CBS12 News Team

Tempers flare as residents, mayor fight unlivable conditions at Riviera Beach apartment complex

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. -- Tempers flare as a local mayor stands with residents complaining of dirty and dangerous conditions at an apartment complex. The owners of Stonybrook apartments say they need time to fix the problems. But residents and Mayor Thomas Masters aren't willing to wait.

HUD tells CBS 12 Stonybrook passed inspection. But instead of comforting residents, it's angering them. Our cameras tonight catching a city leader in a one-sided shouting match with the management.

"Fix it and fix it now, as my grandmother would say. I don't like it worth a dam about what's going on at Stonybrook. I'm not leaving. I'm going to be here on the property you're going to have to put me in jail," said Riviera Beach Mayor Thomas Masters.

Police didn't arrest Riviera Beach Mayor Thomas Masters tonight, but after this heated exchange with Stonybrook's property management officers escorted him off the property. Tempers flare as residents level allegations of downright dangerous and dirty living conditions.

"We need help and we're crying out the city of Riviera Beach to help us."

"These people are here because they are tired and sick of living with rats, roaches, sick of living with mold. Sick of going to the hospitals," said Mayor Masters.

Our cameras found inside some of the apartments flooded rooms, belongings ruined, residents in tears.

"You guys need to leave the property," said property management officials.

Unlike the mayor we left when we were told. But because of that we don't have new information from management about how they're responding to this latest outcry. New owners recently purchased Stonybrook from another group for about $12 million.

Tuesday night, the city held a meeting with the residents, the owners and HUD managers. Residents accuse HUD of bad inspections. Owners tell CBS 12 off camera that they're spending tens of thousands of dollars to fix the problems. But for the residents and the mayor, they're not moving fast enough.

"We want the rats out now. We want the mold fixed now," said Mayor Masters.

While the management is fixing some of the flooded apartments, the residents are staying at a local motel. We're told they will be paid back for those expenses.

Wednesday, August 8 2012, 11:39 PM EDT

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