Troops Sue Military Housing LCC
170 military families sue MacDill AFB housing owner, alleging toxic mold, dangerous conditions
A similar suit was filed in 2019. Since then, attorneys said nothing has changed, and conditions have gotten worse.
Author: Miguel Octavio
TAMPA, Fla. — Families at MacDill Air Force Base said toxic mold and dangerous living conditions have made them sick for years.
A federal lawsuit was filed by 170 service members and their families against the private operator that owns and manages the military housing at MacDill. The lawsuit accuses The Michaels Organization, LLC, along with other affiliated companies, of creating and concealing unsafe living conditions.
On top of toxic mold, families said they’ve dealt with collapsing carport ceilings, persistent water damage, and structural defects, among other issues.
Leah Mullins left her home on Harbor Bay just this past April after she said her family dealt with mold for nearly two years.
“It is heartbreaking and it is devastating to these families. Some have no choice but to stay, and for our family, we couldn’t stay. We could not risk that,” Mullins said.
Mullins said the mold would make her, her husband, who serves in the U.S. Air Force, and her two children sick. One of her daughters, she said, had to be picked up from school 17 times last year due to illness.
“I was scared. I was terrified because this is where my children sleep, and they were always sick,” she said.
She said there was no report of problems in her housing’s history that alarmed her family. It wasn’t until she said she was in touch with a previous tenant and realized they had been previously displaced and had other work done, including duct replacement and remediation, did she learn of issues at Harbor Bay.
“None of that was on my seven-year history,” Mullins said. “I really trusted them to show me everything that was happening in the home before we took the home over, and that wasn’t the case. I feel taken advantage of and lied to.”
Mold was reported at MacDill 6 years ago
10 Tampa Bay News reported on a similar lawsuit in 2019. Despite Congress taking action, an attorney representing the families said “nothing has changed.”
Tell me again about civilian-run Commissaries.
Category: None
Oh no!
A long, long time ago, during the Clinton years, did TDY at Fort Buchanan. Had to stay on Post.
It was not pleasant. The shower was filled with green and black mold. Pulled back the covers on the bed…a couple of cucarachas scurried away…
Room reeked of cigarette smoke, mildew, urine..
Don’t even ask me about the thin, worn out carpet on the floor. If it was carpet…
One station on a very old outdated TV set. Watched the Simpsons. No English. Spanish. Me no speak Spanish. Took German in Jr High, High School and College…
Went to Front Desk and asked if I could go to another room. No room available. Asked if someone could clean the room. Was told maid already cleaned room.
Brought this situation to my Chain of Command. Was told they would look into it. Yeah. Right.
Chalked it up that I had a roof over my head and was only there 3 days. Managed to get some Ajax, Lysol, Clorox, Bugspray and a wee bit cleaner towels and sheets. Never saw a maid the entire time.
Have no idea what conditions are today at Fort Buchanan.
Went to Korea/2ID with a follow on to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Finished my year at Camp Casey with orders to Ft Ord. Retention Branch wanted me to do 9 months at Ord and then after Ord shut down head to Lewis with 9th Infantry. Got back to Ft Drum to get wife and clear quarters and drove to Ord. Got quarters with ocean view and 6 empty houses as neighbors. Finished my time and got a quarters inspection…had to replace 2 burnt-out light bulbs to pass inspection even though we were the last occupnnts before demolition.
Good. The advantage here is that they don’t have to get permission to sue. If they can’t offer safe housing than fire them.
IMHO DOJ needs to look into this most rikki-tik
Given who’s been in charge before the current administration, I wonder how many politicians’ hands got greased in order for that outfit to get the contract and do no work?
No doubt the folks in the meeting today with SecDef and CinC will continue to be baffled by their branch’s retention issues.