
Thank you
[1:21:19] very much. All right, we're
gonna move forward with the
agenda. We're
[1:21:22] on G commission Officer updates.
I'll start
[1:21:25] briefly with mine. I had a
conversation with
[1:21:28] Kim Gibson. She's the executive
director for
[1:21:30] DisabilityL Link. It's an
[1:21:33] organization that helps
individuals with disability in
terms of training
[1:21:36] uh, provides them with resources
they
[1:21:40] uh, offer support to citizens of
the city
[1:21:42] of Atlanta. Um I wanted to have
[1:21:46] a commissioner go and actually
speak when they do their general
[1:21:49] body meetings. Commissioner
Snell has agreed
[1:21:51] to be the lead on that, so
she'll be working with
[1:21:55] the executive director to get us
some representation
[1:21:58] at a disability link meeting.
Chair, um, might
[1:22:00] I also offer to the commissioner
that we do
[1:22:04] have a citywide director of
disability
[1:22:06] access and ADA compliance, who
works with DisabilityL Link, so
it might
[1:22:09] be a good idea to coordinate
that conversation
[1:22:12] so you have a staff
representative as well as a
commissioner
[1:22:16] and process, um, and I'll be
happy to make that connection
for Commissioner Snell.
[1:22:20] That sounds great. OK, and I
also had a conversation
[1:22:22] with Chris McCain and Steven
[1:22:25] A Gaushi, who are
representatives for Pride
[1:22:29] Atlanta. They host the
[1:22:31] annual Pride Festival each year
and Commissioner
[1:22:34] Claiborne knows more about that.
She used to be a board member on
[1:22:36] their board. I had a
conversation with them yesterday
[1:22:39] Um, there are opportunities for
us to potentially have
[1:22:42] a tent during the festival
[1:22:45] pass out information as it
relates to the commission and
kind
[1:22:48] of get our name out there. She's
agreed
[1:22:51] to communicate, uh, or converse
with them to see what's possible
as
[1:22:54] it relates to that. So she's
gonna be the team lead on that.
[1:22:56] Uh, just clarifying, that's
[1:23:00] uh Atlanta ride, not OK, I just
want to make sure we were all
talking about
[1:23:03] this Atlantic ride. Yes, and we
actually have
[1:23:05] a city of Atlanta
[1:23:08] uh, structure process so we can
also collaborate which Gabrielle
[1:23:12] knows cause she's been in the
parade, we are, we ride in the
[1:23:14] parade, you know, so that's all
the same bucket, and if you want
to
[1:23:17] think about what y'all might
want to do with that piece as
well. We can
[1:23:20] Perfect. Alright. Alright, so we
have our commissioners that are
leads
[1:23:23] whatever y'all decide to do, I
trust you with it. I just wanted
to get the ball
[1:23:26] rolling, to start building those
relationships. All right, Tony,
do you have a vice
[1:23:29] chair's update?
[1:23:32] Pretty simple. We, um, we'll be
getting
[1:23:34] with Josh. He's looking at his
schedule, aligning
[1:23:37] with ours so that we can
probably
[1:23:40] do a uh a team's meeting
[1:23:42] to um take the documents that we
[1:23:46] have and um use them to
[1:23:48] think through how we will redo
the code and
[1:23:51] so those committees,
subcommittee members are
[1:23:54] task force committee members
[1:23:56] our commissioner Claiborne and,
you know
[1:23:59] your last name is literally
jumped out of my head in this
moment.
