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Jaye and supporters strategizing with her lawyer Robert Patillo about next steps in her housing struggle.
When a judge calls you a “model tenant” and states that he would love to have you as a renter, you assume he would rule in your favor. However, this assumption was disproved last Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 when a DeKalb County judge concluded that Jaye Crawford’s landlord, Hugh Trotti of Warehouse Lofts, is not obligated to renew her lease.
Even though the judge admitted that Jaye’s behavior was that of an ideal tenant, the language in Jaye’s contract with her landlord prevented him from ruling in her favor. An asset to her community for over a decade, Jaye was ordered to leave her home within a week during her Friday morning court hearing against Trotti.
Approximately 10 supporters, mostly affiliated with Occupy Our Homes Atlanta (OOHA), sat in the audience as Jaye, a personal fitness trainer and political activist, defended her and her young daughter’s right to stay in their home of 14 years. During his testimony, Trotti claimed that he did not renew Jaye’s lease because she allegedly complained about new appliances installed in her loft. Even if his claim was true, is making a complaint a legitimate reason to not renew someone’s lease?
As a tenant of Warehouse Lofts, Jaye stood up to her next door neighbors, who caused major disturbances in her building, including spitting on her front door. It appears that Warehouse Lofts has targeted Jaye simply because she is a woman who is unafraid to stand up for herself. Now Jaye has been ordered to leave her home by Monday, Sept. 30. In a matter of days, she needs to find a new place to live that is suitable for her to conduct her livelihood as a fitness trainer and that will allow her daughter to stay in same district so she’s not forced to change schools.
Regardless of Friday’s judgment, Hugh Trotti has absolutely no valid reason for refusing to renew Jaye’s lease. OOHA believes this is a case of housing discrimination. We will continue to struggle alongside our comrade Jaye to ensure fair renters’ rights for all!
