Residents blast landlord who they say ignored calls to address bugs, problems

Landlord Gary Carlson was a no show at a mock trial held Monday at Christ Lutheran Church in Albany Park. Tenants rights groups organized the event to address concerns with the property owner. In 2021, the city added Carlson to its do-not-lease list. (Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times)

Bernie Smith used to think Gary Carlson did a good job responding to tenants’ complaints.

That was nearly 20 years ago, when Smith and his family first moved into one of Carlson’s properties.