City officials on Friday announced beefed-up security measures at city housing projects for the next three months including police patrols in hallways and common areas. P.T. Barnum Apartments at the edge of the West End and Black Rock neighborhoods and the high-rise Greene Homes in The Hollow are hot spots for crime.
Former City Councilman Joel “Speedy” Gonzalez, an evening shift custodian in the police department, attended the noon news conference at Greene Homes where officials provided details of security measures paid by the Bridgeport Housing Authority that oversees the units. Gonzalez, who sometimes ventures into uninviting areas of the city, captured the above video tour of the hallways and staircases in Building 3 of the Greene Homes. Definitely not a stairway to heaven. The stench causes Speedy to gag. Hopefully housing authority maintenance crews are now on hygiene alert. Parental guidance is suggested.
Close it down.
JMart, you are thinking just like a politician. This video was taped yesterday and I have two from August of 2012–it isn’t Godiva 2012 either. These conditions go back at least 10 years and notice many of the stairs were replaced after several lawsuits were filed against the Bridgeport Housing Authority. Where have Bpt Health Department officials; Building inspectors; Fire Marshalls, the mayor’s appointed Housing Commissioners; and of course the mayor himself, been for the last five years? These high-rise structures are solid and in good condition structurally–they’re just being poorly managed or purposely being sabotaged for obvious reasons.
Keep voting for Rats and they will keep treating the residents like Rats. It’s as easy as STOP VOTING FOR THE RATS!!!
Palin, how about getting them to start “VOTING?”
I have a total of five videos from CFGH on my YouTube page. Two from 2012 and three filmed just yesterday. If you watch all the videos, pay close attention to the lower section of the walls throughout the building. From the very beginning of the design and construction of these buildings and even after the remodeling, they failed to consider the maintenance aspects of the buildings. I make this statement of fact because when you see the videos, you won’t notice any electrical outlets to plug in a floor stripping or buffing machine. All main entrances to the buildings have broken locks and have been like that for years. I think it was comedian Chris Rock who stated they call these type of Housing sites as “The Projects” and then said he didn’t know we were an experiment.
“I am asking all of our supporters to please contact the above reporter [dtepfer@ctpost.com (203)330-6308) and ask him to focus on the real issues that are destroying the future of our children and/or our city …”–Kenneth Moales Jr., July 24,2013
Be careful what you wish for. This topic is an example of how our Social, Economic and Political environment affect Bridgeport’s School District. Imagine the impact this type of neglect has on “the future of our children and/or our city.”
There is NO FUTURE for children in Bridgeport. Face the facts.
There is a “FUTURE” for a great majority. They’re still waiting for the “Change” they were hoping for.
Joel,
Real change will only come if Bridgeport voters become informed and involved, and vote accordingly. It’s time to take on and defeat the political machine that is killing the City and opportunity for many of its residents.
David Walker, I don’t want to be mean but we don’t need slogans.
Joel, Connecticut and the U.S., for that matter, doesn’t have the economy to support a lot of people who make a career of living off entitlement money anymore. Look at Detroit when the new manager asked Washington for a loan and was told no.
JMart, even when plenty of money was available, these housing project were being managed the same way. Preventive maintenance can go a long way in future cost savings.
You believe all people living in Public Housing don’t work? You think they are all getting a free ride? Have you stopped to think it may be possible to fix these conditions at KMart prices?
Read the Biography of the Commissioners here and tell me it’s not about politics first. These are all Bill Finch’s people:
www .bridgeporthousing.org/about/board.html
Yet the machine will mobilize and get all the residents to vote for Finch and the approved candidates. How can we and the residents expect change? Very convenient they get a patrol in the months leading up to the election. Where are their city council members advocating for change? They are more than happy to pat themselves on the back about the patrol …
No kid who lives in the Greens will admit they live there. How sad.
I know someone who will admit he is Mayor “Green!”
Let’s get very real here. The federal government sends subsidy dollars to the housing authority to operate and manage the BHA buildings. The tenants pay 30% of their adjusted gross income towards rent. HUD has to approve the operating budget for each property on an annual basis, scrutinizing every line item. Then HUD waits for the Congress to approve a federal budget that sends down the subsidies to the housing authority. In the last five years they sent down between 70%-82% of what they should have sent. A no-win situation from a financial perspective.
On the capital side, the dollars that are needed to repair the stairs, roofs, boilers etc, they send down less than 40% of what is requested. The management of the BHA since 2006 got the BHA off the ‘troubled Housing Authority’ list; after being on that horrible list for over fifteen years. The BHA has come a long way without the proper resources. Bash them as you want but since 2006 they have been making a huge effort in the midst of shrinking federal dollars. Now with the federal sequester it’s only going to get worse for the 2000+ housing units that depend on the federal subsidies.
