KTVU 2 Investigates wins Edward R. Murrow Award
KTVU's 2 Investigates team is honored to receive a 2016 Edward R. Murrow Award for continuing coverage of the dangerous and unsanitary conditions at an Oakland residence hotel.
2 Investigates went undercover at the Empyrean Towers, and over the course of our six-month investigation we revealed a nightmare that just never seemed to end for the tenants. Despite promises from city officials to hold the building owner accountable, we discovered that nobody in the city government was truly enforcing code violations or ensuring overdue repairs were actually completed.
Our investigation led to the city of Oakland filing a lawsuit against the hotel owner for repeat code violations, illegal evictions, and even abuse of tenants. A judge also placed the building into receivership, giving day-to-day control of the property to a third party, and ordering the owner to finally pay for repairs. Recently, a federal bankruptcy judge approved the sale of the building to a non-profit affordable housing developer.
WATCH THE SERIES OF REPORTS HERE:
CLICK THROUGH THE INTERACTIVE INVESTIGATION: