Tuesday, March 8, 2011

More Corruption

Joseph P. Lally Jr., a co-defendant in former House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi's federal corruption case, will plead guilty Tuesday to conspiracy, extortion, and mail and wire fraud...... http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/03/dimasi_case_co-.html

Friday, February 11, 2011

Voting

Considering what is allowed to go on at Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments, managed by people from Cornerstone Corp. and First Hartford Realty, it's likely I won't be voting for the same politicians they support.  *http://watchdog.net/contrib/06040/neil_h_ellis

Saturday, February 5, 2011

More Americans in poverty

New formula finds more Americans in poverty - The Boston Globe
Of course, this doesn't surprise most people. While the cost of living rises, and public servants spend extravagantly, senior citizens and other Americans are living at or below poverty level. While large failing corporations get bailed out of their financial crisis, the individual American citizen sees little, if any, relief.

*GOVERNMENT LISTINGS
http://neal.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15:helpful-links&catid=4:constituent-services&Itemid=13

Friday, February 4, 2011

Private firms fund Patrick - The Boston Globe

Private firms fund Patrick inauguration - The Boston Globe
How cozy!

Important Questions on the Towing of Vehicles

A notice was attached to the outside entrance doors of each building this past week. In summary, the notice reads that a company called Firehouse Towing will be towing vehicles for snow removal purposes and will also remove vehicles from 11pm thru 6am for residents denied a parking permit.
  • Does the company 'Firehouse Towing'  legitimately exist in 2011?
  • Aren't tow companies required to be licensed and insured in the state of Massachusetts?
  • Shouldn't 'Spring Gate' residents have a right to be informed of the tow company's legal name, license number, current address, and current insurance information?
Here are some interesting facts uncovered about the tow company Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments has hired or contracted with to tow vehicles from this subsidized housing complex. Firehouse Towing or Firehouse Inc. used to have the address of 190 Columbia Road, Hanover, Mass. until 900 shareholders voted to approve the company's dissolution several years back. The current business listing at that same address is now Petroleum Gas Station, 190 Columbia Rd., Hanover, MA 02339. So whatever happened to Firehouse Towing? Are any of those shareholders affiliated with investors, owners, or management of Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments?
     We certainly wouldn't want any conflicts of interest or kickbacks going on. Would we?  I believe it would be reasonable for residents of Spring Gate to know the answers to all of these questions before anyone is allowed to touch their personal property, especially because low-income tenants' personal property was carelessly damaged by hired-hands during the renovations in 2006 and during other times also.

 
* NAHT

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

FORECAST FOR FAVORITISM

Today I noticed an advertisement for Spring Gate Apartments on the internet. It looks as though deceptive business practices and false advertisements aren't illegal any longer.  I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that numerous business partners and affiliates of Rockland Place pay campaign contributions, hire expensive lobbyists, and have strong ties to the Democratic party.
Price: $931, City: Rockland, Square feet: n/a - Location: 52 Hannah Way, Rockland, MA, 2370, USA - Come home to the quiet relaxation of Spring Gate Apartments. Private and luxurious, this is a haven with numerous amenities. Spring Gate Apartments is perfectly located near major freeways with access to downtown, shopping, medical facilities, and.......
Property Type: Apartment - Listing type: For rent
Listing status: Active - Bedroom: 1 - Bathroom: 1

As the ad claims, this HUD subsidized housing complex is truly a haven. As I've witnessed, it's a haven for crime; it's a haven for drugs; and it's a haven for fraud. I suppose the person or persons writing the Spring Gate Apartments ad believe 'quiet relaxation' to mean living under the duress of threats and physical assaults. Let's not forget all the beatings and the most recent 2011 blood bathings on the walls and floors of the laundry facility, inside and outside of 63 Hannah Way.... Ahhhh, quiet relaxation indeed!