*** I think the temp increased security measures in having walking patrols in the Greens Apts. and Hollow Community really have nothing to do with unsanitary hallways in public housing, no? However quite an “eye-opener” for those who have never lived in urban public housing complexes located in drug- and crime-infested neighborhoods. By the look and condition of those hallways it’s apparent those in charge of keeping those areas clean have not, nor are willing to attempt any type of cleaning there anytime soon! *** IT’S SAD, VERY SAD THAT PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN THOSE TYPE OF CONDITIONS AND SAD SOME CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT! ***
This is honestly appalling. It leaves me speechless, and for those of you who know me, you know THAT does not happen often. If this is public housing, doesn’t the City have any obligations to its upkeep? This video and the messaging frames the state of affairs in Bridgeport extraordinarily well.
If someone went over to Hizzoner’s house and answered a nature call on his front porch, they would be thrown in jail if apprehended.
I find the stench emanating from City Hall much more repulsive than this video, though.
The City has no obligation for upkeep at BHA. The BHA is a separate entity created by state statute. All the Mayor can do is appoint the BHA board members. If he appoints folks who don’t demand the staff manage to the budget and monitor performance, the residents suffer. If the appointees to the board get involved in things like getting their friends jobs or getting them units rather than demanding accountability from the staff, the residents suffer.
The responsibility lies with the BHA board members. If the board members are not doing the job, the Mayor should demand the resignation of all of the board members. That is what Fabrizi did in 2005. He had them all resign and put Rosa Correa in charge of the board and appointed all new board members with specific skills to turn around the staff management. Then the board hired a turnaround manager who tackled all of the crap including stupid union rules that prevented major accountability and onerous HUD rules that kept the resources from reaching the resident units. Then after the dust settled, they hired a new management team. The BHA board was exemplary during that period.
The questions raised here need to be put directly to the BHA board members. If they don’t respond, the buck stops with the Mayor to get new appointees.
David Walker, here is a chance for your committee and those from Black Rock to get involved with other communities in Bridgeport.
Ron,
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve been out of town a lot lately but will take a look at this issue along with others.
*** D. Walker, it’s nice to get involved in helping tenants and BHA staff who apparently seem much too lazy to get off their asses to report health code violations, etc. that by the way did “not” just happen the other day! But the tenants for one along with the city and city council persons and state reps who represent this district should be the ones to cry wolf first, no? I’m sure if this were happening in B/R it would have been addressed by now. That’s part of the mentality problem in Bpt, it’s always up to someone else to do something about it! If any type of building inspections for anything were ever done and findings like this were found it should have been reported! Let those who live in that community get involved first then lend a helping hand, no? *** HELPING ONESELF CAN LEAD TO HELPING OTHERS ***
Ron Mackey, while Dave Walker gets settled, go by Housing Commissioner Americo Santiago’s home on Burnham Avenue close to you and ask him why nothing has been done. Within a block from where you live, there are the two City Council people who should be representing the Green Homes (I may be wrong) and Housing commissioner Santiago (Santiago may be in Puerto Rico, Manhattan or Long Island).
Joel and Ron,
I am happy to accompany the two of you to whatever section of town you want to tour. I have driven all over town but have not walked all over Bridgeport.
Dave, I’m free all this week. I bet you haven’t seen the other Bridgeport. I’m waiting for a meeting day and time with CW4BB.
Joel,
Believe it or not, I’m in town 4 of 5 weekdays this week. Please call me at my Bridgeport office at 203-382-1000.
The City does have to live under a Cooperation Agreement with the BHA that calculates property taxes due to be based on a formula that equals 10% of shelter rent rather than the normal 42 mils times the assessed valuation. So the City is required to give the BHA a break on real estate taxes. They are not tax exempt. They pay a lower amount of taxes.
Joel, thank you for sharing your video.
The individuals who reside in housing are responsible for the cleanliness of their property (even the hallway). There is no reason to allow such conditions. It all starts at home.
This is the link to my YouTube page. All five videos are here and there are many others you may enjoy.
www .youtube.com/user/Joel112264
invincible, I understand where you’re coming from. As much as it ticks me off to clean outside my residence (I rent), I do it anyway and at times cars have driven by while I’m cleaning their mess and throw more trash out the window. In this video from 2012, you will notice a broom in the hallway. I’ve seen people cleaning their hallways there. Should they repair the tiles and fix the lighting too? This video shows the broom or mop in the hallway around the 4:45 time run.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=5qvWGiarFWc
People crapping in the stairwells is not really a maintenance problem. How do you ‘fix’ that? The people who live there are tenants, not prisoners. They are free to live where they like. The people have to take responsibility for what is happening in their house. Joel seems to be of the idea all the people live here and no one knows who brings in the crime, the drugs, the cheats and the nasty. There is a reason these things don’t happen in Westport. Go to Main Street Westport, pee on the sidewalk and find out. If you accept these people into your house you accept the conditions they bring.
Maybe it is just me, but I think the guy peeing in the hall will hold his water until the cops pass by. Unless you post police everywhere, all the time, nothing will change. If folks want something to change they need to ‘drop a dime’ or a quarter nowadays.
