BETHESDA

The Circle of Life.  What goes around, comes around.... I've been thinking about these concepts alot lately, especially after reading a very interesting article in 'Bethesda' Magazine, titled: 'The Great Divide', by Freelance Journalist:  Mr. Eugene L. Meyer. 


He was basically illustrating the widening divide here in Montgomery County between the 'haves', and the 'have nots'.  One perspective I found particularly interesting was how he detailed different instances where, despite how someone grew-up, their current circumstances could belie their prior privilege.  


I related to that especially, because I grew-up in the affluent New York suburb of Westchester County.  I loathe to even tell people that's where I grew-up, because they're bound to make certain assumptions.  Like, maybe I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.  But, they would be wrong.


However, I will admit to an astounding amount of ignorance.  I thought everyone lived in a spacious, million-dollar, 5-bedroom, 2-bath lakefront property with a vast yard - front, back and side.  I thought EVERYONE had the BEST education, the newest books, the latest cars, the most recent and fashionable clothes.  The word: 'ghetto' wasn't even in my vocabulary....


I was blind, or at the very least wearing rose-colored-glasses.  But, in my defense - I was not PURPOSEFULLY blind or ignorant, I simply didn't have anyone the likes of Mr. Meyer to point out what should have been obvious:  Not everyone 'has'.  In fact, alot more people fall into that 'have-not' category than not.


Of course - now that I DO fall into that category, it's painfully obvious how great the divide is, and how much greater it's becoming.  But, instead of pointing fingers, and placing blame, it's probably time for all of us to wake-up, wipe the sleep from our eyes, and work together to figure out how we can solve our many MUTUAL problems.  


Otherwise, the next article Mr. Meyer writes may be entitled:  'The GREATER Divide.....'

GRATITUDE

There's probably no one reading this who pays less for housing than I do.  And, I should be grateful, but it's hard - because my house is not really mine.  I can't say who comes and goes.  My landlord doesn't let me forget that, either.  Every week, they schedule 'visitors' for me;  Causing me to have to rearrange my personal life and schedule around THEM.  


This week, it's supposedly gonna be energy conservationists from the City of Rockville.  And, they'll be here I'm told either today or tomorrow - between the hours of 8am and 5pm.  So, unless I want to have strangers roaming through my house un-escorted and unsupervised (which I don't), I must put my life on hold for two, whole days.


Last week, it was HVAC representatives come to clean out my air ducts.  It was a major operation, involving flying dust and who knows what else airborne during the process.  Since my son has asthma, I expressed concern to my landlord.  Did he care? NO.


Oh, the week preceding were another set of people for HVAC cleaning.  Another major operation.  Another risk to my sons health.  Another apathetic response.


Then there was Orkin.  Before that was a housing inspection where I had two guys come in and basically toss my bedroom looking for bed bugs like I was a prisoner in a jail cell.


Before that?  HUD sent housing inspectors to make sure we were keeping our homes clean.  Every week it's something or someone else.  And, we don't have any choice but to let them have full run of our homes, our lives, our schedules, because - to refuse them would be a violation of our lease.  God forbid WE should violate OUR lease !


I hate the visitors.  I feel like how the Jews must have felt during Nazi Germany;  When the Gestapo would come banging on their doors, and go through their homes looking for any evidence of the harboring of Jews, and in general just scare and harass people.


And, I wonder WHY?  Why can't they just leave us alone, give us space and respect?!  Is it because we're poor?  Does that then imply that we're less than, less deserving of respect than _______ (fill-in-the-blank) others?  More prone to _______(fill-in-the-blank) ... WHAT?!?!


I don't know what they're looking for, but I sure hope they find it soon, and leave me the hell alone.

MOVIES

I like those movies where you can choose an alternate ending.  Those are cool.  If only real life were like that... Here's the alternate ending I would choose for my situation:


Instead of hearing apathetic silence when I showed my landlord the moat, he would have said: "Don't worry, Lydia, I'll make some phone calls, and see about getting this cleared up right away.  I'll let you know what I find out."


Instead of hearing: "That's not my department", when I showed the moat to Code Enforcement, I would have heard: "This is disgusting.  I'm going over there right now, and try to find out what's going on with this.  Don't worry, we'll get it figured out ASAP.  Meanwhile, I'm gonna suspend HUDS rental license, and order that tenant rents be paid to the court in escrow."


