When Yorkiss Ramos and her family initially relocated to Denver two years ago, they were drawn to an apartment complex that offered affordable rent and minimal paperwork for leasing.
Upon moving to a building on Aurora’s Nome Street in 2023, the 35-year-old Venezuelan immigrant found herself feeling trapped in a run-down apartment infested with rats and bed bugs. She was apprehensive about the reported gang activity in the area and the escalating anti-immigrant sentiment nationwide. Despite reaching out to the property owners, CBZ Management, for assistance, Ramos claimed her requests were disregarded.
“The apartments were in poor condition when we rented them,” Ramos explained in Spanish during a recent interview. “People chose these options because they were the most economical. We had just arrived in the country, without jobs, unaware of the laws, and clueless about our surroundings.”
In August 2024, the city of Aurora mandated the evacuation of Ramos and other occupants from the 98 units at 1568 Nome St. due to the deteriorating state of the property, attributing the mismanagement to CBZ. The New York-based company, however, shifted blame to a Venezuelan prison gang and local authorities.
The situation involving CBZ’s properties in Aurora quickly became entangled in a presidential campaign centered on immigration, with then-former (now current) President Donald Trump making promises of deportation campaigns targeting gangs like Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization.
As the national spotlight intensified on foreign gangs, city officials proceeded to secure Nome Street, and Google Trend data reflected a surge in searches related to Tren de Aragua.
A year later, Ramos, along with other tenants, City Council members, local leaders, and a growing number of legal representatives, continue to grapple with the aftermath.
Many tenants from CBZ’s other problematic properties have relocated while attempting to maintain a low profile. Some have been detained and deported, and a lawsuit filed by Nome Street tenants against CBZ remains unresolved in court.
The blame game between the company and city officials has transitioned from media platforms to courtrooms, with recent filings revealing the acknowledgment of Tren de Aragua’s occupation of one of CBZ’s properties by the city.
Policymakers at various levels of government have enacted new laws, ordinances, and policies to enforce stricter regulations on negligent landlords. State investigators have launched inquiries into the deplorable conditions at CBZ’s properties.
Meanwhile, in Aurora, efforts are underway to shed the negative reputation that garnered international attention.
“There was a widespread belief that we were under siege—gangs roaming the streets, taking hostages. That was the prevailing image people across the nation had of Aurora,” Councilmember Alison Coombs remarked. “For some, that perception hasn’t entirely dissipated.”
Displaced tenants have felt the stigma more acutely, with many struggling to find stability and security in their new living arrangements.
Nome Street remains deserted and dilapidated, along with CBZ’s other two Aurora properties. Immigration authorities conducted raids in February, detaining individuals, including one individual from a CBZ building who was not associated with any gang.
As the legal battles between the city and CBZ unfold, the legacy of the company and the city is still unfolding, according to attorney Stan Garnett, who represents CBZ in legal proceedings.
The narrative surrounding CBZ’s properties transcends the gang allegations, as complaints and legal disputes predate the involvement of criminal elements.
For tenants like Ramos and Hernandez, the aftermath of the Nome Street saga has left lasting scars, with challenges in finding new housing and rebuilding their lives in a hostile political climate.
While the city of Aurora pursues legal action against CBZ, efforts are underway to prevent similar situations by implementing stricter regulations on landlords and addressing housing issues proactively.
Amidst the turmoil caused by the CBZ properties, residents continue to grapple with the trauma and uncertainty of their circumstances, striving to find stability and security in a challenging environment.
