Read in Spanish

Amid allegations of neglect, tenant intimidation and hazardous living conditions, housing advocates rallied last Tuesday in South Tucson to demand the ouster of landlord Brian Bowers.

Participants delivered an “eviction notice” addressed to Bowers, the owner of the embattled Spanish Trail Suites, where a recent fire left residents without power and city officials say more than 800 emergency calls were made last year.

Organizers with the Tucson Tenants Union gathered at the El Camino Hotel across the street while Bowers stood at the Spanish Trail entrance with an armed security guard.

The group moved to an abandoned gas station beside the property, reading the eviction letter aloud, detailing their demands and discussing the property’s many issues. Bowers left before the letter was delivered.

The union’s demands include:

• Making necessary repairs to the property;
• Reimbursing tenants who had previously covered the cost of damages;
• Providing relocation assistance to those who need it.

“We have been taking on Brian Bowers for over a year, because he is preying on a vulnerable population to make money,” said Tucson Tenants Union volunteer Nick Bruno. 

Bruno said the property’s issues are just a symptom of a larger problem. The union isn’t only focusing on Spanish Trail, but has broader goals of pushing for rent control at the state level.

“It’s not a housing crisis, because there is housing. It’s a tenants crisis because landlords are exploiting those who need these things,” said Bruno. “When inspectors look into his properties, they most likely face condemnation, and it needs to be paid for by Bowers. Any money he has, has been made off the backs of others.”

Tuesday’s rally wasn’t the first action community members have taken regarding Spanish Trail, nor is it the first time Bowers has been on the radar over conditions and crime at his properties. The union said more than 800 911 calls about the property were made in 2023.

There have been several protests involving locals and members of the South Tucson City Council since last year, with one council member even suggesting picketing at Bowers’ house.

In February, the city of South Tucson filed a lawsuit against Bowers, saying he had failed to take action to address crime at his properties.

Court documents show the city gave Bowers 60 days to address the issues in the lawsuit, which included installing fencing, CCTV cameras, roving security and fire extinguishers.

On May 8, South Tucson filed a second lawsuit against Bowers after a fire broke out at the Old Spanish Trail Motel, a property adjacent to Spanish Trail Suites. The damage left some tenants without power and the city calling for the motel’s demolition, since this was the third fire at the property since last year.

“It wasn’t a fire, it was an arson. When the man was arrested, he was released 12 hours later,” Bowers told Tucson Spotlight. “I saw him again a week later near the property, so the police were called again, and he was released two hours later. He was found guilty today and he is still not in jail, and to me that is a bigger problem.”

Bowers confirmed that after the fire, some tenants went several days without power, saying that because it took place on a weekend, it took more time to get contractors out to address the issue.

“I’m not sure how the union’s actions help tenants. I get along with my tenants and (the union) just seem to want to make negative comments about me,” Bowers said. “The complex’s conditions are up to code and meets standards, I have the cheapest studios in South Tucson and the union just seems out of touch.”

Bowers claimed that none of the people at Tuesday’s event live in South Tucson, saying that residents don’t support their cause.

“Bowers is the worst slumlord in Pima County, not just Tucson,” said South Tucson Councilman Brian Flagg. His properties are “not kept up, and tenants are mistreated.”

Flagg said the council proactively reaches out to tenants and that residents come to them “all the time” over issues with the property.

Flagg, who has worked at Casa Maria Soup Kitchen since the 1980s, said the organization recently tried to buy the complex, but that the price Bowers wanted was too high.

“People are angry about him, but they're also angry about what he creates, in terms of an unlivable community with drugs, prostitution and everything else,” said Flagg. “We’re suing him again to get rid of him and today is part of putting pressure on him, so that he gets the message that he needs to go.”

Flagg said South Tucson’s limited resources prevent the council from fully addressing the issue, calling on the broader community for support.

“We’re a really poor square mile. We need help from the community, Tucson, and Pima County, who are helping us with this,” Flagg said. “It's immoral to commodify housing, and to make it a thing where people are getting rich while other people are getting thrown on the street to live undignified lives. We’re organizing to change it.”

Colton Allder is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact him at callder1995@arizona.edu.

Tucson Spotlight is a community-based newsroom that provides paid opportunities for students and rising journalists in Southern Arizona. Please support our work with a paid subscription.