[1:24:01] But Madam Secretary. All right
[1:24:04] Bree is not present for the
treasurer's report
[1:24:08] Um, we'll move on to City of
Atlanta staff updates. We
[1:24:11] have on here Commissioner Baels
and headshots. Candice, do you
[1:24:13] want to just briefly go over
that? Uh, yes, thank you
[1:24:17] everyone for submitting those
who have submitting
[1:24:20] your headshots and bios. We are
updating the
[1:24:23] website, so please, um, if you
have not drop it into the
[1:24:25] folder and email went out about
[1:24:28] 2 or 3 days ago, just asking you
to do that. Um, and
[1:24:31] there's a folder that you can
put it in, so thank you for
[1:24:33] that. Um, additional ly um, just
FYI, we have
[1:24:38] uh, potentially two new members
who are interested. Obviously,
uh, Deborah Snell
[1:24:40] who recommended Chuck, we're
finishing up that
[1:24:44] conversation. We have another
potential member, Iman
[1:24:47] who, um, I would love to have a
commissioner chat with
[1:24:49] so if someone is interested in
doing that, let me know. I'll
[1:24:52] make the connection. Um, we
think she'd be a
[1:24:55] great appointment. She comes
recommended from a number of
[1:24:57] different um folks familiar with
the council
[1:25:03] um, and then we are working on a
FIFA training which I'm sure the
[1:25:05] chair will talk about, but that
is in process chair and we did
get a OK they'd like to do it in
[1:25:05] April
[1:25:09] so it's on the books, we just
need to figure out what we want
that to be. Um, and
[1:25:11] then I will be sending out the
[1:25:14] contact list for a final review,
you all, just so you have
everybody's
[1:25:18] phone number. I've had a couple
people saying I'm trying to
reach this person
[1:25:21] um, so make sure you, it's in
the folder, but I'll just put it
at
[1:25:23] the top of your box for final
checks on titles, all
[1:25:26] of that as well and then um as
[1:25:29] you all land the meeting
[1:25:32] uh, commissioner Burks with Josh
I just like to be in the
scheduling conversation from the
[1:25:32] beginning
[1:25:35] so we can make sure we're there.
Thank you. That
[1:25:38] concludes my report. Perfect,
Josh, do you have anything that
you'd like to update us with?
[1:25:42] Uh, no updates, but I, I
[1:25:45] mentioned to Commissioner Burks
that I'm looking
[1:25:48] to schedule that meeting for
next week. Um
[1:25:51] likely Thursday or Friday, so
I'm, I'll, I'll
[1:25:54] meet with you all uh offline
[1:25:57] to confirm. Yeah, right after
this to confirm
[1:26:00] a time, um, that is convenient
to
[1:26:03] everyone. All right, perfect.
Mario, do you have any updates
[1:26:06] ? Just in general?
[1:26:10] No, no updates currently. All
right, I
[1:26:12] wanna thank you all again. I
know I try to
[1:26:15] do it every opportunity that I
get, but I know that everybody
has
[1:26:19] a million 1 million things that
they could be working on, so we
[1:26:21] do appreciate uh your help to
the commission and
[1:26:24] your service to Atlanta. Alright
we'll move on to
[1:26:27] old business, uh, budget. I ask
[1:26:30] that we hold that budget vote
until
[1:26:32] the April meeting. I have a
meeting with Candace
[1:26:35] I invited Brie as well. That
meeting is gonna be scheduled
[1:26:38] for next Friday. We're just
gonna do a quick meeting just to
[1:26:41] discuss the budget and see if we
need to make it a revisions. So
is there
[1:26:44] a motion to move that vote until
the April meeting
[1:26:46] ? So move. All right, is there a
second?
[1:26:50] All right. All those in favor?
All
[1:26:53] those opposed? Any abstentions?
All right, we'll move that to
[1:26:55] the agenda for the April meeting
Next
[1:26:58] the FIFA meeting, I've been in
contact with Candace regarding
[1:27:01] that as well, just a training or
to have a representative come
and
[1:27:04] speak to us. Uh, the
representative
[1:27:06] has agreed to come to the April
meeting, so there's no need to
[1:27:09] do a virtual meeting. So as
[1:27:12] appointed FYL they'll be here
next month, OK? Alright
[1:27:14] we'll move on to new business.
The only thing I propose for
[1:27:17] new business was I wanted to get
our HOC
[1:27:21] form translated to Spanish so
that our
[1:27:24] Spanish speaking population uh
can have access to the form and
be able to
[1:27:27] read and understand it. Candice,
do you know how we would go
about doing that?
