Violence and Tragedy Emerge in Rockland

A SMALL TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS SUFFERS
TWO MURDERS WITHIN TWO YEARS
     JANUARY 1, 2010 --  Stephen F. Harvey, 55, of Hanover was fatally stabbed in a rooming house at 5 Union St., Rockland, Mass. in the very early morning hours.  He was pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.  Michael Purcell, 48, of 5 Union Street was arraigned on charges of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in Hingham District Court.  
      JULY 8, 2011 -- Tina C. Gonsalves, 37, of 50 Concord Street, Rockland, MA was taken to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, where she died shortly after 2 p.m. from a fatal shooting inside her home.  She is the victim of an alleged drug-related home invasion.  Gonsalves is survived by her children, Todd J. Dorsett, Aaron J. Dorsett, Dasia Lynn Dorsett and Alanna Rae Silvia, all of Rockland.     *************************

     MARCH 8, 2010 -- Roberto Perez, 18, of 57 Church St., Rockland, was arraigned Monday in Hingham District Court on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The vicious attack left a 16-yr. old bleeding from repeated stab wounds on Church St.
     JUNE 30, 2010 -- Shane Perez, 17, and Aaron Dorsett, 18, were charged with two counts of assault and battery on a public employee and assault and battery, disorderly conduct and disturbing a school.
    JULY 21, 2010 --  Two Rockland brothers were arrested after allegedly robbing someone at gunpoint during a drug deal at Rockland Place Apartments dba Spring Gate.  Aaron J. Dorsett, 18, and Todd J. Dorsett, 20, who both live at 50 Concord St. in Rockland, were due to be arraigned at Hingham District Court.

      The tax-credited MHFA and HUD-financed Spring Gate Apartment complex is located on Martha Drive and Hannah Way.  This 204-unit housing complex is within a short walking distance of 5 Union Street and 50 Concord Street.   Purcell, the Dorsett family, and a few others who are allegedly involved in drug deals and violence lived at Rockland Place Apts., also known as SpringGate.  Some of the problems continue to frequent and/or reside at this subsidized property with management's and authorities' unspoken knowledge and selective enforcements.
     See more of Rockland's Hidden Treasures by clicking on the highlighted text within the articles above and this link.... http://www.wickedlocal.com/rockland/news/x902793615

Let's Support the Live-ins

Well, it's that time again!  July 10, 2011, residents of Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments received another notice from the Spring Gate Property Mismanagement Team of a meeting scheduled with residents and MassHousing for Monday, 6:00 pm, July 25, 2011 at the Community Room. 
     This is a formal notice of another proposal to raise their 'affordable into perpetuity' rents.  They incorrectly list the FHRC Management office as 30 Martha Drive, Rockland, Mass.  This corporate affordable-housing landlord is now receiving over $1000.00 monthly for most subsidized units.  They also receive undeserved low-income housing tax credits.
     The notice lists 5 creative reasons for this request to raise rents up to $1495.00  monthly.   One item states the subsidized property is in very good condition overall, but there is a plan to replace 24 bathtubs in 2012.  Is this how they plan to clean-up the hushed-up crime in this housing complex?  Again, there's no mention of the installation of those promised security cameras; just be sure to check each of the lug nuts on each tire of your vehicle before exiting their parking lots. Click here to see other violations that continue to exist.
     SpringGate's notice fails to mention Management's silent approval of live-ins who continue to use utilities.  Here's just one suggestion to help improve the budget at Spring Gate: List all live-in's names on legally-binding lease agreements and include every resident's income.  Oh, and let's not forget those privileged tenants who remain in oversized apartments that Ms. Janet Hamilton cleverly calls, 'Affordable Penthouse Suites', reserved for residents who remain silent.
     It appears unenforced policies, including live-ins who are allowed numerous parking spaces and threatening behaviors, are just some of the benefits, exclusive for Management's privileged households.  Of course, an annual MassHousing inspection never reveals these serious, unfair, and unsafe housing issues.  Do you think Management's request to raise your rent will really be approved by MassHousing once again?  Probably so.
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  In Massachusetts, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is the allocating agency for tax credits. Can you name every individual involved in the ownership of Rockland Place Apartments, unofficially doing business as Spring Gate?  Are partners and investors receiving 4 percent or 9 percent (LIHT) Low-Income Housing Tax Credits?

Another Murder in Rockland

     Within walking distance of Rockland Place dba SpringGate Apartments, another person was murdered.  Fifty Concord Street is a 5+ unit, 3-story, multi-family residential building and is considered another trouble spot in Rockland, Mass.   Some residents in the neighborhood complained of drug activity and frequent police visits prior to the shooting. 
     It's troublesome when landlords claim to do background checks on all their tenants, yet continue to rent to violent people and druggies.  Some landlords may avoid putting felons on a lease by playing the ignorant game of, "But we didn't know our tenant had a live-in, so how could we possibly know to check his/her criminal history?"  These deceptive business practices and unenforced policies easily creates a nuisance neighborhood.
      Rockland police and investigators looked over paperwork at the building where Tina C. Gonsalves was fatally shot yesterday. Investigators believe a wounded man also was a victim of the shooting.  The woman was taken to South Shore Hospital for surgery after being shot in her apartment around 7:40 a.m. yesterday and died just after 2 p.m., Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’s office said.  An unidentified man was dropped off at a different hospital, ....... (Read more by clicking here.) http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/07/09/woman_killed_man_wounded_in_rockland_shooting/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Massachusetts+news