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Stonybrook residents react to Dr. Ben Carson appointment

Posted at 11:47 PM, Dec 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-05 23:48:15-05

President Elect Donald Trump has appointed Palm Beach Gardens resident Dr. Ben Carson as the new secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department.

The move comes during an ongoing investigation into a local government run Riviera Beach apartment complex.

Our Contact 5 Investigators first exposed living conditions at Stonybrook. The renters are living with mold, roaches, and some without air conditioning.

It prompted a visit from Senator Marco Rubio.

Now tenants are hopeful Carson could bring change. 

RELATED: Riviera Beach city leaders, Senator Rubio push to crackdown on owners of Stonybrook Apartments

"Hopefully he can do something to help fix it," says Shatoya Harris.

WPTV spoke to Harris back in September when Rubio visited. She spoke out about the conditions in her apartment.

"Scratching in the wall. I'm scared at night."

Monday night she says the issues still linger.

"Mold. Mold in the vents," says Harris.

Rubio launched a federal investigation into property owners Global Ministries Foundation.

Riviera Beach city leaders also called on HUD to take action.

If approved, Carson would take over in the new year as HUD Secretary.

Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, has no government experience and has never run a federal agency.

Tenants at Stonybrook are hoping he has was it takes to make changes.

"Watching him on TV, he is the person for this," said a tenant.