from Rockland Place to Spring Gate

Posted May 23, 2009, by Allan Stein, Enterprise Correspondent:
STOUGHTON — A Rockland man is being held on $1,000 bail in the county jail after a Shaw’s supermarket employee caught him allegedly injecting heroin in the ladies restroom.
Melvin Cumba, 29, of 230 Martha’s Drive, Apt. C, Rockland Mass, was arraigned Friday in Stoughton District Court on charges of possession of heroin for a subsequent offense, trespassing and disorderly conduct. Judge Francis T. Crimmins ordered Cumba held on $1,000 bail at the Norfolk County House of Correction in Dedham pending a hearing June 16. ********
The Patriot Ledger posted May 15, 2009: 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 of Hingham District Court, due to lack of prosecution. The offense was alleged to have occurred July 9 in Rockland.
ALSO, Charges of assault and disturbing the peace against Nilton Rodriques, 31, of 110 Martha Drive, Rockland were dismissed by Judge Patrick Hurley of Hingham District Court. The offenses were alleged to have occurred April 16 in Rockland.
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HANOVER POLICE - Wednesday, April 22, 2009
4:59 a.m. Plain and Hanover streets, two adult female arrests and tow. Arrested: Seana K. Harris, 20, 45 Hannah Way, Apt. E, Rockland. Charges: Failure to stop for police; negligent operation of motor vehicle; false name to police; failure to stay in marked lane; speeding; unauthorized use of motor vehicle. Arrested: Stacia L. Smith, 17, 70 Dyke Road, Marshfield. Charge: Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

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ROCKLAND POLICE visit Spring Gate Apts., Wednes. 3-25-09
1:52 a.m. Hannah Way, disturbance.
9:06 a.m. Hannah Way, motor vehicle breaking and entering.
11:02 a.m. Hannah Way, unwanted guest.
6:06 p.m. Arrest: Kenneth Pratt, 22, 212 Martha Drive, Apt. B, Rockland, Mass. Charges: Domestic Assault & Battery.

Non-Compliance Brings Rewards

Another rent increase meeting has come and gone; much like previous tenants who wrote letters to MassHousing in protest of previous rent increases. MassHousing usually grants rent increases and DHCD awards tax credits to corporate investors whether subsidized landlords are in compliance or NOT. Like corporate management, certain households have little need to comply with HUD policies, leases, or laws.

Martha Drive and Hannah Way are located inside Spring Gate Apartments, better known as Rockland Place. This HUD/MHFA financed housing complex has been riddled with drugs and crime since late 1980's. Crimes became more prominent since 1996 with the management of Cornerstone Corporation.
Though several households habitually distribute drugs on this subsidized property, it's rare drug arrests are made inside this housing complex. No matter how apparent the distribution pattern, certain long-standing residents continue to go unnoticed by corporate management and law enforcement.*****
Rockland Police make 2 cocaine arrests on Market Street, March 6, 2009 at 4:24 p.m. for drug violation. Arrest: Mandy Cordero-Rosario, 28, 120 Martha Drive, Apt. F, Rockland. Charges: Possession of Class B drug – intent to distribute Class B drug, drug violation in school zone, conspiracy to violate controlled substance laws. Arrest: Carlos Carrasquillo, 41, 120 Martha Drive, Apt. F, Rockland. Charges: Possession of Class B drug – intent to distribute Class B drug, drug violation in school zone, conspiracy to violate drug laws, outstanding warrants (3).

Spring Gate Swindlers Strike Again

Due to extra large rent increases granted by MassHousing previous years, new corporate partners of Rockland Place Apts. dba Spring Gate promised residents they would not request any rent increase in 2009. According to the following document, it was just another deceptive promise made by corporate partners. And, with all of the federal and state funds granted to these corporations, where are those promised security cameras to help identify those involved in crime on this subsidized property? Perhaps one should be installed inside the rental office.



(Click on image to enlarge.)

The 2 excuses provided by Management for their need to raise rents:
1. Increases in General Operating Costs
2. Increased Vacancies Due to Lack of Project-Based Rental Subsidy and closure of rental subsidy waiting lists at area PHA's.

Better Solutions than Raising Rents
1. Stop wasting funds.
2. Cut unnecessary expenses. For example: It's wasteful and costly to run 3 separate offices inside one housing complex.
3. Cut salaries and layoff unnecessary workers. Staff get paid $18. hourly to patch a 1 square foot or less size hole in a wall. They can afford to buy their own bottled water.
4. As for Management's #2 excuse, stop frivolous eviction proceedings against good subsidized tenants for correcting misdated and fraudulent documents. Attorneys are expensive.
5. Stop the deceptive business practices and contradictions. For example, Management's Spring 2009 Newsletter reads, "Spring Gate is now close to being a fully occupied property'. This is clearly a contradiction to their rent increase request.
6. Policies should be enforced and Management needs to be in compliance with appropriate-sized housing. For example, some single residents continue to be in 2-bedroom apartments. Live-ins also increase operating costs by using extra utilities. Lets stop pretending they don't exist.

