Tenants Confront Landlord Over Pending Eviction, Repairs After Marching To His Home

Durham, NC – On Sunday (Feb. 21), members of the Garden Terrace Tenants Union and community supporters marched to landlord Jonathan Dayan’s house to demand that he collectively negotiate changes to the lease, as well as renew the lease for a tenant facing eviction. The tenants, who have been organizing since last fall, are demanding a lease that would ensure prompt repairs, controlled rent, and protections against evictions.

“The landlords don’t hold up their end of the bargain – they don’t respond to us,” said Marcos Calix, who has rented an apartment at Garden Terrace, a 55-unit apartment complex located at 2003 House Avenue, for six years. “They use neglect to drive us out, then remodel and raise the rent. We want to stay in our homes because this is our community and we want to not be forced out due to rent hikes, lack of maintenance, or refusals of the landlord to renew our leases.”

Sheila Crawley, another Garden Terrace tenant and union member, spoke at the demonstration. She is currently facing eviction through non-renewal of her month-to-month lease, despite being up to date on rent.

“I want a place I can come home to without always worrying about finding an eviction letter there. This collectively-negotiated lease would give me peace of mind, to know repairs will be done in a timely manner and that I and my family have a place to stay. We just want to feel secure in our homes.”

When the crowd of 130 demonstrators arrived outside of Dayan’s house, he promptly began yelling at the tenants and their children, and later called the police. The tenants were not deterred by his threats, left peacefully, and declared that they will continue to fight for their rights. “What I’ve seen is that building a union and collectively putting pressure on the landlord is the only way we’ll get these problems truly fixed,” said Crawley. “We’re ready to keep fighting.”