Virginia Sielicki (left) and Laverne Olson joined the rally outside the Southgate Square Apartments. Credit: Jim Stingl

I admit it. I raced out Thursday to cover a protest rally over conditions at a senior apartment complex because of one shocking detail left by the tipster who called this newspaper.

Brace yourself. Supposedly there were drinking parties at the complex and some of the oldsters were giving lap dances!

This kind of behavior upset some people. I'm guessing it will cause others to call Southgate Square Apartments and ask if they have any openings.

I drove up to the complex near S. 27th St. and W. Howard Ave. and noticed older folks walking back and forth with protest signs made from cardboard boxes and black markers. Some used walkers; others protested from their chairs in the shade, chanting slogans at the passing traffic.

It's a weird feeling to know you're about to wade into a crowd of agitated senior citizens and ask what they know about lap dancing on the premises.

The first person I met was Karen Peters, who looked like she might be in charge of the rally. She doesn't live at the federally subsidized Southgate Square, but her father, Syl Napierala, does. She said he's being evicted because of a false charge that he threatened a building manager. She's fighting it.

Syl then walked up. Seemed like a nice guy. I didn't know quite how to tell him that reporters, if they know what's good for them, don't usually get in the middle of landlord-tenant disputes. But I wanted to know about the lap dances. Karen said she had heard about this.

"A number of residents have said they are willing to sign a statement that this happened," she said. "Nobody has pictures."

Maybe that's for the best.

Another protester claimed she was at a party where lap dancing broke out among the over-served guests, but she couldn't remember what year it happened. She did say some older women there were pulling up their shirts the way they do in New Orleans to earn beads. Even if true, this is probably all legal.

Many of the protesters seemed to unite around a single issue. They were unhappy that a well-liked building manager named Ray had been fired. He was fair and attentive to their repair needs and other concerns, they said.

This faction carried signs saying things like, "No changes, keep Ray" and "Better cleaner living conditions, keep Ray." People driving past on busy 27th St. honked in solidarity, though it's doubtful they knew why, or had any idea who Ray is.

One protester insisted I show my press card to prove I wasn't a goon sent over to infiltrate the rally by the management company. Even more excitement ensued when the cops showed up and told protesters not to block the driveway of the Kohl's store next door.

Laverne Olson's sign said, "Seniors have rights too." She is 84 and this was the first time in her life she joined a protest march. Her main issue was keeping Ray, whom she called the best manager she has seen in her 20 years at the four-building, 235-unit complex. Others are less diligent about fixing problems, she said. Some are rude or disrespectful of the older residents.

I nodded as she spoke. Then I steered the conversation back to lap dancing. She had heard about it, but wasn't sure what the term meant.

"My daughter explained it to me. Terrible. Disgusting. Older people - who would think?" Laverne said.

Karen Peters gave me a three-page list of grievances by the residents. Lap dancing wasn't on there, but there is a mention that "certain residents have been allowed to sit outside half naked and drunk." Plus there were complaints about residents being intimidated and harassed by management. Complaints are ignored, except for favored residents, the list says.

The protesters numbered maybe 30. Others from the complex stood nearby and watched. One of those, Marlene Mentkowski, said she has lived there since 1983 and has no complaints.

The property is one of 79 in and around Milwaukee owned by Reilly-Joseph Co. Company manager Chuck Luber said a resident manager at Southgate Square indeed had been fired, but he couldn't discuss the details. He said the company has a stellar property management reputation spanning 50 years with superstar ratings by HUD, and that the protest was staged by a disgruntled few "antagonists" and was blown out of proportion.

I nodded into the phone. But about the lap dancing?

"That I never heard about," he said.

"Would you read a newspaper story about seniors at wild lap dance parties?" I asked.

"That would be interesting," Chuck said.

Exactly.

Call Jim Stingl at (414) 224-2017 or email at jstingl@journalsentinel.com