Consoc Expenses Report
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Economic Development
Forum Description: Local government efforts to develop the local Middletown area economy.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2576
Printed Date: Nov 14 2024 at 11:36am
Topic: Consoc Expenses Report
Posted By: randy
Subject: Consoc Expenses Report
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 10:12am
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At the last City Council meeting Consoc presented their expenses report to council. I got a copy of that report and wanted to post it here in the forum, but it was not readable. So I have linked to it as a PDF.
I will say this about Consoc. I have attended all the meetings where they have given an update to council. And in my opinion, they seem very disorganized, but again that is just my opinion.
I would like to know more about the Joseph's, where are they from, do they live here in Middletown ? Does anyone have some back ground on them ?
So here is the report they shared last Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at the Middletown City Council meeting.
http://www.middletownusa.com/pdf/section-8-expenses.pdf - Consoc Expenses Report
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Replies:
Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 11:22am
I would also like to add that I belive Mr. Adkins is on the right track and has a good plan in place for section 8. I really like the back ground checks for land lords.
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 12:04pm
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What is that Plan Randy? Would that be to simply have the Best Section 8 program in the Ohio? What about the rest of the city Randy? What about the Business community or the lack of it? What about Jobs and Schools................hmmmmmm. Seems like a high price to pay just because the city wants to play nurse made to more Section 8 per capita wise than any other city in Ohio. As long as you continue to think along the poverty line Middletown will never become anything other than a Poverty mecca which is what it has been turned into from many peoples and businesses perspective. To bad people can't see the forest for the trees. In other words the City is overly concerned with Section 8 and not seeing the whole picture........it is unfortunate for the businesses and residents.
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Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 12:16pm
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wasteful, I dont understand. Everyone knows this city has too much Section 8 that is a cold hard fact. But the truth is Adkins didn't bring it here with him. It was here when he got here, and was already out of control. No body wants to blame those that made it this way, IE: past city council, past city managers/ and current. No one wants to give credit to those that are trying to fix a problem that they did not create.
Doug, is trying to implement some new ideas and rules to the program, that is more than any one else has done in a very long time. I have an idea, lets take all the people on section 8 and kick them out so the can join the rest of the homeless down on Central. Would this make everyone happy. OUR (I live here too Wasteful, in fact probable closer to the problem areas than most on this site) Section 8 issues didn't show up over night. Lets give the man some time to try and fix the problem. And even better lets blame the people still in that city building that are truly responsible for this mess.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 12:45pm
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This computer keeps blocking the CONSOC report. What are Mr. Adkin's ideas on reducing the amount of Section 8 to the level we are suppose to have and does he have a timeline when he would like to see it done? I understand you can't eliminate all of it (although, that would be ideal in my opinion) but we can work toward the correct level. What about this 54% poverty level declaration he made a while back and is he content with that number for the city?
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 1:14pm
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Randy you blame the out of Office and the people who no longer live here or are dead, as they can do nothing to solve the problem. It is pure and simple economics 101 no one benefits from a city that is known as the Section 8 Capital of SW Ohio or has a Poverty rate as high as Middletown's.
Background checks and new rules doesn't solve the problem that 75% of the people on Section 8 make less than 30% of the median income in SW Ohio and contribute significantly to the Poverty issue. You will never bring Middletown back under these conditions.....NEVER.
Over a year ago it was stated that section 8 would be reduced to about 800 vouchers at 10% a year. Over a year later there has been no discussion of this by Council, the Admin or the MPHA. Why? Laubach wanted a discussion on the Section 8 issue and was basically shut down unless he brings it up again. Why?
Randy why does Butler County have less than 1000 Vouchers?
Why does Kettering have 75 Vouchers?
Why do Mason and West Chester have none?
No one is saying do away with the program, but be economically sensible about it. Get it down to a reasonable number that can be supported by the city and community and do it in the next few years not decades. The whole city benefits by a reduction in Section 8.
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 1:30pm
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And by the way Randy you want to toss everyone out be my guest. I was thinking more along the lines of cutting back as they turned in the vouchers, closing the waiting list altogether until the vouchers get down to a reasonable level and transferring the vouchers to Butler and Warren Counties to be used.
Jeez NY City just tossed 3000 people out of Section 8 due to Funding issues.
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Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 1:36pm
Ok, well the list is closed, I just want people to blame the right ones. The ones that have done this to us is all
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 2:35pm
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Good Afternoon Randy -
The HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) was rarely IF EVER discussed in great detail as has been the case starting in 2007 in the City of Middletown.
You should know that concerns of a few major Section 8 landlords to David Schiavone in the Spirng of 2007 really started the ball rolling. Mr. Schiavone then proceeded to bring this matter to the attention of Steve Huesmann, Interim City Manager. Concurrently, since my arrival in January 2007, I initiated a number of measures to help get a handle on this rental subsidy program that had exploded in numbers between 2000 and 2006.
Randy, I also encourage you to read the number of posts that I have submitted relative to the Section 8 issue. I have ALWAYS attempted to provide MiddletownUSA participants with some insight on what really goes on at One Donham Plaza.
I was NEVER part of the problem as I have well documented. I was removed from my position because I attempted to bring about needed improvements for HUD Section 8, CDBG and HOME Programs. And, it is a bit disheartening to see someone who appeared on the scene later appear to take credit for efforts undertaken before they were involved.
I hope that this helps a little, Randy.
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 2:48pm
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Randy -
It's my understanding that Harrison, Jr. & Sandra Joseph plus their son Harrison Joseph, III still reside in suburban Columbus. It's also my understanding that Sandra and Harrison, III continue to commute three times per week from Metro Columbus to Middletown as was the case when I was a City employee.
As a postscript to my previous post, the major Section 8 landlords contacted David Schiavone in the Spring of 2007 because of alleged concerns involving the lack of tenant care of some of their rental units. Major issues they brought forward were damages to property upon tenant moving out and dumping of trash.
I hope that this helps.
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 2:56pm
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Randy -
I suggest that you seek information on the amount of SECTION 8 ADMINISTRATIVE FEES available to the City of Middletown after payments are made to C.O.N.S.O.C. In other words, how much money is involved and what is it spent for by Doug? Those are good questions to ask.
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 3:05pm
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To City Councilman Joshua Laubach -
As a Ward 3 constituent of yours, I'd like for you also to seek the following information from Doug or Miss Judy: the amount of SECTION 8 ADMINISTRATIVE FEES available to the City of Middletown after payments are made to C.O.N.S.O.C. and what is it spent for??
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 3:45pm
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Randy, Most if not all PHA's waiting list are closed. They re-open them when they get to a certain level, fill them back up and then close them again. A waiting list may remain closed for years. Currently Middletown's list has about 700 people on it.
Now if we are supposedly cutting vouchers at the rate of 10% a year until we get to 800 why do we have a waiting list at all?
Does Middletown have a turnover rate that even supports cutting 10% a year?
Why have 700 people on the list unless Middletown has no intention of cutting the number of vouchers at all? All you are doing is making their wait longer.
If you are truly going to cut Vouchers the waiting list should be done away with until you get close to the desired number of vouchers. At the rate Middletown is going that could be 5-10 years down the road before they get to 800.
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Posted By: Nick_Kidd
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 4:04pm
It will take a long time to reduce vouchers to 800, when in Dec. 2009 10 vouchers were turned in and 13 new vouchers issued. A net gain of three vouchers in one month, putting Middletown over the allowed 1662 vouchers. Reducing vouchers is hard to do when they add vouchers faster than they are returned.
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Government is not the answer to problems, government is the problem.
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 4:22pm
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Nelson how is Middletown not being affected by HUD cuts in Section 8?
Section 8 housing faces new cut
by: MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Friday, January 15, 2010
1/15/2010 6:24:14 AM
Cuts in funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are forcing the Tulsa Housing Authority to reduce its Section 8 program.
Section 8 housing allows low-income households to rent homes, and the housing authority pays part of the rent.
Housing Authority officials estimate that the Section 8 program will be funded at 85 percent for 2010, eliminating 702 leasing vouchers.
With an average household of three people for each leasing voucher, that means more than 2,000 people will not able to get Section 8 housing funds this year, said Chea Redditt, the Housing Authority's president and CEO.
The Housing Authority has 4,681 vouchers but will be able to issue only 3,979 because of the anticipated cuts.
The authority used its reserves to make up for the decreased funding in 2009. Its Section 8 program was funded at 90 percent in 2009.
HUD has yet to announce what the funding level will be for 2010.
Redditt said the Housing Authority has begun not to reissue vouchers when they're turned in, either when someone dies or becomes ineligible because of income increases.
"The program is dwindling down and dwindling down until we match the funding we have available," she said.
The authority has issued 4,400 vouchers.
"We absolutely hope to avoid taking vouchers away from anyone. That would be the very last thing we'd do. That's really not a consideration for us," Redditt said.
The Section 8 waiting list was closed in November, with about 7,000 families still waiting.
Terri Cole, the authority's vice president of assisted housing, said that with no new vouchers issued, the Public Housing waiting list has increased.
The Public Housing waiting list has 1,600 entries. That program was funded at 85 percent in 2009.
Cole said it used to have an average of 1,000 families, but that total has continually increased since the Section 8 list closed.
Redditt said the voucher reduction would affect low-income families in a time where social services are already spread thin because of the rough economy.
"There will be an overlay of extremely low-income families left with substandard housing or living in homeless shelters," she said.
A ripple effect also will be felt in the economy because of the reduction in payments to landlords.
The average monthly payment per voucher is $467. The reductions will mean a drop of $4 million paid to landlords per year.
HUD will take away unused vouchers, which means these reductions will be long-lasting if not forever.
"Housing authorities across the nation are dealing with the same issue. Some are pulling back vouchers because they can't afford to pay the rents," Redditt said.
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 4:24pm
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December 18, 2009
Thousands Lose Rent Vouchers in Cutback
By http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/manny_fernandez/index.html?inline=nyt-per - MANNY FERNANDEZ
One of the key housing programs that helps low-income and other needy New Yorkers afford their apartments has been effectively cut off for thousands of families.
City officials announced Thursday that they had stopped issuing new federal rent subsidy vouchers and were terminating the vouchers of 3,000 families who had yet to fully use them. They said they were taking those steps because of http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/federal_budget_us/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier - federal budget cuts and an increased demand for the vouchers in today’s economy.
The city’s public housing agency, the http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/n/new_york_city_housing_authority/index.html?inline=nyt-org - New York City Housing Authority , typically gives out thousands of vouchers every year through the Section 8 program. Poor, elderly and disabled tenants who receive the vouchers live in private apartments and pay about 30 percent of their income toward rent, with federally funded vouchers making up the difference.
Agency officials said that the nearly 128,000 families currently on its Section 8 waiting list would remain there, but with a few exceptions no new vouchers would be given to them or anyone else in 2010 without additional federal financing. In addition, 3,018 families — those who had received vouchers but were searching for an apartment or had identified an apartment but not yet completed the process and moved in — would have their vouchers terminated.
Since May, the agency has limited vouchers to those in emergency situations, and has stopped giving them out to families who are not in crisis. As a result, a majority of the 3,018 voucher holders were in emergency situations, including those who had recently been homeless, victims of domestic violence and young people leaving http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/foster_care/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier - foster care .
“It’s a difficult but unavoidable decision,” the authority’s chairman, http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/john_b_rhea/index.html?inline=nyt-per - John B. Rhea , said at a news conference on Thursday.
Mr. Rhea said a “perfect storm” of factors was to blame.
In 2008 and 2009, Congress and the http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/h/housing_and_urban_development_department/index.html?inline=nyt-org - Department of Housing and Urban Development instructed the agencies that administer Section 8 vouchers nationwide to use money in their reserves to fill shortfalls in federal financing. New York housing authority officials said they had anticipated a $10 million shortfall in 2009, but the amount turned out to be $58 million. “We didn’t know how large it would be,” Mr. Rhea said.
He also said the agency had already surpassed by 2,000 vouchers its annual allotment of 99,000.
