Tenants of the South Tucson Housing Authority (STHA), lined up to speak about their poor living conditions, a lack of compassion from the Housing Director Irma Gonzalez and to demand her removal from the position at a South Tucson Special Meeting on Sept. 29. They represented a newly formed tenant union to advocate for the interests of those living in STHA residential units.
The STHA is the local agency that manages public housing for low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities. Located at 1713 S. Third Ave., the housing complex is made up of two buildings — one houses low-income families while the other is for elderly and people with disabilities. In total there are 172 apartments available for South Tucson residents, according to their website.
“This is a place where people with low income, people with disabilities, people of elderly age, people who require the most care, the most love and compassion,” Marisol Herrera, an organizer with Tucson Tenants Union, said. “(Gonzalez) has used their particular vulnerability as a way to increase her own power, abuse the power of the role… and the lack of oversight to achieve whatever goals she has, whether they be financial or personal.”…