Working-Class Leaders in TN Fight
Poor Housing Conditions
“Luchar! Crear! Poder Popular!” is the chant for Poder Popular, an organization led by working-class people here in Tennessee. It translates from Spanish to English as “Fight! Create! People power!”
On Feb. 10, one of Poder Popular’s tenant unions organized a picket protest for the conditions at Suburban Mobile Home Park off of Murfreesboro Pike in Antioch. The conditions tenants alleged include rent hikes, poor water management and harassment. Organizations in North Carolina — Action NC, Southern Workers Assembly, and United for a Fair Economy — joined with Unidos Por Un Cambio, “United for a Change” to deliver a copy of their demands to the main office of the company who owns the homes, Jones Estates/Stackhouse Management in Durham.
Tenants allege the management company charged excessive fees, like $100 for leaving Christmas lights up past a deadline. In the beginning of December, the management company also changed its parking polices and began towing tenants’ vehicles. Towing fees often start at $485, and many tenants say the policies weren’t fair because they target parking spaces that tenants were accustomed to using without issue.
“I want to say that since they began towing we have had no peace,” Emilliano, one of the residents, said. “They are taking the cars. They allow us only two, but we all need more than two cars because we need them to go to work, to move, for any reason, not because we only want to park them. Since the tow trucks began coming, sometimes they do not let us sleep until 3 or 4 AM, then at 6 AM more arrive and are there all day. Sometimes working with expired plates.”
One of the organizers with Poder Popular said the towing began in December of 2024.
“That’s what actually triggered the members to organize — and these parking policies do seem to be happening in many many states as well,” an organizer named Chavela said. “They’re spreading like a wildfire.”
High school students at Antioch High School, where a recent school shooting added to growing unease, worry often about the new parking policies. Residents say that tow trucks that circle the neighborhood looking for cars to tow are driven by armed drivers. One student, Mitzy, gave a speech during the protest to explain how the management has been affecting the youth especially.
“What happened at Antioch High School has been traumatizing for all of us,” she said. “We feel like we should feel safe, and we don’t at the moment. And then when we come home, we also live with fear and do not feel safe because of the management here at Suburban, Jones Estates. We are afraid that we are also going to get our cars towed — This new rule is taking away our opportunity to drive and to start working as well. That’s why we are organizing — to have dignity and respect in our community.”
Students are forced to find parking at nearby businesses instead and walk from there. The predatory towing continues to cause further damage by causing a trickle-down effect that keeps residents from health appointments. Because the management company does not staff an in-person office in Nashville, residents allege that they often have to leave concerns on a voicemail system. They often receive no follow-up. Silencing tactics like this are often used to make tenants feel powerless.
“We’ve seen all kinds of stuff,” an organizer said. “I remember some landlord removed somebody’s toilet and sink for participating at the town hall to get the maintenance issues fixed… as retaliation.”
Councilwoman Tasha Ellis listened to the residents’ testimonies for two hours as the group sat outside in the snowy 20-degree weather the week following the picket protest. Residents worked together to provide a heated tent for the meeting with Ellis. Students gave their speeches, introducing themselves as Justicía de Jòvenes, “Youth Justice” and said they were there to fight alongside their parents for justice in their community. Since that meeting, Ellis has requested an inspection from Metro Water Services and the Metro Codes Department.
Katie Bratcher is a volunteer for Poder Popular.