The authority was working with city officials to provide alternative rental assistance for many of the 3,000 voucher holders. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/robert_v_hess/index.html?inline=nyt-per - Robert V. Hess , commissioner of the city’s Department of Homeless Services, said his agency was working to extend a state supervised rental assistance program for hundreds of formerly homeless families who had their vouchers terminated. “We don’t think there’s any cause for alarm at this point,” he said.
None of the families who are currently in an apartment and receiving the Section 8 subsidy are affected, officials said.
Elected officials and advocates for low-income housing expressed outrage over the move and criticized the authority for failing to do enough to prevent 3,000 families from losing the vouchers they had been given.
“It is shocking that the New York City Housing Authority is breaking its word to over 3,000 Section 8 voucher holders,” said City Councilman http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/d/bill_de_blasio/index.html?inline=nyt-per - Bill de Blasio , a Democrat from Brooklyn.
Steven Banks, the attorney in chief for the http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/l/legal_aid_society/index.html?inline=nyt-org - Legal Aid Society , said the agency’s actions would swell the city’s family shelter system.
The Manhattan borough president, http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/scott_m_stringer/index.html?inline=nyt-per - Scott M. Stringer , called for members of the authority’s governing board to resign. “I have a hunch that we’re about to be dealing with ‘Vouchergate,’ which is why we need city legislative hearings immediately,” Mr. Stringer said.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: January 7, 2010
An article in some editions on Dec. 18 about the New York City Housing Authority’s decision to stop issuing new federal rent subsidy vouchers to low-income New Yorkers because of budget cuts and increasing demand misstated the agency’s annual voucher allotment. It is 99,000, not 91,000.
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Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 5:21pm
Why does Middletown Government want so many Vouchers? Easy answer. All of us non-team Players continue to vote against a Tax increase. I remember a very derogatory Remark from a sitting Councilman that pretty much said that those that voted against the Road Levy were "stupid". Well, if you just get enough Low Income People in the City and Registered, they will usually vote for Taxes to "Improve the City" because they have a small chance of paying the Tax due to a lack of significant Income.
I honestly believe this is a possibility. I'm not going to beat up the poor people because of it, but it does make me wonder.
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 5:45pm
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Lrisner I believe it is about the money. No city in their right mind would want this amount of Section 8. The City gets 22% of the admin fee and CONSOC gets 78%. Just look at the amount of Manpower and time the City puts into a program that helps 1662 voucher holders or less than 8% of population. It is just illogical to say the least for a City in Middletown's financial shape to want to take on this mess. The rest of the City is going to hell in a hand basket and Middletown just spends an enormous amount of time and money on this program that it can not afford.
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 6:58pm
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Wasteful -
Thanks to you, Nick Kidd, LRISNER, etc. for your collective insight on the Section 8 mess.
How interesting to see that Tulsa, Oklahoma has nearly eight times more population than Middletown, but only 2.5 times more Section 8 vouchers. Pacman and Mike Presta have done a good job comparing our community to much larger cities in previous posts.
I don't have an answer to your question regarding Section 8 funding issues for other U.S. communities. As you know, Miss Judy and Marty Kohler removed me from any meaningful involvement with the Section 8 Program in March 2008. Don't you think that some of our City Council members would want to seek this answer from Judy, Marty, Doug or Frank Chapman (consultant)??
Thanks again for speaking out. We need more answers and less back slapping.
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Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 9:08pm
Damn!! All I really said was lets place the blame at the feet of those it belongs, not just one man. Who was the city manager before Ms. Giileland? I just want to see the proper people blamed.
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 10:03pm
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Damn, Randy you sound like an Obama Groupie. It was all George's fault that we lost in Mass., NJ and VA.
Health Care isn't going to pass because of Bush.
Global warming went to crap because of Bush.
Bush, Bush, Bush......
Middletown has excessive Section 8 because of Ron Olson, crap he's been gone for 5 or 6 years and all of the other unnamed people that council just shoveS under the table when it was brought up at a council meeting.