Instead of DEP saying: "Yuk yuk, oh, well... I do drive-bys every  now and then, and it looked fine from the road... yuk yuk...", I would have heard: "Yeah, I dropped the ball on this.  I had no idea what was going on with it, because - frankly, I don't give a damn about those people who live over there anyway.  They're just a bunch of poor, lazy bums who probably deserve to be poisoned in the first place.  Just wish I could do more to hurry it along...."  (No, that's NOT what I wanted to hear, but at least it would have been the truth.)


Instead of my landlord saying: "What the hell more do you want from me?! I made a phone call on your behalf!", I might have heard - "We're sorry you're sick, Lydia.  Don't worry, we're gonna work with the City on this to make sure it gets cleaned up as soon as possible."


Instead of the Resident Coordinator laughing at me and saying: "Well, if you guys are getting headaches from the fumes, just close your windows ! lol...." I would have heard:  "You're getting headaches? That's really wierd... I wonder if they might be coming from the fumes at the laundromat?  Don't worry, we're gonna make some calls and see if we can't fix this, so it doesn't keep happening".


And, instead of that same person saying: "If you just spent as much time on school as you did complaining, you'd be done by now !"  She would say: "I understand your worry, Lydia, this must be really stressful for you.  If you need to talk, I'm here to listen."


Instead of the EPA conducting a make-believe investigation, with a pretend agent, I would have gotten an immediate injunction against HUD preventing them from operating a housing complex at this location, and an order to refund ALL tenants back rent for the time we were incarcerated here.


Instead of everyone saying: "She's just a crazy trouble-maker whose bored and letting her imagination get the best of her.  We KNOW there's no REAL problem, because she's the only one whose complaining... Everyone else is really happy to live over there...!";  I might have heard:  "Let's count our blessings that more residents don't think like her, because she's right."


Instead of court dates and eviction letters, I might have gotten honest explanations and apologies.  Instead of patronizing and placating, I would have gotten REAL CONCERN, and REAL SOLUTIONS.  Instead of arrogance and apathy, I might have gotten sympathy and support.


But, alternate endings only happen in movies.  And, even then - only sometimes.

THE PLAYGROUND

There's a playground five feet from the toxic moat, but I won't let my son play at it.  In fact, I cringe when I see other people's children playing at it.  I wanna run out and say: "NOOoooooooooo !!! Don't let your kid play here !!!" I feel like there should be warning signs put up around it:  


'WARNING: DANGER - ALLOWING YOUR CHILDREN TO PLAY HERE COULD RESULT IN RESPIRATORY DAMAGE, BRAIN DAMAGE AND/OR RISK OF WEST NILE VIRUS INFECTION DUE TO MOSQUITO BITES FROM THE OPEN SEWAGE DRAIN RIGHT IN BACK OF THEM.'


But, maybe I'm just being melodramatic.  The State Health Department recently informed me that they read my blog, and are interested in investigating "numerous" violations which may or may not be occurring on this property, as it relates to the industrial complex next to it.  So, I was discussing it with my son last night, and I said something like: "I doubt they'll find anything, they probably should have come 3 or 4 months ago to get the full effect.... There's no 'water' there, now.  And, unless they get extra enthusiastic - and take soil samples - they probably won't be able to actually ascertain what was really in that moat....."  To which he replied:  "Yeah, that's probably why they put hay down on top of it, to absorb the chemicals."  Smart boy.


When we talked about moving, he indicated that he can't wait.  He's tired of seeing rats and mice scurry around our living room and kitchen.  That made me sad, that as a parent - in this day and age - even with all of my yelling and screaming - I still can't provide more than the bare minimum for him.  It's humiliating and lessens the amount of respect he has for me, I'm sure.  Do I want it to be this way? NO.  Does it need to change? YES.


Can I live here another year? NO.  


Is this the way YOU live?  Probably not......

HONEY

I just got off the phone with my lawyer, who felt the need to remind me of that old adage:  "Sometimes you get more flies with Honey, than Vinegar....."  To which I replied:  "I'm all out of Honey, the Honey is gone... !"


Had I not been so quick to be flip, I might have said something more intelligent, like:  "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes...", or something equally witty.


But, I didn't.  Somewhere, along the way - I lost my Honey (now I just sound like Winnie the Pooh).  No - seriously - I had honey when we were moved the first time - from Moore Drive.  I was forced to use up all of my vacation time and savings to do so, but - I used Honey.


