Dear Neighbors & Concerned Citizens,

I am writing to bring your immediate attention to a critical issue that is not only endangering the lives of approximately 450 families residing at Versailles Apartments Woodland Hills but also causing immense distress to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. We urgently need your support to compel Equity Residential, the property management company, to address the dysfunctional fire alarm system that is consistently sounding false alarms in the middle of the night, posing a grave threat to the safety and well-being of residents, particularly disabled individuals, the elderly, babies, children, and pets.

Imagine the fear and anxiety experienced by disabled individuals who rely on assistance or specific arrangements during emergencies or the stress endured by the elderly who may have difficulty navigating through chaotic situations. Picture the panic that ensues when parents are woken from sleep, forced to calm screaming babies & children and ensure their safety in the midst of these false alarms. Not to mention the terror that some beloved pets go through by being regularly exposed to these high-pitched sounds for extended amounts of time.

Furthermore, as these incidents occur in the middle of the night, with no on-site manager being able to assess the situation, our residents have to wait for the entire fire crew to show up every time to reset the alarms: trucks + manpower + tax-payers money are being wasted due to a dysfunctional system.

AN ENTIRE FIRE CREW THAT IS BEING SENT OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY TO RESET A FALSE ALARM IS A FIRE CREW THAT WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE IN REAL DANGER! 

The fire captain of our local Fire Station in Woodland Hills has shared with us the data: For the past 2 years Versailles Apartments has been subjected to 37 FALSE FIRE ALARMS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT disrupting the lives of residents and creating an environment of mistrust.

These alarms, devoid of any genuine fire or danger, have eroded the faith of residents in the system meant to protect them. As a result, most residents no longer evacuate their apartments during these false alarms, fearing yet another malfunction. This lack of trust in the alarm system poses a severe threat to the safety and well-being of everyone residing in the building.

WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN THE DAY WHEN A REAL FIRE ARISES??

Equity Residential, the management company responsible for maintaining safe living conditions, has unfortunately failed to address this issue with the urgency and seriousness it demands. Instead of acknowledging the malfunctioning fire alarms as a significant concern, they have attempted to shift blame onto individuals smoking within the building. This is in direct contradiction to the non-smoking policies in place, which are inadequately enforced by the management.

We, the concerned residents of Versailles Apartments Woodland Hills, implore you to join us in signing this online petition demanding that Equity Residential takes immediate action to rectify the dysfunctional fire alarm system and ensure the safety of all residents, particularly the disabled, the elderly, children, and pets. By signing this petition, we will send a powerful message to Equity Residential that their negligence and disregard for our well-being, and that of the most vulnerable among us, is utterly unacceptable.

We believe that as part of cost-cutting policies Equity Residential has not deemed changing the fire alarm system a priority and our research has shown that fire alarms dysfunctions have been happening in other Equity Residential Properties (https://twitter.com/vnsta3003/status/1635799510017363973?s=20) 

Your signature will not only support the residents of Versailles Apartments who deserve to live with safety equipment they trust and not fear those high-pitch wake-up alarms in the middle of the night.   But this is also a signature to respect the time and hard work of our beloved firefighters which are already working tirelessly in a region prone to many dangers.

Sign the petition today and share it widely with your friends, family, and social networks. Together, our voices will be heard, and we will hold Equity Residential accountable for their actions.

Thank you for your compassion and commitment to the well-being of our entire community. With your support, we can create a safer environment for all.

Sincerely,

Agatha Altarovici, Resident
Adam Brummet, Resident
George Conte, Resident
Annie Creech, Resident
Ronit Schwartz, Resident