Ah man I am so glad that you now feel better because we officially laid the blame somewhere and I am sure it will now solve the issue at hand.......THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO MUCH SECTION 8 IN A CITY THIS SIZE AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN A SERIOUS ECONOMIC DECLINE. BUT HEY MAYBE WE SHOULD ADD A VOUCHER OR TWO FOR SOME MORE MONEY AND THEN THE POLICE DEPT. CAN BUY SOME HEADLIGHTS.
Randy if you keep doing what isn't working you know what, you get no where, which is where Middletown has been heading for far to long. But hey I would say most of the people that live here are happy with the mess they have and those that don't live here are glad they don't and never will. Keep on blaming Ron Olson.
"Gilleland is not sure why the former City Manager, Ron Olson, and staff determined the city needed additional vouchers in the first place."
Randy I have tracked down Ron Olson for you, Give him a shout and lay the blame to rest and ask why will you:
Ron Olson, County Administrator
Polk County Administration Building
111 Court Avenue, Room 300
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 286-3120
Then can you work on getting the Section 8 reduced in Middletown to a reasonable level. You know in the 500-600 range would be nice. Having the Best Section 8 programin the World just isn't the same and doesn't cut it. If Adkins and the City have no plans to cut Section 8 I am sure many people would be interested in that.
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Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 10:14pm
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You know what wasteful, at least I go to a council meeting and ask questions. At least I realize there are more people to blame than just Adkins. Why didn't you ask these questions when the number was raising? Why when the city ask are there any citizens comments no one stands up and why do you expect others to be able to do what know one has done in years and years. Dont ever call me some Obama groupie, you know nothing about me.
As for Ron Olsen, glad you tracked him down, the difference between you and me is I have the guts to call him ask why, while you'll sit here and wait for someone else to do it for you.
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Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Jan 25 2010 at 10:17pm
As for the head light comment, I really dont give a damn about the ticket, I just thought it was funny.
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 7:12am
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It would be interesting to ask ex city manager Olson, and the other Councilmembers who occupied the council seats from 2000 to current, how the Section 8 got to where it is now, who urged the ramp up in numbers, the reason (gotta be money for the city/kick backs for some council members and city employees/Section 8 property owners) for the ramp up, why they decided to take the city in the poverty direction and their feelings about how their Section 8 ideas for the city has helped or hurt the city's image. Would also be interesting to know who directly benefited from the program as Section 8 property owners or got kickbacks from the Section 8 administrators for the opportunity to bring this program to Middletown. No chance of getting those answers, of course, as they are self incriminating. Project: Investigate the Section 8 program from inception in 2000 to current, listing original contract and provider with costs, original city participation, participants and city costs through the years to current. Won't solve the crisis we have now, but would give us an overview of how the beast was created and has grown. Just a thought.
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Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 7:33am
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The ones responsible are gone???
Schiavone has been on council for 16 years and he is still on the city payroll and accruing PERS retirement. Kohler and Landen are still here and have been for years. Haven't they had their hands in the Section 8 mess???
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Posted By: randy
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 7:39am
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Thank you Mike for pointing that out. All I want is for people to point fingers at all those involved, not to single out one person. Why does no one call out Landen or the others that have been there for years upon years.
There is plenty of blame to go around why lay it all at the feet of one man?
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Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 7:41am
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Nelson:
Are you saying that CONSOC consists of only THREE people???
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 7:45am
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http://www.ohiobiz.com/central-ohio/Consoc-Housing-Counseling-Inc.html - http://www.ohiobiz.com/central-ohio/Consoc-Housing-Counseling-Inc.html
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Posted By: wasteful
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 8:52am
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Randy you go down to city hall and ask to see the documentation and the letters to council from City employees asking to increase Section 8 to its current level. Should be available to the public. When it was asked a few years ago who was involved it was shoved under the rug. It was "it doesn't matter how we got here, we are here" basically.
As far as you going to meetings and asking questions, I don't recall seeing you up in front of that microphone getting the silent treatment. If you are going there as a paid employee and talking behind the scenes I take it that is your job, or do you go because you like it, I don't know.
I also have a job which does not allow me to just go home when I like and go stand before 7 people and be ignored.