So, what's so deceptive about the ad?  Here's the truth about Spring Gate Apartments: It is still the same Rockland Place Apartments in Rockland, Mass. minus a few of the people who were concerned enough to have reported crime, abuse, deceptive business practices, and other violations which still continue today. Spring Gate Apartments is only 'private' to those households who allow violent loved ones, with police records, to reside in undersized units...(Of course, there are some tenants who remain overhoused too.)  Management kindly accommodates select nuisance, drug-dealing, and violent households with employment, lease invisibilities, on-premise parking privileges, etc. while several legit households are denied the same leniencies. Sometimes Management even forbids a handicapped person access to the same common areas most other residents have!

Management's lease invisibilities not only provide refuge to those committing crimes, but also lowers genuine household income for Management's favored households. Some innocent and legit residents who leave Spring Gate Apts., leave due to the ongoing violence, retaliation, noise, and because they refuse to sign misdated and fraudulent documents Management insist they sign. These documents help owners collect more undeserving funds.
     MassHousing backs up all of these deceptive business practices. And, it's become obvious to me and to others that HUD and some politicians also play a key role in supporting these unethical and even illegal practices at the 'new and improved' Spring Gate Apts. As a tenant here, just try to get a trial in front of a judge at the Brockton Housing Court. I'd be surprised if Management's unethical and illegal conduct were ever put on court record, especially when unrepresented persons are further tormented into unwanted mediation proceedings. The corruption and the good ol' boy network needs to stop.
     The truth of it all is, Spring Gate Apartments is a prime example of unfair housing.  Rockland Place dba Spring Gate is a cover-up for drug deals, violence, and fraud. It's a money machine for partners in crime, and a luxurious prison facility for those who've never committed a crime.
     As far as safe, decent, and affordable housing goes, it just doesn't exist at the 'luxurious' Spring Gate Apartments. Sadly, those holding the power to resolve the serious difficulties in this unfair and chaotic living environment, won't. They 'chose not to get involved at this point in time' while others simply choose to run deceptive ads.


Monday, January 24, 2011

From Liability to Asset?

January 5, 2011, around 10:45 p.m., police received a 911 call about another crime in progress, (an attempted break-in), at the 'new and improved' Spring Gate Apartment complex, which has a history of unfair, negligent, and abusive practices by Management.

Rockland Place dba Spring Gate tenants, Mr. Conroy, at 63 Hannah Way, and Mr. Smith at 74 Martha Drive, Rockland, were arrested for armed robbery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.  Additional charges of armed robbery were added when knives were discovered on both men in the arrest process.

Lt. Zeoli and Sgt. Pigeon of the Rockland Police Dept. did a commendable job under difficult circumstances.  While chasing the suspects through the complex, one of the officers was injured from slipping on the icy pavement in the common area of the HUD subsidized housing complex, mismanaged by Janet Hamilton of Cornerstone Corp. and First Hartford Realty Corp.

With new ownership in 2005, Mr. Wm. M. Connolly promised Rockland Board of Selectman he would turn Rockland Place Apartments from a liability to an asset. Though Rockland Place Apartments may have received surface name changes and billions in government grants to make the place more livable, poor management, shady practices, and crime on this HUD financed property continues.

Friday, January 7, 2011

DISTRUST, PAYOFFS, LAUNDERING, EXTORTION

     On January 6, 2011, a federal judge sentenced former state Senator Dianne Wilkerson to prison for taking $23,500 in bribes, saying too many Massachusetts politicians engage in political corruption without fear of serious consequences.
.......“It’s clear the sentencing imposed for criminal conduct here and, frankly, in other industrial states, hasn’t been sufficient,’’ said US District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock. Referring to a culture of political corruption in Massachusetts, Woodlock said, “That Gordian knot has not been cut. People go back to do it again.’’.......
      The intriguing January 7, 2011 Boston Globe article also mentions that 2 former House speakers were convicted of federal crimes, but not sentenced to prison.  Read the entire article by Jonathan Saltzman at http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/07/wilkerson_receives_3_years_in_prison/?p1=News_links