I used Honey when we were made to jump through numerous hoops to get and keep Public Housing....

I used Honey when my belongings were repeatedly stolen by various Maintenance personnel, and my reports went ignored....

I used Honey when I was called into the office numerous times after that to provide birth certificates and Social Security cards for myself and my family because office staff kept 'losing' them.

I used Honey when issues brought up in Resident Council meetings went ignored and un-addressed. 

I used Honey when my landlord miscalculated my rent, and took me to court for no reason;  Over and over and over and over again......

I used Honey when they broke numerous promises about helping residents buy back on Moore Drive.  I used Honey when money went missing from the buy-back program due to embezzlement, and us residents suffered as a result.

I used Honey when we were promised an all-purpose community center complete with computer equipment and printers, only to have the doors locked so consistently that I ended-up having to buy my own computer and printer.

I used Honey when I lived in a unit which had faulty electrical wiring that caused me to have to buy new stereo, T.V. and computers every year, and the landlord refused to fix it, or have it professionally rewired, playing Russian Roullette with our lives...

I used Honey when my landlord laughed in my face and told me she wasn't going to fix the toxic mold problem in my home, because it would cost her too much.

I used Honey when all of my furniture was eaten by termites, because the maintenance guy refused to admit that I was right about having them in the first place (despite my bringing him one in a jar);  And waited 2 years to call an exterminator.

I used Honey when Code Enforcement and my landlord ganged-up on me - forcing me to use money I should have spent on my kids, threatening me with eviction if I didn't use it for lawn care maintenance instead, because they were too selfish to loan me existing equipment or too lazy to do it themselves.

I used Honey when my redneck neighbor let himself into my house to let me know in no uncertain terms that we weren't welcome in the neighborhood, but that he would "tolerate" us...

I used Honey when we were forced to move a second time at our own expense, because RHE Board Members were too greedy, callous and self-involved to understand that as a single parent - I may not have had the extra $200.00 laying around to fund just such an expense.


Like I said:  I'm all out of Honey...... *sigh*.

WHISTLEBLOWER

Currently, there are no protections afforded people like myself who complain about fraud, waste and abuse by government workers.  


Anticipating that HUD would react the way they did, I asked the Maryland State Attorney General to protect me under the Federal Whistleblower statutes currently in place commonly used to protect government workers against retaliation from their government employers.  They didn't exactly refuse, but they didn't agree to, either.  In fact - they referred me back to HUD to investigate itself.  Below is the response I received:

I checked and HUD’s website is referring to State whistleblower laws and protections for state employees.   I did locate the followinghttp://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm.  While not specific to whistleblower, it appears to be a way to let someone in federal government know what you  are experiencing.  It may be worth a try.  I wish I could provide more.    

Citizen Response Coordinator

Maryland Office of the Attorney General

Isn't that a little like asking the fox to guard the henhouse?!  And, in fact I got a very official-looking response from HUDs OIG Division:

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20410-4500

Dear Ms. York:

We reviewed the information you provided to our office and determined that

your issues could best be addressed by the HUD program office with jurisdiction in

these matters. Therefore, we recommend you follow up with HUD’s Office of Public

Housing, Washington, DC (3GPH).

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Director, Office of Public Housing Washington, DC (3GPH)

820 First Street, NE

Washington, D.C. 20002

Phone (202) 275-6381

Fax (202) 275-6388

Sincerely,

Michael R. Kirby

Director, Program Integrity

(Hotline) Division

GFI/91

A political hot-potato much?  Like I have time to keep writing letters and calling people.  No, I don't.  I have to pack, since it was no ones job to listen to me and protect me, but - it was everybody's job to take my rent money.

COMPLAINING

"Maybe if you weren't so busy complaining, you could concentrate on school, or better yet - get a JOB !"  This from the same dimwit who told me to close my sons window so he wouldn't keep getting headaches from the drycleaner fumes of the laundromat next door.  Like I enjoy living in sub-standard housing, and get my rocks off finding fault where there is none (and here I'm being facetious).  That insensitive comment might not be so bad, except it came from someone in my rental office.  They're not the brightest stars in the sky....