You are hung up on the blame game. I would love to know who the current employees are that got us into this mess. Currently Adkins is the Face of Section 8 and it has been laid squarely in his lap to fix the issue.
Like I said before if the city has no intention of reducing Section 8 they should tell the citizens this and then the citizens can decide what they want to do.
Personally I think it is time to look at the city as a whole and not just 4200 people. That has been going on for far to long.
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 9:44am
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Amen Wasteful
Blame anyone that you like--new, old in or out. Then fix the situation immediately with a strong directionally clear mandate.
This is hardly Mr.Adkins fault, and he has done a reasonably good job trying to tame this beast. Has he made some wrong manuveurs so far? Of course, but that is somewhat OK as long as he gets going in the right direction.
Those still around with a hand in it all?
Try Mr.Becker, who was city manager through a large part of it all and now sits on Council(supported keeping CONSOC). Mayor Mulligan, who has represented the 2nd ward and lives in the grant-funded S.Main Hysterical District, Mr.Kohler(who has had a hand is innumerable expensive city planning mistakes, particularly in the downtown area). Mr.Kohler also purchased a home in the S Main district also during this time. Mr.Marconi, Mr.Schiavone(obviously with his long tenure) and Mr.Armbruster also have a part in it all, and most chose to retain CONSOC.
It goes way back, and was obviously a direction supported by past city managers and Commissions/Councils.
Just cut it back--quickly and effectively.
Don't care who gets the credit or the blame.
jmo
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 12:08pm
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SpiderJohn -
I agree that Doug's educational background in the law and work experience as a prosecutor are great prerequisites for a program management endeavor such as Section 8.
I do take exception when Miss Judy or Doug take credit for certain reforms to the operation of the Section 8 that were begun by me from 4/2007 through 3/2008. That is what I have spoken out about.
I also disagree with Community Revitalization Department "negotiated bids" rather than an open, competitive bid procedure for HUD-fund projects or services.
Lastly, when I worked for the CIty my salary was almost $40,000 lower than Doug's and I was not a department head. I reported directly to Marty Kohler.
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 12:23pm
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Mike -
My post about the Joseph family was only in response to Randy's question as to their place of residence. If C.O.N.S.O.C. staffing levels are still the same as when I last worked for the City of Middletown, there should be five or possibly six other employees of theirs that also work out of the Central Avenue office.
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 26 2010 at 9:53pm
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talked to an older political figure 2day, who told me that the initial decision to bring Section 8 towards emphasis were Bill Donham and Gary Kaup.
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Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 3:33am
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Section 8 was started in the U.S. in 1974. William Donham may very well have been involved in bringing the section 8 program in Middletown. But if we are talking about the same William Donham that died in 1998, well before the city Admin ramped up Section 8 to its current level, I don't see how he was involved.
What position did Gary Kaup hold within the city that he would have been able to push Section 8 to it current levels in the 2000-2006 time frame?
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 4:37am
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 6:14am
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Kaup either ran for or was on City Commission back in the 80's, wasn't he Mike? Wasn't he on some other committees back then too? I don't remember Bill Donham talking much about Section 8 back then. He was involved in the discussion about moving the post office from where it is now to the old Montgomery Ward building on University across from Marsh. That seemed to be a hot topic and then mysteriously died out. If Section 8 got started in the Donham/Kaup days, I don't remember it being highly publicized in the Journal nor talked about much in Commission meetings.
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 7:09am
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Just passing on who was mentioned as the initial Commission backers of the program.
Didn't say that they had anything to do with 2000+ activities.
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Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 7:11am
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It is not the fact That Section 8 is in Middletown that is the issue. The issue with Section 8 is that it is currently at an excessive level for a city the size and economic shape of Middletown. In the 80's & 90's Section 8 may have been operating in Middletown but it was at a level that was not an issue for the city. If the city would cut back to 500-600 vouchers this whole issue would be resolved. Then between 2000-2006 the City Admin decided they needed additional revenues or funds to pay employees and Section 8 was an easy way to increase revenues without a Tax increase, so the City Admin unchecked by Council ran up Section 8 to the detriment of the city as a whole. We now have a situation that Council deals with by saying they want the best Section 8 program in the State. The whole time not wanting to deal with the real issue that is hurting the city. JMHO
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Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 7:17am
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Gary Kaup was a Middletown City Commissioner from 1984-1992, once again well before the ramp of Section 8 in the 2000-2006 time frame.
