The top section of the Affordable Health Care Act reads: To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.... Click here if you'd like to read the 1990 pages of this Bill.
The 'and for other purposes' concerns me already, and I haven't even read the rest of the 1990 pages. It may not matter to our elected officials, but like many American citizens, I don't like the idea of Government taking control of so many areas of everyone's lives. Perhaps it's due to some of what I've already experienced and witnessed in their subsidized housing program.
If their Affordable Health Care program works anything like the government subsidized housing program at Rockland Place dba Spring Gate, I seriously hope it doesn't pass. Simply put, their housing program breeds corruption, disempowers residents, and victimizes people through non-compliance of laws and regulations. In reviewing this Health Care Reform Bill, let's keep in mind our government and H.U.D. promise safe, decent, affordable housing too.
Freedom can not ring in an oppressive society. This blog reflects thoughts, personal experiences, + several notes of interest on 'affordable' housing. What do you think of gov't financing nuisance properties? Rockland Place continues doing business as SPRING GATE APARTMENTS along Martha Drive + Hannah Way in Rockland, Mass. (shady business).
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Accessible for Whom?
Life at Rockland Place dba SpringGate Apartments is more difficult than it has to be for several residents, especially for those with a disability or handicap. This is due to leniency and non-compliance of rules and laws. Good luck to the handicapped in wheelchairs who need to gain access to 212 Martha Drive and other buildings in that area. The wheelchair-bound are not entitled to access certain areas.
Sidewalk ramps are extremely limited throughout this tax-credited property. If you're in a wheelchair, you'll likely be travelling in the street with traffic. Openings to dumpsters are situated in awkward ways and gates are left open to dumpster areas, which also proves problematic for handicapped residents to dispose of trash. Only handicapped units do NOT have screens available for the patio doors. While handicapped units have lit patios, most common areas remain dark.
Several handicapped residents haven't a handicapped parking space available, probably because there are more handicapped / disabled residents than there are handicapped parking spots. Additionally, some handicapped parking signs have been knocked over and Management hasn't replaced them for two years. Most people who aren't even handicapped are allowed to park in handicapped areas. Signs are faded and difficult to read. Delivery people use those limited designated handicapped spaces; people who are "just running in and out" use them; and people with no handicap who recognize Management's apathy, also park in those spaces without consequence.
Property owners and Management deceptively promised all residents daily shuttles to stores and the commuter rail for doctor appointments, etc. Considering the unavailable parking and lack of public transportation, this promised accommodation certainly would have made life more liveable at this subsidized housing complex.
From promised security cameras to the falsification of official documents, deceptive business practices here are widespread. Promised security cameras don't exist because they could reveal several obscene and unfair housing practices including those involved with distributing drugs and filthy feminine pads in the swimming pool and inside mailboxes. Security cameras could also expose the public nudity in common areas, vandalisms, break-ins, violence, and could even reveal illegitimate residents not listed on lease agreements.
MassHousing and Rockland Health Board fail to enforce State Sanitary Codes and other laws at Rockland Place dba SpringGate Apartments. Corporate partners and Management of this subsidized property have proven themselves to be above-the-law. The following violations inside SpringGate are obvious ones.....
105 CMR 410.000: MINIMUM STANDARDS OF FITNESS FOR HUMAN HABITATION (STATE SANITARY CODE, CHAPTER II)
410.253: Light Fixtures Other than in Habitable Rooms or Kitchens
(A) The owner shall provide and so locate electric light switches and fixtures in good working order so that illumination may be provided for the safe and reasonable use of every laundry, pantry, foyer, hallway, stairway, closet, storage place, cellar, porch, exterior stairway and passageway.
(B) The owner shall provide working incandescent light bulbs or fluorescent tubes in all required light fixtures in all common areas of any dwelling.
410.552: Screens for Doors
The owner shall provide a screen door for all doorways opening directly to the outside from any dwelling unit or rooming unit where the screen door will be permitted to slide to the side or open in an outward direction, provided, that in an owner-occupied unit, the owner need provide screens only for those doorways used for ventilation. All new or replacement screens in screen doors shall be of not less that 16 mesh per square inch.
