UPDATE: Residents at 7500 South Shore Drive in Chicago have banded together to form the 7500 South Shore Tenants Union, just weeks after a militarized raid by federal agents shocked the community and made international headlines.
Gathering in the cold on Monday morning, the remaining 36 residents voiced their frustrations over deteriorating living conditions as they prepare to vacate the building. The formation of the union follows a Cook County judge’s recent decision to appoint a third-party receiver to manage the property and order its evacuation.
“We are hoping for livable conditions while people prepare to move,” said Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together. “Right now, these conditions are not livable.” Many residents are grappling with severe health and safety issues, including lack of heat, electricity, and rampant infestations.
The infamous raid on Sept. 30 was part of President Donald Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz, targeting Latino immigrants. Agents armed for combat descended from helicopters and stormed the building, detaining many residents, including a significant number of Venezuelan migrants. Since then, the Department of Homeland Security has provided little clarity regarding the arrests, which included 37 individuals, with no criminal charges filed against them.
As the cold weather settles in, conditions have worsened. Resident Mashawnda Price recounted her struggles as a single mother: “I’ve had to go weeks without power, gas, and a working shower.” She emphasized the urgent need for basic necessities, stating, “It’s a building that is falling apart from the inside out.”
In a court document filed on Monday, the building’s ownership claimed attempts to improve conditions were hampered by safety issues, including recent criminal activity. Meanwhile, the city has proposed a move-out deadline of Dec. 12, but uncertainty looms over when residents will actually be forced to leave.
The newly-formed tenants union has outlined several demands to the management company, including the restoration of essential services, removal of hazardous conditions like sewage and mold, and $7,500 in relocation assistance for each resident.
Despite a federal judge’s appointment of Friedman Communities to oversee the property, residents report no contact or action taken since the change in management. Tenant Darren Hightower expressed skepticism: “Nothing has really happened since the judge appointed them. We have not heard from the company.”
As the community grapples with uncertainty, the formation of the tenant union signifies a critical step toward reclaiming dignity and fighting back against systemic neglect. “Who got the power?” chanted residents as they celebrated their newfound solidarity.
The situation at 7500 South Shore Drive serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities amid government crackdowns and inadequate housing conditions. As developments continue, the fight for basic rights and humane living conditions in Chicago remains urgent and unresolved.
