Friday, November 13, 2009

Let's NOT Build More

How did crime and violence become 'the norm' in HUD, DHCD, and MassHousing financed multifamily housing complexes? 

September 2008, The Patriot Ledger reported some of the crime and violence in Rockland, Massachusetts with an accurate description of a multifamily apartment complex.  This wasn't the first and isn't the last incident of crime and violence on this 'newly renovated' subsidized property.  Some 'nonresidents' live with residents while management conveniently looks the other way.  And where are those promised security cameras?  Here is an excerpt from the published news story describing Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments.

.....reported this year at the Spring Gate apartment complex, formerly known as Rockland Place, he said.

The 35-year-old housing development is home to 204 rental apartments, including 193 apartments for low-income tenants. For more than a decade, it has been a hot spot for crime in Rockland, including rapes, beatings, shootings and knife attacks.

On Aug. 26, two police officers were nearly struck by rocks at a back-to-school event at the Spring Gate apartment complex. In July, two residents were charged with beating another man with rocks.

It’s an apartment complex, and any time you have an apartment complex with a lot of people squeezed into a tight geographic area, you’re going to have problems,” Lt. Barry Ashton said.
To read the entire Ledger article, click here.

Lt. Barry Ashton's comment offers little hope to good residents in this type of subsidized housing. It offers no solution or honest intention to deter crime at Spring Gate.  His apathetic attitude toward crime in Rockland Place and/or Spring Gate Apartments reflects that of corporate management, owners, and government officials. 

When laws and regulations aren't enforced, subsidized apartment complexes like Rockland Place dba Spring Gate harbor crime and imprison the innocent.  These mismanaged multifamily properties are allowed to become a neighborhood nuisance.  Corporate landlords may continue to benefit from running nuisance properties, but nearby homeowners suffer when their private property decreases in value.

Supplying more government grants and tax monies to non-compliant landlords is wasteful and does not provide safe, decent, affordable housing.  'Affordable Housing Certificates', issued directly to law-abiding citizens, could be a better way for HUD to provide safe, decent, affordable housing to the needy. These issued certificates could also provide the freedom to choose a respectable place of residence with more control and accountability.  If 'apartment complexes with a lot of people squeezed into a tight geographic area cause problems', building and financing more subsidized apartment complexes like Rockland Place and Spring Gate should be discouraged. 
************************************
The Patriot Ledger - posted May 15, 2009
Hingham District Court
A charge of malicious destruction of property worth more than $250 against Armando M. Oliveira, 19, of 212 Martha Drive, Rockland, was dismissed by Judge Mooney due to lack of prosecution. The offense was alleged to have occurred July 9 in Rockland.

Charges of assault and disturbing the peace against Nilton Rodriques, 31, of 110 Martha Drive, Rockland, were dismissed by Judge Patrick Hurley. The offenses were alleged to have occurred April 16 in Rockland.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Healthy Housing

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.

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.

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, .......

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

Hedge fund managers - a secretive, lightly regulated group portrayed by some as villains in last year’s financial meltdown - appear to have a new degree of clout on Capitol Hill in shaping legislation that will determine how they will be regulated......Posted using ShareThis

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

HUD OK's $69.7m in loan guarantees for the Hub - Daily Business Update - The Boston Globe

HUD OK's $69.7m in loan guarantees for the Hub - Daily Business Update - The Boston Globe

Posted using ShareThis

*****************************************
Sept. 14, 2009, around 8:00pm: Minors on roof reported....One minor attempting to break a screen on the 2nd landing at 100 Martha Drive. Two boys on roof threatening to throw bricks at another juvenile.  Two young girls close hall windows on 2nd floor and would not let the boy in off the roof. More damage to hallway screens.

Sept. 22, 2009, 11:15pm:  Group fight and disturbance starting from 110 Martha Drive toward bldg. 210.
**************************************
Monday, April 6, 2009 - 7:46 a.m. Martha Drive, domestic dispute. Arrest: Patrick Carbone, 25, 230 Martha Drive, Rockland. Charges: Domestic assault.
2:08 p.m. Hannah Way, escort other.
10:41 p.m. Martha Drive, disturbance.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 - 9:21 p.m. Union St., motor vehicle stop. Arrest: Michael Campbell, 39, 32 E. Water St., Rockland. Charges: Warrant (credit card fraud).
10:35 p.m. Hannah Way, unwanted guest, rape.


Wednesday, April 8, 2009 - 2:36 p.m. Hannah Way, animal complaint.