For the record:  I DON'T LIKE COMPLAINING.  It does nothing for my emotional health and well-being.  And, it's worth noting that I was a totally compliant, reasonable and rational resident for 9 long, hard years before I blew my top - so to speak.  But, when there's no Resident Council to voice resident concerns - a PHA (Public Housing Authority) might be tempted to run roughshod over it's residents.  And, since HUD no longer randomly polls residents with their satisfaction surveys through the REAC division; Violations can and will occur.  Currently, there aren't margins for error - there are big, gaping holes.  And, who suffers as a result?  Us residents.  


If this isn't the wake-up call it's intended to be, then I don't know what else to say... smh... (shaking my head)....

SHOW ME THE $$

John E. Hall (202) 275-6291 http://www.hud.gov/news/

For Release Friday March 06, 2009

N E W S    R E L E A S E :

HUD AWARDS $21,750 TO THE ROCKVILLE HOUSING ENTERPRISES TO BRING JOBS, ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE TO PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND

'WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $21,750 to the Rockville Housing Enterprises that will be used to help public housing residents in Rockville, to find jobs that lead them toward economic independence. This funding was part of nearly $12 million awarded to 207 public housing agencies across the U.S.
The grants are provided through HUD's Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which enables public housing agencies (PHA) to hire program coordinators who work directly with residents to connect them with local education and training opportunities; job placement organizations and local employers. The purpose of the program is to encourage local innovative strategies that link public housing assistance with public and private resources to enable participating families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance; and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.
"As America prepares to meet the growing challenges brought on by rising unemployment, it helps to have a helping hand guide individuals to training and job opportunities in their community," said HUD Deputy Regional Director Brenda Laroche. "These grants will help public housing residents find employment or assist others who want to increase their earning power."
Public housing residents sign a contract to participate, which outlines their responsibilities towards completion of training and employment objectives up to a five-year period. For each participating family that is a welfare recipient, the PHA must establish an interim goal that the participating family be independent from welfare assistance prior to the expiration of the contract. During the period of participation, residents may earn an escrow credit based on increased earned income, which they may use in a variety of ways, including continuing their education or down payment toward a home purchase. A HUD study showed low-income families who participated in a similar HUD family self-sufficiency program saw their incomes increase at a higher rate than non-participants....'
======================================================================

Show me the $$$, cuz I was enrolled in this program during the time-frame that RHE received this grant, and I don't know what they did with the money, but I can say with a certainty that it was absolutely NOT used for it's intended purpose.  Maybe they went out and had a big lobster dinner with it.  Maybe they rented a cruise ship and took a vacation with it.... Who knows?!  But, all I can tell you for sure is that - as a participant of this program - when it came time for me to cash-in on my FSS contract - all of a sudden - the money had mysteriously vanished.  Ruth O'Sullivan, Executive Director of RHE gave me this big song and dance about this and that... Tried to bamboozle me with fake documents, then gave me a dummy escrow account ledger.  Except, I ain't no dummy.  To this day, I'm in Public Housing against my will because they 'misappropriated' resident money, and botched accounts.  So, instead of being the homeowner I'm supposed to be, I gotta live on swampland, next to a toxic moat, across the street from a landfill, on a dead-end street, going nowhere fast..... Thanks, Ruth.

POLICE STATE

We live in a police state.  This is the only part of town where there are cameras mounted on top of the street lights monitoring our every move.  Granted, this used to be an open-air drug market, but still.......


I don't like them.  Most of the residents here don't like them.  In fact, it hurt the sensibilities of  residents so much that installation of them was problematic.  They kept getting torn down.  Who wants a camera watching your every move?!


There's one trained on my front door.  I guess they're unnaturally interested in my comings and goings. *Sigh*.  I'm pretty sure it's a violation of my civil liberties, but I've been so busy getting sick this last year, that I've had to pick my battles.  


Then, I gotta wonder where the money for installation and monitoring comes from.... Hhhhmmm... Another example of our taxpayer dollars at waste - Uh, I mean - at work?


It's just a little too much like 'Big Brother' for me.  I could see if I was doing something wrong, or if someone else were doing something wrong, but this neighborhood has improved 75% since then, so now it's time for them to come down.  Except they won't.


This City likes to monitor and control certain uuuhhhh, how to say this? 'segments' of their population like animals in cages.  It gives them a sense of power and superiority.  Well, goody for them.  If they want to use the cameras to foster their God-complex, then so be it.


I think it all comes down to Karma.  Where there is injustice in the world, there is also justice.  Maybe this blog is justice.  It feels like it.  If I can expose them for the evil, hypocritical slumlords that they are, then they can watch my front door.  I think it's a fair trade-off.  What do you think?

