Governor Andrew Cuomo is expanding his investigation into Five Star Management, the subsidiary management organization of The Stagg Group, owners of three troubled buildings on Webster Avenue in Bedford Park, over allegations the management firm has completely mismanaged a portfolio of properties.

“No one deserves to be subjected to these conditions and I am ordering the relevant state agencies to expand their investigation to all properties managed by this company,” Cuomo said in a written statement on Nov. 2. “If true, we will take all steps within our power to remedy this situation and help ensure these New Yorkers have a safe and decent place to call home.”

The complaints include reports of non-working elevators, broken locks on common space doors, mold and bedbugs inside apartments, and drug use by outsiders within the properties. The Stagg Group, a prolific builder of properties across the Bronx, has a litany of properties in and around Norwood.

The investigation began after tenants at another property managed by Five Star Management complained to the New York Daily News of poor quality of life conditions. The building at 3677 White Plains Rd. is connected to the Acacia Network, a social services provider with state contracts hired to provide visiting mental health professionals and other services to individuals transitioning from homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. A second report by the publication, this time focusing on the Webster Avenue properties, attracted Cuomo’s attention. The Norwood News first began reporting on conditions since October last year.

The investigation is no surprise to Zxavier Simpson, a tenant organizer who lives at 2985 Webster Ave., one of the buildings now under investigation. “I’m happy this [the investigation] is happening,” Simpson said in a phone interview.

Over the past year Simpson, with the help of local elected officials and community activists has organized the Bedford Park Manor Tenants Association in an attempt to rectify complaints brought to the attention of management. The Bedford Park Manor is comprised of three buildings at 2985, 2987, and 2999 Webster avenues.

Since last year, Simpson has approached the Bedford Mosholu Community Association (BMCA), Community Board 7’s Housing, Zoning & Land Use Committee, the offices of Councilman Andrew Cohen and State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, and the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, in a campaign to publicize the conditions and get The Stagg Group to remedy their complaints.

“[The Stagg Group] met with us, but they don’t listen to us,” said Simpson. “We’ve complained about a leaking roof and it still leaks. We complained about mold, they come paint over it and it reappears. It’s like they don’t want to work with you.”

Barbara Stronczer, president of the BMCA, which connected Simpson to the various agencies and groups he met, remembers when Simpson initially came to the group’s meeting with complaints about living conditions at the Bedford Park Manor.

“I’m somewhat surprised to hear about these investigations. It was my understanding that things were getting better,” Stronczer said in reference to Simpson’s original complaints at 2985 Webster Ave.

Five Star Management vehemently disputes the Cuomo’s characterization of their properties. In a written statement to the Norwood News, Javier Monroy, property manager at Five Stars Management, describes the complaints as carried out “by a handful of disgruntled tenants,” singling out Simpson. He counters that management has records and security camera footage showing that they “have been denied access, gotten redundant and unsubstantiated claims of floods, mold, lax security and infestation.” Monroy further describes the group’s record keeping as “flawless.”

“We are very proud of every building we manage and welcome visits and inspections at any time,” Monroy said, adding that state agencies have begun its investigations at the White Plains Road building only to find no traces of bedbugs.

Simpson, however, is grateful that Cuomo is looking into the complaints against the Stagg Group and Five Star Management. He admits that his constant work on the matter has taken a toll on him. “I moved to the Bronx from Harlem because of the promise of better housing. Now I don’t know if it was worth it,” Simpson said