By
Irene Hsiao
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Complex "red tagged" by TPD for next 120 days
Red-stickered apartment units and poor management are contributing to UA students' dissatisfaction with living conditions at Jefferson Commons - a complex that is geared specifically toward college living.
Apartment units and UA students living in Jefferson Commons, 850 E. Wetmore Rd., are being branded with red stickers for violating city of Tucson code of ordinances section 11-140 titled "loud or unruly gatherings unlawful." The ordinance states, "An unruly gathering is a gathering of five (5) or more persons on any private property, including property used to conduct business, in a manner which causes a disturbance of the quiet enjoyment of private or public property by any person or persons, and shall be unlawful."
Light poles in front of a unit that are slapped with stickers indicate all the apartments have violated the city ordinance. Individual apartment windows, the swimming pool and the computer room have also been tagged with the neon-orange stickers.
Jefferson Commons' management could not be reached for comment.
Jennifer Hunt, a management information systems junior living in the complex for the consecutive second year, said the increase of red stickers is probably because of Tucson Police Department's stricter enforcement of drinking laws.
"I think it's partly because of the Tucson Police underage drinking task force," she said.
Hunt said the police know they will come to the complex for disturbances.
"We feel like it's a way for them to pre-punish us, they know they have us in a corner," she said. "
Hunt said she doesn't attend parties that often, but some of her friends are disappointed with the "tense" atmosphere and blames the management for the problems.
"I think the management needs to maintain a better relationships with the tenants and (instead of) just sending out a notice saying, 'You guys did it to yourselves.'"
Jefferson Commons management sent out a letter on Sept. 11 telling residents that TPD will monitor the apartments and any disturbances could result in arrests. The arrests may also cause evictions, according to the letter.
The letter goes on to state, "It's unfortunate that a few have ruined the community for us all. After the initial 120 days, these stickers will be removed."
Ryan Vance, political science sophomore and a first-year resident in the complex
"I'm really disappointed in living here, it's just been a let down," he said. "This place isn't just as fun as used to be."
Vance, who used to visit friends at the complex last year and then moved in, was red-ticketed two weeks ago when he had about 15 people in his apartment and who were milling around the unit.
He said last year there were "huge parties" and police "didn't arrest anyone."
"Now they just look for people in apartments - they're kind of violating their privacy," he said.
Stacie Schaner, a physiology junior, is moving out this week because she is fed up with the overall atmosphere of the complex.
"I'd rather live somewhere that's not as nice," she said.
She agrees the complex should be red ticketed.
"I think it's good, but the management should do something about it," she said.
Schaner is also displeased with finding raw meat in her car, the trash and rent prices. She is subletting her room out.
"The management doesn't do anything," she said.
Since there has been a lack of action taken by the management, some students feel trapped by their leases.
"The general feeling is we're suffering til May and (then we'll) move out," Hunt added.
