KC apartment complexes not required to provide air conditioning

Air conditioning is not a requirement for apartment complexes in Kansas City, Missouri.

In the new Tenants Bill of Rights, which was established in December, under section 56-188, it states that all units must provide heat, not air conditioning.

SOON ENOUGH FORPEOPLE LIVING WITHOUTAIR CONDITIONING IN OURAREA.KANSAS CITY DOESN'TREQUIRE LANDLORDS TOPROVIDE A-C FORTENANTS.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER JORDAN BETTSTALKED TO PEOPLE WHOWANT THAT TO CHANGE.Bobbi C, lives in apartment"it's very hot.

It has to be atleast 95 degrees up there."PEOPLE WHO LIVE HEREAT GABRIEL TOWERAPARTMENTS ARE OUTPROTESTING AGAIN FORTHEIR AIR TO BE BACK ANDRUNNING.Bobbi C, lives in apartment"We have elderly people upthere.

These are hot towers.Fans are just not doing it."YOU WOULD THINK HAVINGSOMETHING LIKE A-CWOULD BE AREQUIREMENT...BUT IT'SNOT IN KANSAS CITYMISSOURI.THE NEW TENANTS BILL OFRIGHTS IN KCMO,ESTABLISHED BACK INDECEMBER, UNDERSECTION 56-188, IT SAYSALL UNITS MUST PROVIDEHEAT...NOT AIRCONDITIONING.Tara Raghuveer, KC Tenants"We have been fighting thisfight."TARA RAGHUVEER WITHK-C TENANTS TRIED TOPUT THIS EXACT ISSUE INTHAT BILL.BUT, IT WAS TAKEN OUTFOR THE FINAL DRAFT.Tara Raghuveer, KC Tenants"I hope we can see a changenow that we have seen a veryvisceral illustration of whathappens to elderly folks, topeople with disabilities whenthey are denied that basicbenefit."Jordan Betts, 41 Action NewsReporter"Things are moving quicklyhere.

KC Tenants has steppedin to help and now tenantshere have created a union.They have a list ofrequirements of things theywant changed and say theyare tried of living like this."COUNCILWOMAN MELISSAROBINSON SPOKE WITHTHESE PEOPLE ONMONDAY.SHE SAYS SEEING THISMADE RETHINK THEORDINANCE.Melissa Robinson, KCMO CityCouncil Member 3rd District"We are going to reach out toour city planning division totalk about with the origin ofthis particular ordinance is,what is it relevance and whatare some of these otherfactors that we need to lookinto as it relates to being ableto update those items."TENANTS WHO LIVE THISAPARTMENT SAY NO ONESHOULD HAVE TO LIVE LIKETHIS AND EVERYONESHOULD HAVE RIGHT TOAIR CONDITIONING.Tara Raghuveer, KC Tenants"It's a basic requirement thatpeople need to live in a placelike Kansas City.

We haveknown that for a long time."IN KANSAS CITY JOR