There’s a picture of Christ on the wall above the mantle in the main common room and a few issues of the Christian Science Monitor scattered about a couple of end tables. On a bulletin board, Management has posted a schedule of AA meetings alongside information of local 12-step programs.
The floors are swept clean and the garbage hauled out daily.
On the surface, the lodgings appear to be comfortable and safe – healthy, in fact – for the Christian men who seek refuge at this YMCA residence in Glendale (CA).
But, don’t be fooled, folks!
The aging facility is wrecking havoc with transient – and mostly senior – tenants by virtue of a nasty bug infestation – and antiquated heating system – which render the premises uninhabitable by most standards around the country.
For example, one tenant has videotape documentation of a host of horrendous bites and sores on his legs, buttocks, arms, and shoulders which he suffered while renting a room at the Glendale YMCA.
When he complained to the management, the staff simply sprinkled a white powder (poison) around the edge of his single bed, floorboards, and front entry.
When the problem persisted, YMCA employees simply cast a blind eye to the problem.
For an organization that boasts that it practices the Christian Ethic, the attitude of the staff is deplorable.
In addition to the bites and open sores on the skin, tenants are also forced to shiver throughout the night because the broken-down heating system fails to properly distribute heat to all the suites.
Once again, Management has willfully and wrongfully neglected to find an equitable solution to the problem.
Bottom line?
Pay up, or shut up, appears to be the smug heartless response to tenants who only humbly ask that the “Y” provide a decent clean environment for the meager sums they can afford to pay ($145 - $165 weekly).
Complaints to YMCA CEO – George Saikali – have gone unanswered in spite of the fact he has been urged to take action by a “sister" Y in Chicago when the outrageous living conditions came to their attention in recent days.
Shame on Mr. Saikali and the YMCA for taking advantage of the impoverished and low-income individual who is unable to fight for his rights on the tenancy issues because of a lack of funding, resources, or physical capability.
The YMCA "wholesome" all-American image of good health and well-being has just gone down the drain as far as I am concerned.
By the way, the Glendale “Y” is where the producers for the box-office bomb “Can’t Stop the Music” filmed the infamous YMCA scenes featuring the hit single by the Village People.
Mr. Carr invited me down to the set one day to mingle and meet a couple of the actors cast in the musical comedy (Bruce Jenner and Valerie Perrine) as well as the director Nancy Walker.
Originally, I was being considered for one of the lead roles in the off-beat flick!
But, Steve Guttenberg – a heavyweight in the biz at that time – scooped the role out from under me!
Fans of the Village People may recall being titillated by one particular scene where a dozen or so buffed swim studs dove into the pristine waters of the pool at the facility in perfect synchronicity!
It’s sad that such a historic landmark has ended up in such a disreputable state-of-affairs.
Maybe the lyrics of the big YMCA number need to be updated to:
“It’s no fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!”
“It’s no fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!”
Unless you like to be eaten alive by giant cockroaches while you're shivering in bed every night!
And, how was your day?
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