Property Owner, City and Redevelopment Agency Accused of Systematically Allowing Mold- and Leak-Infested Low-Income Lodging to Fall into Disrepair

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - According to a July 2 complaint filed by tenants of a moldy, defect-ridden single-room occupancy hotel, the property owner, property manager, city and city redevelopment agency have conspired to evict the tenants using a plan of "aggressive, targeted code enforcement" in order to acquire the property for redevelopment without offering relocation assistance or comparable replacement housing. Lamar Shufford, et al. v. Sam Menlo, et al., No. RIC 377645 (Calif. Super. Ct., Riverside Cty.).

The plaintiffs allege that the defendants have systematically and purposefully allowed the Riverside, Calif., University Lodge "to fall into severe decline and disrepair" so …