[1:27:31] Absolutely. We have that process
at the city for forms
[1:27:33] my one note might be to review
that form
[1:27:37] with all the pieces that
[1:27:40] uh, Commissioner Burks is
walking through because we said
there, there
[1:27:42] were some questions we had about
the form, but once it
[1:27:45] is finalized, um, immigrant and
international
[1:27:48] affairs provides translation
services for us. We also can
turn
[1:27:51] it into things like braille. We
can put it in
[1:27:54] multiple languages, um, we can
post it online with a screen
reader
[1:27:57] for folks who have visual um
needs. So yes
[1:28:00] um, but let's make sure it
matches your new structure and
then absolutely happy
[1:28:03] to translate. I love that. OK,
and we'll just
[1:28:06] uh just FYI I thought of that,
so I wanted to bring it to the
commission. So we'll
[1:28:09] table that for now, but my goal
is to have the form
[1:28:12] at least translated into Spanish
[1:28:15] uh before the end of the year.
OK, case
[1:28:18] review. So you know with these,
we kind of
[1:28:21] move relatively quickly. I ask
that our
[1:28:24] secretary just try to take as
many notes if you
[1:28:26] need me to slow down, Sarah,
just let me know.
[1:28:29] Alright. So going from the
master list
[1:28:32] that Commissioner Hunt Blackwell
sent out.
[1:28:35] a couple of days ago. We have
[1:28:38] Zara Punanni. That case, the
findings of facts
[1:28:42] have been sent out to the
parties. Correct me if I'm wrong
[1:28:45] Amaria. Those findings of facts
for the Punjani Dental
[1:28:48] case have gone out, correct?
Have we gotten any response from
[1:28:52] them? Have they said anything
one way or another? Alright. So
[1:28:54] that case is closed. Uh, we did
the hearing for
[1:28:57] that last time it's closed. Nay,
dear Panjwani
[1:29:01] uh, that case we heard today. Uh
[1:29:04] we gave them until Friday to
provide us
[1:29:06] with statements of facts. I use
those statement of facts
[1:29:09] to draft our findings of fact.
um
[1:29:13] I'll ask that, you know, I'll
keep commissioners updated
[1:29:16] in terms of the email of, of
when
[1:29:19] I'd like for you all to submit
your
[1:29:24] uh proposed findings of facts in
your votes for how to move
forward. My question is, I have
[1:29:24] a
[1:29:27] question for Josh. When I asked
commissioners to do it in the
[1:29:30] past is just send me an email
with whether or not
[1:29:33] they found discrimination, um,
in a
[1:29:36] short, you know, synopsis of
what they like included in the
findings of
[1:29:39] fact, can individuals send those
to me directly
[1:29:42] ? Do they need to go to the
group as a whole?
[1:29:45] They can send them to you
directly. Um, it, it, it
[1:29:48] may be helpful to the other
commissioners to know
[1:29:51] their thinking. So, uh, we'll
leave that to
[1:29:53] the commissioners, um, how they
see fit
[1:29:57] but, um, there, there's no
[1:29:59] requirements on how you
deliberate and
[1:30:02] uh ultimately how you express
your wishes to the chair
[1:30:06] All right. Great. So it's up to
you all, how do you, how
[1:30:08] do you decide to send me that
information. I will provide an
[1:30:11] email just stating the due date,
which will probably be Tuesday,
2
[1:30:14] days after all, uh, information
is closed. Tony, you had
[1:30:17] a response? So one of the things
that has
[1:30:20] has, uh, that I've wrestled with
[1:30:23] is when we have these hearings
and we get
[1:30:25] feedback, uh, what we hear from
[1:30:28] them, we don't have
[1:30:31] the time in real time like here
to kind
[1:30:33] of just talk through it
[1:30:36] um, even if I, you know, I know
there's more information coming
[1:30:39] in, but there's something to be
said for being able to kind of
[1:30:42] talk through it with this
[1:30:45] body and still take time to
reflect
[1:30:47] on independently and then send
you a statement. I know
[1:30:50] that is potentially more time,
but it's just something that
[1:30:53] has been on my mind, um.
[1:30:56] because there's an element of
what we do that's deliberative.
[1:30:59] and it feels weird
[1:31:02] to hear it them walk out and
then we
[1:31:05] go to the next item on
[1:31:07] the agenda. So just, just a,
just a thing about process
[1:31:10] that I'm processing.