CODE ENFORCEMENT

I know what you're thinking:  What I've said can't possibly be true, because there're agencies in place to make sure that housing is safe for residents.  And I would tell you that - no - in this town, there are not.  

Take our local Code Enforcement Department:  They're so busy cozying up to City officials and landlords that they could really care less about the safety of housing for residents.  I know - because every time I called them to help me with an issue regarding deficient HUD housing, they would come out, and instead find a reason to cite ME for some sort of deficiency on MY part.  No lie - 

Instead of caring about termites on my property, they cited ME for the debris Orkin had displaced from the basement when they came to spray for the termites.

Instead of caring about the toxic levels of mold in my house, they chose to cite ME for an inoperable vehicle parked in my driveway (although it was within legal guidelines).

Instead of caring about faulty electrical wiring in my home, they cited ME for grass that was 2" high (one inch higher than regulation allows).

Instead of caring about peeling lead paint in my house, they cited ME for overgrown shrubbery. 

All of this is a matter of public record - I have no reason to lie.  Time after time, Code Enforcement proved their incompetence by being overly concerned with the City's bottom line, and bullying residents into compliance.  For years they harassed and cited me to the point of distraction.  It was bizarre. They never helped me in my quest for safe housing for myself and my son - never, not once.

Even with the open sewage drain on this current property - did they care? NO.  I personally showed one of their agents the clogged/overflowing drain (aka MOAT) next to my house which was sickening us, but his only response was: "That's not my department."  Comforting :-/

But, here's the thing:  When it comes to the health and welfare of people - especially residents who expect a certain level of safety regarding their home and neighborhood;  And who pay good money to live here - it SHOULD be his department.

ELECTION

I think it's appropriate with the upcoming elections to remind our elected officials (as well as those running) of the 'Want, Will and Hopes of the People' as outlined in our oldest, most precious document: The Declaration of Independence:


"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —"


Somewhere along the way we lost sight of those principles.  Wait, no - WE didn't - YOU did.  Holding elected office is not supposed to be some cushy, administrative job where you take money and perks just to wake-up and put on a suit in the morning.  YOU work for US.  It's inappropriate for you - Councilman, Mayor, Congressman, Director, Board Member to have access to public funding and squander it or worse - misuse it.


When you know you have a housing shortage or problem in your area, address it in a timely manner.  Address it appropriately - because housing is a RIGHT, not a PRIVILEGE.

MOAT 2

I thought my blog about the 'moat' would purge me of my anger, except it didn't.  There's so much more to tell... Most of all, I'm angry at myself.  Angry because - despite my military and medical training, plus experience with the shady, underhanded way Rockville City and Rockville Housing Enterprises staff treat us residents - it didn't occur to me sooner that we were being poisoned.  My Aunt said it best:  It's nothing short of economic racism.


Let me backtrack:  First of all - my subsequent investigation indicates that the dust was more than likely coming from the industrial laundromat which abuts this property.  Our headaches were from their fan which blows chemical fumes right at our front door, and into my sons window - everyday, all day.  The noxious fumes? Probably from one or more of the four bio-hazard companies, car wash and laundromat which are located adjacent to this property.  I have to legally say things like "probably", because - despite an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) criminal 'investigation' into this situation initiated by my complaints, to date no one has been held accountable for the condition the moat was in when I found it.  No one.  And the beat goes on....


This is a historically black neighborhood with a rich history, but now it's become a ghetto, despite gentrification efforts.  That's probably why these companies saw fit to dump their toxic waste in our backyards, thinking we wouldn't notice - and no one would really care.  I couldn't say this without proof that there are 3 additional dumping sites other than the one I found next to my house, all within a five-mile radius. But, does anyone care? NO. Why??Because it wouldn't benefit them monetarily to care.  If they cared - they might have to be concerned about the Elementary School up the street, and the children's health.  They might have to close the three parks, and relocate residents.  None of that would be beneficial to the Citys' fiscal bottom line.  So, we suffer in silence.  And the beat goes on......


Stay tuned for MOAT 3, which will include pictures.  I gotta go dust.

THE MOAT

So, let's talk about why I'm REALLY here...


We've been housed in this town home by HUD for the last year.  During the first month, I noticed a fine layer of white dust accumulating on my furniture daily.  No matter how much I dusted, there it would be again the next day.... That dust.  Which kinda made me wonder what we were breathing...So, since my son has asthma - I have to keep the house cleaner than the average bear.  I began running fans constantly - to clean the air and keep it circulating.  But the dust persisted.