BOE SPY, let me start with one of your concerns, as Lieutenant here in the fire dept I responded to a call of gas in the house. After we found no problem and we were leaving the same woman who also owns this three-family house pulled me to the side and said drug dealers are in front of her houses every day selling drugs and when she called the police they did come but they left when the police got there. Later that day the drug dealers came back and told her they knew she was the one who called the police. Well, she is telling me this and she said she is scared for her life and property and will not call the police on them again. Now, I did speak to the police and they said they would drive by and make it look like she didn’t make any calls. BOE SPY, now what is this woman and others like her to do when the live in fear every day?
Ron Mackey, view as many of the videos as you can and in your professional experience, can you tell us if there are obvious fire code violations? For example, most of the doors on the hallways leading to the fire escape/staircases are left open or ajar to vent out the foul odor and of course the lighting and the fire extinguishing system conditions. This is your area of expertise.
I don’t know. Best answers: 1- move. 2- vote Republican. 3- get a gun and get trained to use it. This battle will not be without its casualties.
BOE SPY, really, I see you don’t know a lot of blacks because if you did you would NEVER have given that list.
Ron, are you suggesting all black people can be pigeonholed into one behavioral norm? That list contains all the possible choices there are. 1- run 2- change the system 3- fight. Who said the lady was black? You asked me what she should do. As an expert on black behavioral norms, what would you do? All the black army people I knew in the service would have invited the drug dealers to come get some. The white, Spanish and Asian army people I knew would have done the same. You see Ron, people are people. It would be impossible to predict how they would react based on race. Behavior would be more easily predicted based on life experiences. To suggest otherwise would be racist.
BOE SPY, I suggest you zoom in with your spy satellite on to the main entrance/lobby doors of all the buildings at CFGH. Tell me if they have broken locks and glass or not. It’s the responsibility of Housing to screen tenants and monitor the activities taking place on their property.
Nobody deserves to live in those conditions. It’s like they are forgotten people. Anyone who defecates or urinates in the hallways of a residence is mentally ill. An immediate problem that can be fixed if we had someone better running this city. The long-term fix involves education. Educated people don’t live like that. Anyone think the current political infrastructure in Bridgeport is capable of implementing the effective solutions we need to restore prosperity and promise? This is truly harassment.
Ron, a solution to fear is to organize a crime watch or a block watch. Have an organization, they report what they see and no one can be pinpointed by the thugs. The Administration has not promoted this. The Police are extremely insulting and harsh in these matters.
Joel, didn’t BHA spend tens of millions reconstructing the entrances to the Greens so people having their own private entrances would prevent these problems?
There are sections in each building where the units have private entrances and two floors. I see no issues with these units as the tenants take care of their sections. They don’t have a need to use the common hallways and staircases you see on the videos.
Speedy Up for an Oscar!
ctcapitolreport.com
On another note:
Lennie, check this out! Why couldn’t this shit happen here?
courantblogs.com/capitol-watch/harp-campaign-manager-jason-bartlett-campaign-now-energized-after-democratic-mistake/
*** If these hallways are not health violations Public Housing is responsible for then anything goes in Public Housing? No one should be living under such conditions and not be raising holy hell a long time ago because this has been going on there for years, it’s not something new! What’s it say about the tenants as well as the authority in charge! *** SUE THEM ALL ***
What’s a little piss and shit in the hallways, a small sacrifice for having a career living off other peoples taxes. They don’t care, why should you.
Joel, the same video could be made at any city high school. Ask the maintenance guy how many times in one week is human waste left in an inappropriate place (including hallways, stairwells or dropping a deuce in the urinal). I would be surprised if he gives you an answer as low as 1.
BOE SPY, once again, really? “All the black Army people I knew in the service,” so your information about blacks comes from the Army? Please!!!
No Ron, that was just an example of how all people of different races would react in a similar way based on life experience, not race. As a firefighter, what race would run into a fire to save someone and what race would run away?
I have a wide range of experience with all races from many areas where people stand on their feet with their heads held up. Not just the Democratic plantation Bridgeport where spirit has become atrophic and people stand with their hands out and heads down. Mostly, looking to cast blame for the present conditions.
BOE SPY and Ron,
Race should be irrelevant. It’s a person’s character that counts most. Character is race neutral.
Yes. Why Ron always throws race around is a mystery to me.
BOE SPY, you asked why I always throw race around. Blacks and Hispanic have NO power and I mean real power although together they are the majority of the voting power in Bridgeport. BOE SPY, the subject of race has NEVER been discussed in a serious way in Bridgeport, NEVER.
David Walker, come on now. This is 2013 and we are not a neutral country and it’s not its character. Yes, race should be irrelevant but let’s be real, it’s not.
Well one thing is certain. It’s definitely not irrelevant to you.
Okay, Vote for Rick Torres. He is Hispanic.
BOE, you brought up the topic, so you start it off, let’s talk about “race.”