Said screen door:
(1) Shall be equipped with a self-closing device except where the screen is designed to slide to the side; and
(2) shall be tight-fitting as to prevent the entrance of insects and rodents around the perimeter; and
410.553: Installation of Screens
The owner shall provide and install screens as required in 105 CMR 410.551 and 410.552 so that they shall be in place during the period between April first to October 30th, both inclusive, in each year.
Sidewalk ramps are extremely limited throughout this tax-credited property. If you're in a wheelchair, you'll likely be travelling in the street with traffic. Openings to dumpsters are situated in awkward ways and gates are left open to dumpster areas, which also proves problematic for handicapped residents to dispose of trash. Only handicapped units do NOT have screens available for the patio doors. While handicapped units have lit patios, most common areas remain dark.
Several handicapped residents haven't a handicapped parking space available, probably because there are more handicapped / disabled residents than there are handicapped parking spots. Additionally, some handicapped parking signs have been knocked over and Management hasn't replaced them for two years. Most people who aren't even handicapped are allowed to park in handicapped areas. Signs are faded and difficult to read. Delivery people use those limited designated handicapped spaces; people who are "just running in and out" use them; and people with no handicap who recognize Management's apathy, also park in those spaces without consequence.
Property owners and Management deceptively promised all residents daily shuttles to stores and the commuter rail for doctor appointments, etc. Considering the unavailable parking and lack of public transportation, this promised accommodation certainly would have made life more liveable at this subsidized housing complex.
From promised security cameras to the falsification of official documents, deceptive business practices here are widespread. Promised security cameras don't exist because they could reveal several obscene and unfair housing practices including those involved with distributing drugs and filthy feminine pads in the swimming pool and inside mailboxes. Security cameras could also expose the public nudity in common areas, vandalisms, break-ins, violence, and could even reveal illegitimate residents not listed on lease agreements.
MassHousing and Rockland Health Board fail to enforce State Sanitary Codes and other laws at Rockland Place dba SpringGate Apartments. Corporate partners and Management of this subsidized property have proven themselves to be above-the-law. The following violations inside SpringGate are obvious ones.....
105 CMR 410.000: MINIMUM STANDARDS OF FITNESS FOR HUMAN HABITATION (STATE SANITARY CODE, CHAPTER II)
410.253: Light Fixtures Other than in Habitable Rooms or Kitchens
(A) The owner shall provide and so locate electric light switches and fixtures in good working order so that illumination may be provided for the safe and reasonable use of every laundry, pantry, foyer, hallway, stairway, closet, storage place, cellar, porch, exterior stairway and passageway.
(B) The owner shall provide working incandescent light bulbs or fluorescent tubes in all required light fixtures in all common areas of any dwelling.
410.552: Screens for Doors
The owner shall provide a screen door for all doorways opening directly to the outside from any dwelling unit or rooming unit where the screen door will be permitted to slide to the side or open in an outward direction, provided, that in an owner-occupied unit, the owner need provide screens only for those doorways used for ventilation. All new or replacement screens in screen doors shall be of not less that 16 mesh per square inch.
Said screen door:
(1) Shall be equipped with a self-closing device except where the screen is designed to slide to the side; and
(2) shall be tight-fitting as to prevent the entrance of insects and rodents around the perimeter; and
410.553: Installation of Screens
The owner shall provide and install screens as required in 105 CMR 410.551 and 410.552 so that they shall be in place during the period between April first to October 30th, both inclusive, in each year.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
More Waste in Housing Programs
HUD counseling funds tripled despite criticism
By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Federal funding for a housing counseling program carried out by local non-profit groups such as ACORN has more than tripled since 2002, even though it has been criticized by government auditors for failing to show results. President Obama's budget calls for a 54% increase next year – $100 million in all – for the program, .......
By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Federal funding for a housing counseling program carried out by local non-profit groups such as ACORN has more than tripled since 2002, even though it has been criticized by government auditors for failing to show results. President Obama's budget calls for a 54% increase next year – $100 million in all – for the program, .......
Friday, October 16, 2009
Housing Fraud Continues
Housing fraud continues at the HUD subsidized Rockland Place dba SpringGate Apartment complex. Though reported to authorities for several years, Management continues to allow several people to live in apartments without listing their names on occupancy agreements. This common practice gives an inaccurate accounting of some household incomes and becomes costly to legitimate residents and taxpayers.
Hedge fund leaders gain clout-The Boston Globe
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