N.Y. Family says mold in apartment makes them sick

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Family says mold in apartment makes them sick

6/18/2005 9:09 PM

By: Carmen Grant, News 10 Now Web Staff

http://news10now.com/content/all_news/?ArID=44282 & SecID=83

At first glance, their apartment looks like any other home, but it's

what's lurking in the corners that the Starkey family says is making

them sick.

" My daughter who is seven missed a whole week of school because she

was ill, " Joanne Starkey said. " She was in the hospital. She had an

ear infection. She had sinus infections. "

For two years, the family has been dealing with what they say is a

mold infestation. The Starkey's say it all started when their

ceiling caved in because of a sewage problem.

The family says after that mold started growing everywhere.

" The kitchen cabinet is rotten out behind drawers, dressers anyplace

where the sun doesn't shine. Often even the sliding glass doors are

the window frame mold everywhere you look, " Starkey said.

Starkey is now in the hospital. He says the growth has made

him sick.

His wife show us letters from the county's Health Department. So

far, the family says the building's management has done very little

to fix the problem.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Mold problem?

A Baldwinsville family says a mold infestation in their apartment is

making them sick. Joanne and Starkey say for two years

they've been dealing with a mold problem in their home. News 10

Now's Carmen Grant reports.

" We got the Health Department involved in it. They never did hire a

remediation crew like they were told to do. Nothing has been done,

but the one time they went in a few weeks ago and washed up the mold

and where they washed it up, it's already growing right back next to

it, " said.

The Starkey's say other tenants have also complained about mold in

their apartments but the couple says many are afraid to speak out

because of fear of retaliation.

And that's what the family says is happening to them. They say

Baldwin Reality which manages the building is trying to evict them

because the family didn't file the necessary paperwork to qualify

for low income housing.

Their subsidy was also evoked.

" They are claiming we didn't re-certify and now they are entitled to

their rent but in fact they are the ones who messed up our subsidy,

so that was take away. Not only did they take away our subsidy we no

longer get our utility allowance. We can't pay our electric, we

can't pay our phone, " Mr. Starkey said.

The family is praying for miracle.

" We have no place to go and no where to turn, " Mr. Starkey said.

We tried contacting Baldwin Realty, but no one was available to

comment.