ATLANTA — Many of the residents of Friendship Tower in Southwest Atlanta say they can no longer cope with the building's broken air conditioning system. On Sunday, they went to church to try to convince the owners to help them.
"It's 87 degrees in my apartment right now. If you go in the halls at Friendship Tower, in the halls it's like 90. Maybe even 100,” tenant Sharon Bridges said.
On behalf of the 90 lower income residents who call the tower home, a group took their complaints to the worship service of the building’s owner, Friendship Baptist Church.
"I just don't believe a people who call themselves a church, would allow these conditions for some of the most medically fragile, some of those who are the sickest among us. If we won't fight for our senior citizens, who will we fight for?” Community activist Derrick Boazman said.
Residents say the problem has dragged on for over a month, even winding up in court. A judge ordered the building’s management to fix the AC. While lawyers for the tenants say they’ve been allowed to stay rent free for the month of July, and window units have been provided, they’re still suffering.
"Where are the people who are supposed to help God's people? Where are they?” Bridges said.
Tenants say Friendship Church’s pastor will visit the tower on Monday.