[1:31:13] Is there from a legal
perspective, um,
[1:31:16] Josh, is there any concern with
the
[1:31:19] discussion after the case
concludes amongst the commission
[1:31:25] There isn't a legal issue, um.
[1:31:27] I, I'll note that while we're
still trying to figure
[1:31:31] out the recording of each
hearing. We are
[1:31:34] currently being recorded still,
even though the hearing
[1:31:37] has ceased, so, um, to
[1:31:40] the extent your deliberations
[1:31:43] um, uh, you wanted to keep them
private. Um
[1:31:46] they currently are going to be
broadcast
[1:31:48] but other than that, the
commission
[1:31:51] can build in a, a period
[1:31:54] um to discuss um what you were
just presented.
[1:31:57] And I will if you decided that
you did not want to
[1:32:00] be recorded if we turn off all
[1:32:04] abovehead microphones, they will
not transmit the
[1:32:06] audio, um, and then I can also
notify
[1:32:10] our recording team at different
times if we'd like to conclude
[1:32:13] the broadcast, or for the
recording, it's not broadcasted.
[1:32:16] What I recommend doing, because
I
[1:32:19] know specifically uh emotions
can be high
[1:32:21] especially right after the
hearing has taken place. So
[1:32:24] for us transitioning into open
discussion
[1:32:27] may may be um in
[1:32:30] my opinion, may not be the best
decision right after. I
[1:32:33] do welcome whenever we have
[1:32:35] um reflections that that if a
commissioner wants to bring up
[1:32:38] any reflections from the meeting
or from from
[1:32:41] the hearing, I think that that
may be the best just to
[1:32:43] give everybody a time a chance
to kind of filter out
[1:32:46] of the room. I really appreciate
that, um, chair
[1:32:50] I I think it's a great idea to
make space. The thing
[1:32:52] I would also offer as practice
of
[1:32:55] a commission, you're making a
group decision and
[1:32:58] so your ability to influence
each other and to
[1:33:01] think together about the
outcomes is a great idea and
[1:33:04] so if you can do that during
reflections, I think it could be
[1:33:07] beneficial um overall, and again
we can
[1:33:10] uh conclude the recorded portion
and determine how you want to do
[1:33:13] that. I, I would encourage us to
[1:33:17] consider a a a time just before
reflections
[1:33:19] that specifically on the agenda
for the times that
[1:33:22] we have hearings and that
specific
[1:33:25] item is to reflect specifically
on the case. Instead
[1:33:27] of having as just built in and
reflection as we needed
[1:33:31] have a specific agenda item that
draws us to that
[1:33:33] Now let me ask you this like
briefly while we're on the
subject
[1:33:36] so do you want to just to be
hearing reflections
[1:33:39] I would, I would put it as, um,
between L and M on
[1:33:42] the agenda as um
[1:33:45] hearing reflection and that
gives us all the in
[1:33:49] real time, the time for us in
this moment, it might be
[1:33:51] it might be as simple as simple
as. I don't even
[1:33:54] know what I think about this.
I'm still sorting through. I
cannot
[1:33:56] wait to receive the additional
information
[1:34:00] to inform my decision. That
might be the extent of it, but
[1:34:02] I think for us to have that
space because it might
[1:34:05] be and me saying that Gabrielle
[1:34:08] may say, hey, here's a thing
that might
[1:34:10] you might wanna consider looking
at in that short run.
[1:34:14] Makes sense. Sounds good to me.
All right, we'll add that to
next month's meeting
[1:34:18] um, and if there's any from
today, we'll allow, you know, 10
minutes depending
[1:34:21] on how much time we have, uh,
just to reflect about
[1:34:23] today's hearing, but I think
it's a great idea. And obviously
if
[1:34:27] the commissioners don't feel
comfortable depending on who's
in the room
[1:34:29] you're not required to say what
your opinion is of the hearing.