Then, there was the smell.  It was a noxious, gaseous smell of death.  Indescribably bad.  There were many nights when my son and I would turn to each other in unison and say: "Do you smell that?! Ewwwwwww...... !"  Then, there were the constant colds and upper-respiratory infections we were getting.  It was worrying.  My son and I began to spit-up yellow, green and red phlegm  every morning for weeks.  We would wake-up with green gunk sticking our eyes together and showing up in tissue when we blew our noses.  It wasn't funny anymore.


I thought it was us.  First, I thought - well, we just need to ________ (fill in the blank) mop more, sweep more, clean more, deodorize more etc..... I spent a small fortune on room fresheners, sprays, incense and bleach.  


Then, after doing all that I could to ensure our house was clean, I began to suspect our neighbors.  Maybe THEY weren't keeping THEIR houses clean enough, and WE were suffering as a result... HHhhhhhmmmm.... It became a mystery.....


Soon came the mice.  While setting traps for them one day, my maintenance guy casually says - "Oh, well, you know where the mice are coming from, don't you?" I said - "no, where?"  He says: "They're coming from that river over there !!"  "What 'river'?"  I asked... So, he proceeds to escort me to the fence bordering the perimeter of our property which I'd never had a reason to go near before.  And, there it was: Not a river at all, but a MOAT.  A 50-yard stretch of stagnant, standing 'water' about 2 feet deep.  And it was only 30-feet from my front door.  The closer we got to it, the worse it smelled.  I actually had a 'EUREKA !' moment.  Suddenly, it all made perfect sense:  That's why we were getting sick ! That's what we'd been smelling for months.... ! OHhhhhhhhh !!!!! DUHhhh !!!!


How to describe this disgusting display? Oh, well - I think I just did.  According to the City of Rockville, it's an open storm water sewage drain they knew had been clogged since 2009.  Yet, no one bothered to ask the industrial parks' management to clean it up.  So WHAT residents were getting sick, and it's an unhealthy environment to raise kids in??  So what.  As long as we continued to pay our rent on time, there was no problem.  Right? Wrong.  I slowly turned to my maintenance guy and said: "John (that's not his real name, cuz you know - I gotta protect the innocent), you really shouldn't have shown me THIS."


That's when all hell broke loose.  I kicked into high gear and got as much information and contacted as many people as I possibly could.  Of course, it wasn't HIS problem, it was HERS, it wasn't HIS job - it was THEIRS.... blah blah blah... But, I refused to take "no" for an answer.  I immediately stopped paying rent in protest, and  literally shamed them (HUD) into siding with me in order to get the problem solved.  It worked, but - by way of apology they sued me for back rent, and petitioned the court for my eviction.  They didn't even have the decency to be embarrassed or remorseful :-(


So, where are we now?  Well, I'm still pissed that it took HUD and the City 2 years to get this issue resolved.  And, I'm currently experiencing retaliation for my efforts, but otherwise - it's all good.  Never let 'em see you sweat ;-)

BITING

'Biting the hand that feeds you':

Definition: turn against a friend or supporter; repay kindness with wrong

Explanation: Used when talking about someone who does not appreciate those who have helped her

Examples: He is biting the hand that feeds him if he continues to criticize and fight against his superiors. - Remember to not bite the hand that feeds you when speaking to your parents.

============================================

Soooooo....You may ask: Why would you dare to criticize an agency which has helped you and your family? To which I would reply: They haven't.

Not when they uprooted us twice for their own, selfish, monetary gain, made empty promises, refused to abide by our lease agreement, and consistently harassed, threatened and intimidated myself as well as other residents into submission.  When they move children and families around the County like we're chattel, causing children to worry and switch schools - disrupting their lives without regard.  When they adopt the attitude that they're impervious to criticism and outside review -  to the detriment of residents;  When they disregard the health, safety, psychological and emotional well-being of residents - they're not helping.

When they stand by idly and let their staff grossly mismanage public funds, as well as resident savings... They're not helping.  But, most of all, I'm tired.  I'm tired of waiting for someone to notice the fraud, for someone to speak-up on my behalf, for someone to right this wrong.

I put up with HUD and their nonsense for almost 10 years.  The Cherokee in me is deeply offended that our government still thinks it's ok to displace people at will, for their own convenience, and at their leisure.