Friday, April 10, 2009 - 12:56 a.m. Martha Drive, disturbance-neighbor
4:43 p.m. Salem St., motor vehicle stop. Arrest: Felix Rodriguez, 26, 358 Lowell St., Lawrence. Charges: Possession with intent to distribute Class B substance, possession of Class B substance and warrant for leaving scene of property damage.
6:36 p.m. Martha Drive, missing person.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Spring Gate's Misleading Ad Corrected

Click here for Spring Gate's Misleading Advertisement on For Rent.com -- Corrections made below:
Spring Gate Apartments-Rockland, Massachusetts, 1-866-927-6761
    Just look at all you get when you rent an apartment at Spring Gate:  
  • All new renovated homes (noisy garden-style apartments)
  • Tenant-paid cable, satellite, broadband, internet, phone
  • Air Conditioning for extra monthly fee. (We provide a hole-in-the-wall.)
  • New building exteriors (multi-colored siding) 
  • Broken Intercoms and Shoddy Repairs 
  • Wall-to-Wall Carpet (black spots included) 
  • Fully Applianced (Use at your own risk.) 
  • Eat in Kitchens* (Betchya never ate in a kitchen before!) 
  • Energy Efficient Windows (with easy access for intruders) 
  • Instant contact with the apartment community (even when you don't want it) 
  • Wooded Views (fires and coyotes included) 
  • Nearby stream (w/floating trash, overgrown weeds+shrubbery)  
  • Swimming pool (with sanitary napkins and other surprises!) 
  • Community room (for rent increase meetings + more) 
  • Playground (bring your own playground equipment) 
  • Great access to Rte. 3 and I-95 (no promised shuttle rides available + 1 taxi in entire Town) 
  • On site management (doesn't comply with laws + leases) 
  • Income guidelines apply (drug income concealed) 
  • Your choice of a dead-end street for a dead-end lifestyle 
EXTRAS INCLUDED:
  • No Charge for Live-ins
  • Neighborly jailbirds, drunks, drug dealers, and troublemakers
  • MOONlit moments with courtyard brawls and reBUTTals 
  • On-Site property vandalism (destruction of your property too) 
  • Flying Bricks from Rooftops! 
  • Amateur fireworks with plenty of unsupervised children 
  • Screaming, cursing neighbors, slamming doors 
  • Red and Blue Light Specials! 
  • Retaliation, Threats, and Harassments by Management   (Zip-Your-Lip Specials) 
  • Limited Disability Access and Unfair Housing
  • Deceptive Business Practices
  • Limited or no resident parking spots
  • No public transportation or promised shuttles (good luck getting to a courthouse) 
  • Guest Parking (unpaved mudhole allows for 8 vehicles) 
  • Pet Policy (We discriminate and allow aggressive pitbulls!) 
Some emailed comments and reports from readers:
1. Vandalism seems to be acceptable behavior in Spring Gate Apartments. Many tenants are afraid to come forward due to repercussions from, not only the children, but also from the parents.
2. People whose names are not on the lease live here unaffected by management; they own their own businesses and flourish; often get your life threatened.
3. Kids do not move out of the streets when you drive with your car. If they are in a good mood that day, they will just give you the finger and take your lug nuts off your car later that evening for making them move out of the streets.
4. People going to my apt. for oxicontin. Wrong place. Try bldg. 160 for oxy and coke.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Nancy Pelosi's Weepy Concern for Violence

Several residents at the HUD subsidized Rockland Place Apartments have felt similar to Nancy Pelosi for many years while having to actually witness violence in courtyards!  It's troubling to read of HUD's phony anti-drug rhetoric.  It's troubling because it reminds me of the violent drug debates taking place inside the 204-unit subsidized housing complex.  There are still no promised security cameras.

HUD falsely claims they offer safe, decent, affordable housing.  Safe, decent housing is not where children wake up distraught and terrified from sounds of violent screams outside their windows.  I still recall the blood puddles, unconscious body, ambulance lights, temple stabbing incident, and hear the echoes of gut-wrenching screams from people hit by rocks, bats, beer bottles, and slashed with a sword in HUD subsidized drugged-up housing.

I wish our government truly cared where the hell they house low-income people and children. I wish enforcements and standards were higher in multifamily housing.  I wish housing developers and corporate landlords really had to comply with laws, regulations, and occupancy agreements while enriching themselves with taxpayer dollars through HUD.   Would someone please pass Ms. Pelosi a tissue?


Read story by Associated Press Writer, Laurie Kellman