[1:34:32] OK. I have a question
[1:34:36] Uh, when will you ask for our
[1:34:39] decision? It's probably, I'm
gonna put it in an email, but
[1:34:42] it's probably going to be due by
Tuesday. I try to give a couple
[1:34:45] days after everything's due. And
in that regard
[1:34:48] last time you asked that
everyone
[1:34:50] send it to the group, but not
everyone did that
[1:34:53] And so there's also the
[1:34:56] timing of everything. Like if I
read, and I, I
[1:34:58] was a teacher for a long time,
and I know that
[1:35:01] sometimes students see what
someone else wrote, then they
write, Oh
[1:35:05] I want to, you know, I want to
write like that
[1:35:07] So we're biasing each other when
we
[1:35:10] do that, but on the other hand,
if not everyone does it
[1:35:12] then we're not seeing what
everyone wrote. So if
[1:35:15] we could all do the same thing
and have proper
[1:35:18] follow proper instructions that
would be helpful, especially
[1:35:21] as a new person in this, in
[1:35:23] this group. Yeah, so Josh just
spoke about that briefly
[1:35:26] So there's not a legal
requirement that we send it to
everybody
[1:35:29] so it's not um it's
[1:35:32] not mandatory that you send it
to the remaining
[1:35:34] commissioners, so it's up to you
guys. I mean, I can't
[1:35:37] stop you from CCing everybody,
but it's only due to me
[1:35:39] going forward. Is that OK All
right. OK.
[1:35:43] Next up we're gonna do number 4
on the list, which
[1:35:46] is DeA or DEPA Ghajar.
[1:35:50] uh, Miss Claiborne, you are you
are the
[1:35:55] HRC champion, but it doesn't
really matter because that case
[1:35:58] was dismissed last time. Uh
[1:36:01] Kaana Champion, which is number
5 on the list
[1:36:04] Miss Simpson was the
commissioner of that one
[1:36:07] was dismissed as well. Mr. Chair
[1:36:09] if I may, the on the spreadsheet
the ones that
[1:36:12] are highlighted are the ones
that are active. OK
[1:36:15] That actually helps me out a lot
OK
[1:36:18] Theodora Cruz, uh, there is an
update
[1:36:20] related to Theodore Cruz from OS
[1:36:23] or OCS A Maria, do you remember
the update
[1:36:26] for that one? Um
[1:36:29] and I'll have to follow up with
her
[1:36:31] her.
[1:36:35] I did speak with Alexis about
that case. Alexis, uh, is
[1:36:38] not feeling well today, so she's
not here. Miss
[1:36:41] Cruise did write back and she
responded that she would like to
[1:36:44] move forward with the case. If
you remember last
[1:36:47] time we gave her pretty much 30
days, say, hey, if we
[1:36:49] don't hear from you, we're gonna
dismiss this matter. She
[1:36:52] wrote back via text message. I
think that she's still
[1:36:55] uh, she doesn't have a permanent
address
[1:36:58] So based on her text message
that she
[1:37:01] wants to continue the case, we
could do a couple things
[1:37:03] and I think this is a great time
to bring this up. Josh
[1:37:07] and I have been having
[1:37:09] discussions surrounding how our
process looks formally
[1:37:12] I don't necessarily think that
every case warrants
[1:37:16] a hearing. Uh, we are a body
that has a myriad of things
[1:37:18] that we could do from as little
as
[1:37:21] you know, dismissing the case,
we could send a letter
[1:37:24] an official letter on behalf of
the commission, you know, to
[1:37:27] the complainant or to the
respondent, uh, with harsh
[1:37:30] language, but we don't have to
move forward with the hearing
[1:37:33] for every case. This specific
case involved an individual who
[1:37:36] uh does utilize the services of
a wheelchair
[1:37:39] She went to In Town Suites and
they pretty
[1:37:41] much told her that they didn't
have a room, a room
[1:37:44] available for her. Um, if you
remember
[1:37:47] that case. whether or not
there's discrimination, I don't
[1:37:50] know that's left up to us. We
can move forward with the
hearing
[1:37:53] if we'd like to. Um
[1:37:56] however, they've been, in terms
of the respondent
[1:37:59] pretty responsive in saying, hey
we did everything we could to
try
[1:38:01] to resolve this. We just didn't
have a room left. And she
actually
[1:38:04] went to another hotel who could
provide a room
[1:38:07] for her. Part of the situation
from that case was
[1:38:10] that she went in, they didn't
have a room. They said that they
there will be
[1:38:13] a period of time, uh, and so she
[1:38:15] checked back and as she stayed
there long and she
[1:38:19] had someone to pay for it. There
[1:38:21] they, they were the room became
available
[1:38:24] and they did not get it to her
[1:38:26] That's what came up in one of
the, one of the points about
that. So
[1:38:29] I just want to, to, to lift
[1:38:32] that and so that's where it kind
of got a little
[1:38:35] sticky when it was available
[1:38:37] she wasn't given the ability to
get into it And she ended up
going to
[1:38:41] another place because there was
a point when the statement was
[1:38:44] since she was in another place,
let's just let it go.