I want them to see me as a person.  A Mother who is trying to provide a safe, stable home for my children, yet is being blocked at every turn - by HUD.

ALL-AMERICAN CITY

I live in Rockville, Maryland.  And, every year there's this contest amongst small town America - where cities compete for the title of 'All-American City'.  Like - trying to prove that Mayberry still exists.  And, it's so funny, because representatives from my town get all gussied up and go to the convention to put their best face forward in hopes of winning this coveted title.  I suspect it's just an excuse to take a vacation on the taxpayers dime, though.  Anyway, this little exercise has always left me a bit amused, considering the following historical quotes:

 "...The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. " ~ Last Speech of Hubert H. Humphrey

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members -- the last, the least, the littlest."
~  Cardinal Roger Mahony, In a 1998 letter, Creating a Culture of Life

The greatness of America is in how it treats its weakest members: the elderly, the infirm, the handicapped, the underprivileged, the unborn. ~  Bill Federer

"A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying,"
~  Pope John Paul II

===================================================================

Rockville loves it's rich people.  And, the richer the better.  I've always been on the fringe of this 'great' City, never able to cash in on the American Dream;  Because every time I think I might have a foothold, someone in City or Federal Government gets a bright idea to do something adverse to myself and my family - so it then becomes a 'one-step-forward-two-steps-back' situation ....

To my knowledge, Rockville has never won the title.  But - they're clueless as to why not; To which I would say - read any (but preferably ALL) of the above quotes, and then ask yourself:  Are we REALLY an 'All-American City' ???!

HUD SUCKS

Okay.  We all know Wall Street sucks, Madoff sucks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac suck.  Now, I submit to you a concept which may not be new:  HUD SUCKS.


WHAT?! How could I say that?! Because I've been a resident of HUD housing for the last 9 years, and every year it's drama with them.  One year, they decided to bulldoze my entire housing complex for gentrification purposes (for those of you who don't know: that means they got rid of the black people to make more room for the white ones).  So, since we were in their way just by virtue of our existence - they evicted all 200 of us.  Yup.  In fact, HUD does this so often they even have written procedures governing how to do it efficiently.  Then, they moved my family and I into a home rife with mold.  Then - when we complained - they threatened us with eviction, and moved us to a different home next to an open sewage drain.  Now, since I complained about that - they're threatening to evict us yet again in retaliation.  Nice people.  These are the same people who - every time you turn around are breaking their arms patting themselves on their backs and bragging about how much they HELP people.  Last I knew - "helping" didn't include bullying, intimidation and threats.


It doesn't matter who you complain to, or what you say - they - like alot of other people who shall remain nameless - hide behind their corporate structures and wooden desks.  They won't return my phone calls, and ignore letters from my attorneys.  Like I said - nice people.


This is the automated response I got when I tried to report my PHA (Public Housing Authority) to the HUD Office of the Inspector General for fraud, waste and abuse:

This automatically generated message acknowledges receipt of your e-mail to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG).

We will assign your correspondence to one of our analysts for review in the order of receipt. Please note, we receive many more complaints than we can address immediately within OIG resources, and we receive complaints that fall outside OIG jurisdiction. Therefore, we limit investigative effort to those issues that represent the most serious potential risk to the HUD programs and operations or for which the OIG may be the only avenue of redress.

For further information on issues that fall within our jurisdiction, or for general information on points of contacts within the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other government agencies, please visit our Hotline web site at: 

http://www.hudoig.gov/

It is unnecessary to resend your e-mail message or to call or e-mail us again to ask for a status report; as we can’t provide you with case status updates or other information while a review is in progress.

 We will not respond further if your issues are not a matter for OIG review. 

You will hear from us within 60 days ONLY if your issue falls within OIG jurisdiction.

 Please do not respond to this automatically generated message.

 Thank you for contacting the Hotline with your concerns.

In other words.... 'Don't call us, we'll call you.....' like.... NEVER.

I'm emboldened by the demonstrators on Wall Street, the ones who believe that our government and those principles involved in keeping our economy running need to be more responsible with our money, and more responsive to our needs.  Gone are the days when 'they' can make 'their' shady deals behind closed doors, pat us on our collective backs and whisper in our ears that all is right with the world...... No more.

People, this blog is for YOU.  If you are in HUD housing, and want to vent - do it here.  I care, I'm listening.