[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKlWYr7ofvM&w=420&h=315]
(Video and summary by Jonathan Meier)
On Christmas Eve, 2011, a family of three were killed in a house fire in the Columbus, Ohio neighborhood of Franklinton. They died when a space heater ignited a blanket while the family was sleeping. The house they were staying in — owned by Sam Vazirani of Dublin — did not have a working furnace, and had been cited by the City of Columbus two years prior for being uninhabitable. Vazirani rented this home out to the family despite it being illegal to do so.
In January, a group of concerned residents of Franklinton have begun organizing for housing justice in the neighborhood. The group is starting by calling for the prosecution of Sam Vazirani for three counts of reckless homicide to ensure that tragedies like this never occur again. The group is also actively interviewing residents of the neighborhood and working hand-in-hand with other landlords to improve living conditions.
This video is an interview of a man living on Princeton Ave in Franklinton and staying in another one of Sam Vazirani’s properties. This, too, is an illegal home and is uninhabitable, and yet Vazirani continues to rent it out without any intention of repairs being made.
As you will hear, the furnace has not worked the entire time the family has been there (6 months), there has been and continues to be standing water (at least 4″) in the basement, and the household electrical wiring is in violation of code.
Join us in protest Wednesday, January 25th from 8am-11am outside the Franklin County Courthouse to push for Vazirani’s prosecution and to work to improve housing for our community. For more information or questions regarding the protest: Contact Jed at jeddearing@gmail.com
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