Breast Cancer Survivor's Bronx Apartment Plagued by Severe Rat Infestation Despite HPD Citations

71-year-old Cora Robinson, a breast cancer survivor, has spent nearly a year battling a severe rat infestation in her Bronx apartment, a situation she describes as a daily struggle for survival. Despite multiple complaints to the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), which has cited her landlord, Asden Management, for 561 open violations—206 of which are classified as 'Class C'—the infestation persists. Robinson, who now sleeps with a piece of plywood across her kitchen floor to deter the rodents, said the rats have grown so large they leap over the barrier, rendering her efforts futile.

The infestation has taken a severe toll on her health, exacerbating the physical and emotional strain of her cancer recovery. Robinson reported sleepless nights, loss of appetite, and a fear of hospitalization due to the unsanitary conditions. 'I can't sleep, I'm not eating,' she said. 'If I don't stop this, I'm going to wind up in the hospital.' Her dog's food, water, and bed are now confined to her bedroom to avoid contamination, a measure she calls 'terrible' but necessary. 'If you turn the oven on, it smells like them,' she added, describing the pervasive odor of rodent droppings and decay.

Robinson's plight is part of a broader pattern of neglect at the building, where over 30 tenants sued Asden Management in 2023, alleging years of disrepair. The lawsuit cited issues such as broken appliances, mold, leaks, and recurring rat infestations. Sherene Morris, another tenant, described living with a nonfunctional stove and a broken fridge, despite multiple requests for repairs. 'They didn't respond,' she said. The HPD's citations, which include violations related to pest control and habitability, underscore systemic failures in maintaining safe living conditions.

Legal representatives for the tenants, including Douglas Henderson Jr., emphasized that the demands are not extravagant. 'We're not asking for the yellow brick road,' he said. 'We're just asking for a decent place to live.' However, the case remains pending, and Asden Management has not publicly addressed the allegations. Meanwhile, Robinson's frustration grows. 'I'm just done,' she said. 'I'm so disgusted because it's not right that I should have to live like this.'

Public health experts warn that prolonged exposure to rodent infestations can lead to serious illnesses, including hantavirus and leptospirosis. HPD's failure to enforce corrective actions raises questions about accountability and the city's ability to protect vulnerable residents. For now, Robinson remains trapped in a home she can no longer afford to leave, her battle against the rats a stark symbol of systemic neglect in New York's housing crisis.