GIMMIE

When I was a kid, and there was something we wanted, we'd just say: "gimmie, gimmie, gimmie !", with our anxious hands stretched out to grab... Finally, one day - my cousin said:  "Gimmie got SHOT !"  Then we all laughed, and carried on.

I didn't get it then, I just pretended to... But, I laughed with the rest just the same.  Now I know - people who want, want, want, and beg, beg, beg all the time - end up getting nothing.  In fact, expecting something without giving anything in return could REALLY get you shot - for real.

That's what I think of, when I hear HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan speak.  He's always asking, begging, wanting, needing... More, and more and more and more.... He's like that greedy little kid on the street whose got his own marbles, but he wants YOURS, TOO !

Case in point:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/14/hud-awards-colorado-12-mi_n_898246.html

HUD awarded $12 million dollars to the State of Colorado for upgrades and improvements to their public housing units.  However, the last sentence in the article quotes him as saying:  "...The funding helps, but it's not enough".  Well, gee, Mr. Secretary - how much would be enough?  14 million?  16 million?  How about we just hand you a blank check and let you write in the amount YOU think is just and fair ??  How about you use reputable contractors to do the work within the budget?  How about you house people in code compliant homes in the first place, so that you wouldn't need so much money later to make them code compliant?  How about you not squander and waste the money you've already been given by the taxpayers of America, so that you wouldn't have to go to the President and Congress every year with your hat in hand, and your palm up... Saying:  "Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie....."  without shame or embarrassment.  At least have that.... Dang....

TRAP HOUSE

TRAP HOUSE

Don't know what that is, do you?  It's a house that police set-up with cameras and audio wire taps to record the drug activity going on inside.  Here's a link to demonstrate what I'm talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRuxedRI2q4

But, what I'd like to talk about here today is the negative impact these 'trap houses' have on neighboring residents:

I lived in a suburb of Washington, DC back in 2001.  It was a nice neighborhood.  A good mix of  races, religions and ages.  Kids played football in the street.  They rode their bicycles and skateboards down the sidewalks.  We all got along, and life was grand.  Until our local Police department (in conjunction with HUD) got the bright idea to set-up a trap house down the street.  Overnight, our neighborhood was under siege.  We stayed indoors much of the time, because crackheads came from all over to visit the trap house.  The kids didn't play outside anymore.  Morning, noon and night, the crackheads could be seen walking, like zombies - to the crackhouse.  We complained.  We took pictures.  Lawn ornaments began disappearing, and we all feared for our safety.  One of my neighbors openly threatened the drug dealer who supplied the house, and was threatened in return.  There were fights and stabbings.  We thought that would surely be the end of it, they would shut it down - but they didn't.  They allowed it to continue.

Did the crackheads realize they were visiting a trap house?  No, and I don't think they cared.  Did they know or understand how much they were ruining our neighborhood?  No, and I don't think they cared.  Did they know they were threatening our health, safety and welfare?  No, and I don't think they cared.

It did no good to complain to my landlord, who was a Housing Authority under HUD.  Because, I realized much later, that they were in cahoots with the local Police to run this 'sting' operation, it was a HUD operated property, and they approved the operation.  They were determined to do their part in our 'war on drugs', no matter the human cost in the process. I was a good tenant, and a respectful neighbor - but, this was asking too much of myself and my family.  

So, for the better part of six months we lived as no one should live - like prisoners in our own homes.  I only hope the police accomplished their goal, and caught the people involved in the drug ring;  However, they should know that it was at our expense, and that's unforgivable. That's what living in public housing under HUD feels like - hell.