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Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 7:29am
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Hell Spider I would back a reasonable program of Section 8 and have no issue with it as long as it is REASONABLE. The problem is we are beyond reasonable in Middletown and it is seriously hurting the city, image wise, business wise, educationally and economically. And for some reason Council has turned a blind eye to the effects Section 8 has on those issues and the city as a whole.
It is somewhat like "Middletown has a bright Future". If you say it enough times you actually believe that under the current circumstances. If council keeps telling itself it has the "Best Section 8 Program" in the world that makes it all right.......go figure as the logic is lost on me.
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Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 9:18am
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Totally agree with you pacman
We still have major faces on Council/Admin that were in charge and/or involved in ramping up this program to our currently destructive level. Current Council re-affirmed faith in direction and CONSOC(as Mr.Becker,Mayor Mulligan and Mr.Schiavone said, "If it's not broken, then don't fix it.). I actually expect this program to remain at the current level or quitely increase.
This program has virtually destroyed many west end neighborhoods. People east of Breiel are avoiding and have little reason to travel west of Breiel. A large area of our older residential/business community has been crippled by the failed planning.and implementation by our local leaders. What ever happened to our heralded "Master Plan"? Only when it is convenient to the whims of the planning dept.?
The area betwwn Crawford St. and Supthin has currently become the most blighted neighborhood in our city. Crime is totally out of control(witness the Sat.night stabbing binge), and local businesses braving staying open are under seige. The area formerly known as downtown is also a daytime haven for the problem citizens and homeless. So much for any progress in the "Got Art" district. Credit to the Beau Verre people for remaining strong and weathering the malaise.
Could we get a Section 8 residency/resident count by street? neighborhood? ward? a breakdown of addresses? Maybe relate those #s to crime statistics and job loss/business closings? Could Economic Development look into this(instead of cutting work hours and increasing the salary of the head person)?
OK new Council--what should we expect to change?
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Posted By: Nelson R. Self
Date Posted: Jan 27 2010 at 9:41am
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SpiderJohn -
One only has to review the City's grossly wasteful "FHA Dollar Homes Program" to see one reason why the Crawford/Sutphin/Hill area has declined. Non-justifiable rehabilitation expenses at Hill, Logan and Howard made these dwellings difficult to sell and ultimately resulted in more lost HUD funds. A poorly conceived contract conveying 11 single-family homes (Crawford, Grand, Taylor, Linden plus Hill, Logan and Howard) to a local non-profit organization resulted in more delays and costs. Crawford, Grand, Taylor and Linden houses were recently demolished, thereby closing out the "FHA Dollar Homes Program" that lost more than $200,000 for all program components. How could the City require home owners and investors to maintain their homes when the occupants of One Donham Plaza failed to do so themselves?
Then, you have the Housing Code Enforcement blitzkrieg of last year. I wonder how many home owners from the Crawford/Sutphin/Hill area were cited with violations? According to Miss Vivian a limited income home owner/neighbor of hers was told last Fall that the City doesn't have ample funds to help out.
Then, you have the negative influence of vacant/foreclosed homes. Has any of the NSP-1 millions been used to help rehabilitate and resell these dwellings? We are still awaiting word of any kind on this.
Lastly, you have the blighting influence of tall weeds and grass. Twice last year Doug asked for and received supplemental allocations to the $70,000 budgeted (General Fund) to hire contractors to remedy these unsighly conditions. Of course, Miss Vivian still personally cuts the weeds and grass at a long-time vacant house close to hers. A record of the indifference on the part of the City was posted here on MiddletownUSA about this last Summer.
There are more issues, of course. I simply wanted to point out what has and hasn't been done by the Community Revitalization Department to remedy the Crawford/Sutphin/HIll mess!
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