[1:38:47] which was odd to me, but
[1:38:50] that was back some months ago.
right.
[1:38:53] Do any of the other
commissioners have any thoughts
about this
[1:38:56] case moving forward in light of
the text message that she wants
to
[1:38:59] move forward.
[1:39:05] I believe that we should hear
her out if she would like
[1:39:07] if she would like to move
forward
[1:39:11] OK. How does that
[1:39:13] so both parties have submitted
responses for
[1:39:16] for this case so realistically
the next
[1:39:19] steps would be for us. What
we've been doing is scheduling
[1:39:22] a hearing as it relates to the
case. Do you all
[1:39:25] think that it, it's merits a
[1:39:27] hearing moving forward.
[1:39:31] How would we move forward if we
didn't hear her out?
[1:39:36] that she wants to move forward.
She wants to appear, I
[1:39:38] guess. Right. So that would be
up to us. We could, we could
tell
[1:39:41] her to appear to give us
additional information. We could
[1:39:44] schedule a hearing, it's not
[1:39:47] really a structured process that
we have to follow.
[1:39:52] For me, I guess the question is
[1:39:56] is the respondent uh
[1:40:01] disagreeing with the
complainants um
[1:40:05] assessment. If, if they, if they
are agreeing with
[1:40:08] it, then I don't think there is
necessary
[1:40:12] a hearing necessary. We can make
a determination based on that.
But if there is a
[1:40:16] if there's a disagreement in
[1:40:18] the position of, you know, like
Tony
[1:40:21] said, is, you know, was the room
[1:40:25] offered to her even when she had
paid it
[1:40:28] Then, then I think we need to
hear, hear
[1:40:30] folks out Tony, do you remember
[1:40:34] the specifics like surrounding
it? So, so
[1:40:36] as I mentioned when I got here,
I don't have access
[1:40:39] to my computer cause I left it
[1:40:42] at retreat Center 2 hours away
[1:40:45] I'm just remembering what stood
out for me
[1:40:48] from that particular case. I'll
go through my notes in just a
second and see if I
[1:40:51] have something from before, but
that's, that's all I
[1:40:54] I remember right away. Is
[1:40:57] us to review the documents again
and then make
[1:41:00] a determination on whether we
feel like a hearing is necessary
[1:41:03] Absolutely. So what we could do
is we can make a motion to move
[1:41:06] this case to the April meeting,
provided that uh during that
time period we
[1:41:09] reviewed the documents and have
the commission vote on how
[1:41:12] to move forward at the April
meeting. I make a motion
[1:41:15] Is there a second? All those in
[1:41:19] favor? Aye. Are those opposed?
Any abstentions
[1:41:22] All right, we've moved to table
that case to the
[1:41:24] April meeting so that the
commissioners can review the
documents and come
[1:41:28] up with a potential game plan
[1:41:30] Up next is #7 on the master
calendar, which
[1:41:33] is Bianca Tucker.
[1:41:36] Commissioner Simpson is the HRC
chair. I
[1:41:39] believe letters have been sent
out for that hearing. Amario, is
that correct?
[1:41:44] Yes. All right, so that's
scheduled for the
[1:41:46] May date. And Alexis was the one
that
[1:41:49] sent those out. Perfect.