Kill The Landlords, A Continuing Epic

From four days ago, an item about a possibly nearby dump:

The manager of a Koreatown apartment building allegedly offered housing benefits to female tenants in exchange for sex and entered their homes without permission, according to a civil rights lawsuit filed Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Abraham Kesary, who lives at the apartment building on South Western Avenue, allegedly sexually harassed female residents at the rental property from at least 2012 until at least 2020, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court.

The DOJ alleges that Kesary offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual acts, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, entered the homes of female tenants without their permission, and subjected female tenants to unwelcome sexual acts.

Kesary managed the apartment building on behalf of M&F Development, the property’s owner, who is also named as a defendant in the suit. The complaint alleges violations of the Fair Housing Act.

A representative for the property owner could not immediately be reached for comment.

“Mr. Kesary allegedly abused his power as a property manager to sexually harass and victimize vulnerable tenants for years,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement.

“Sexual harassment is a violation of the Fair Housing Act, and the Justice Department will do everything in its power to seek justice for victims of discrimination and harassment.”

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination.

“No one should be subjected to demands for sex, sexual comments or propositions in exchange for safe and affordable housing,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said.

“A home is a place of refuge; not a place to be subjected to degrading and unlawful harassment,” she said in a statement. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing the Fair Housing Act and holding landlords and housing providers accountable when they sexually harass their tenants.”

Big talk, but why did this go on "for years", Justice Dep't.?

Now here's a co-inky-dinky; just 10 days ago I took a few snaps of this bldg., amused by the desperation of the "Affordable" signs.

Something told me I should look it up, & bingo, one & the same!

This place is absolute trash. There are bedbugs and roaches, the apartments are so tiny, the stairwells smell like pee, and they will make up bullshit reasons to keep most of your security deposit. I'd strongly advise running in the other direction.