Contradictions in Policies and Procedures

While some low-income residents are denied access to their subsidized apartments by Management's unfair parking policies, large commercial vehicles and 18-wheeler trucks have been allowed to park overnight inside Rockland Place Apartments dba Spring Gate, located in Rockland, MA.

LVI Environmental is just one of the imprinted large trucks which occupied numerous parking spaces on several occasions over several years. The closest LVI Environmental office is at 401-S Second Street in Everett, Massachusetts; however, they have several office locations across the United States.

Some commercial vehicles enter and exit the 204-unit housing complex with lines of suspicious traffic during late evening and early morning hours. When a concerned resident reports suspicious criminal activity to Mass Housing, HUD, Cornerstone Corporation, or other corporate partners of this tax-credited property, inappropriate eviction notices and other retaliations are suffered by the legal resident.

HUD Oversight

EARMARKED APARTMENTS: Cornerstone Corporation, agent for First Hartford Realty Corp., Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apts., conveniently sets up earmarked apartments for residents who deal drugs.

UNETHICAL PRACTICES: Cornerstone Corporation prefers residents who violate lease agreements. This common preference tends to keep Management's unethical and illegal practices silenced by the majority.

VIOLENCE IS IN THE AIR: People continue to be harassed and assaulted inside this newly renovated, subsidized housing complex. A thorough spring cleaning is long overdue.

Take Action Against Forced Arbitration

Did you know that six in 10 likely voters oppose arbitration and support the Arbitration Fairness Act? Forced arbitration is another example of how corporations are taking advantage of Americans. As a private system without an impartial judge or a jury, mandatory arbitration allows companies to play by their own rules and escape accountability when they harm employees and consumers, (including residents who speak out). Public Citizen has formed the Fair Arbitration Now Coalition to put an end to this injustice.

Take action today and say "No!" to forced arbitration. Click here and add your signature to help make a strong case for banning forced arbitration now.

And/or click here to Call your members of Congress.

Misuse and Abuse of Programs

Click on links below:

* Judicial Watch link - What's really going on?

* Corruption - See official documents.

* Oversight in Housing Programs

The Fair Housing Act Needs Enforcement in Rockland, Massachusetts

As the stimulus package fails to awaken accountability, The Fair Housing Act fails to be enforced at Rockland Place Apartments dba Spring Gate.

What Is Supposed to be Prohibited in the Rental of Housing?
No one may take any of the following actions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap:
Refuse to rent or sell housing
Refuse to negotiate for housing
Make housing unavailable
Deny a dwelling
Set different terms, conditions or privileges for rental of a dwelling
Provide different housing services or facilities
Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting) or
Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service related to the sale or rental of housing.

In addition, it is illegal for anyone to:
Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right
Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or handicap. This prohibition against discriminatory advertising applies to single-family and owner-occupied housing otherwise exempt from the Fair Housing Act.

Additional Protection if You Have a Disability
If you or someone associated with you:
Have a physical or mental disability (including hearing, mobility and visual impairments, chronic alcoholism, chronic mental illness, AIDS, AIDS Related Complex and mental retardation) that substantially limits one or more major life activities
Have a record of such a disability or are regarded as having such a disability your landlord may not: Refuse to let you make reasonable modifications to your dwelling or common use areas, at your expense, if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

Corporate landlords should not refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing. Example: A subsidized apartment complex manager with a 'peaceful enjoyment' policy must not allow other tenants and their guests to throw balls, rocks, fireworks, etc. at selective apartment windows of any rent payer with or without a disability; Management should take effective and immediate action to resolve the unfair, threatening, and harassing treatment of any tenant which would discourage their continued tenancy and interfere with the enjoyment of their rented unit. Also, tenants should NOT be REQUIRED to sign fraudulent and misdated documents to remain in their subsidized unit.
Another good example could be: An apartment complex that offers tenants ample, unassigned parking should honor this to ALL households whether or not they can afford to own, rent, or borrow a vehicle to assure each household can have access to their rented apartment.

However, housing need not be made available to a person who is a direct threat to the health or safety of others or who currently distributes and/or uses illegal drugs.

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A Management and Occupancy Review of Spring Gate Apts. will be conducted. Last week residents at Rockland Place dba Spring Gate received notices to 'clear the decks' for the visit of John Collins, a MassHousing representative. The March 13, 2009 review allegedly included an inspection of the grounds, buildings, common areas, administrative policies and
procedures, etc.

If tenants had specific issues to bring to the attention of John Collins, it was necessary for tenants to notify the management office of this prior to the inspection. (Of course, tenants realize they could suffer retaliation for bringing up specific issues.)

Sign this important Petition!

Click here to sign this important petition on the Public Citizen website. There should also be enforced protections for residents who report fraud, waste, and abuse in subsidized housing.