Editor:
I am disgusted with the roach infestation problem at Christopher City! Over the weekend I helped a cousin move into a two-bedroom unit of Christopher City. She, her husband and 1-year-old daughter were very excited about moving from their small, northwest area studio apartment to the larger two-bedroom family unit. When darkness fell, the "roach communities" came alive and out in large numbers, invading the apartment of the new tenants of Christopher City. Believe me, there were dozens and dozens of roaches coming out of cracks in the ceiling and door frames, from underneath the refrigerator, kitchen cabinets and carpet. The scene was pretty disgusting and what made matters worse is their personal belongings are now plagued with roaches.
Fortunately, my cousin and her family were able to move out of the apartment to a temporary storage site until they can even begin to grasp how the problem is to be resolved. I was terribly upset for them and angered by how a complex can allow families to move into such an unsanitary environment, not to mention the fumigation odor that made you sick to your stomach!
I'm concerned about the safety of the many residents of the complex since roaches carry so many germs and diseases. The roach problem is a terrible nuisance and degrades the living conditions for the families who have no choice but to live there. Obviously, one can say that if you don't want to live there then simply go elsewhere, but that does not solve the problem. I'm not sure how we can begin to deal with the problem and I think it's absurd that as a university we don't take some sort of immediate action to improve the living conditions at Christopher City.
I warn any prospective tenant to be aware of any unsightly living situation you are moving into and I sympathize with current Christopher City residents who have to put up with the problems plaguing their family housing community.
Karen Francis-Begay
Staff
Dept. of Language,
Reading and Culture