Two big hearts, State Marshal Heather Goulet and East End City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez, have come together to rescue an 85-year-old woman from a tragic eviction after she was was fleeced of thousands of dollars from someone she had entrusted to make the rent payments.
From Frank Recchia, News 12:
Dorothy Davis-McKenzie, known affectionately as “Miss B” to everyone who knows her, has spent her lifetime caring for others.
Now she is facing the threat of homelessness.
The crisis began this week when State Marshal Heather Goulet arrived at a multi-family house on Bunnell Street to carry out an eviction on the second floor.
“I just felt so bad,” Goulet said. “85 years old, I’m like, ‘what am I supposed to do, just put her on the street?’ I can’t do that.”
The “marshal with a heart” teamed up with Bridgeport City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez to intervene.
They soon discovered that “Miss B’s” situation wasn’t a matter of simple neglect, but of exploitation.
Full report here
Where is the Fair Rent Commission in this situation? By the time an eviction serves as a last step notice to a renter, especially when the elderly renter was seemingly taken advantage of by someone she trusted to make her payments to a landlord? What is the full story in this incident?
We likely cannot rely on the caring spirit of a State Marshal pursuing her task in all cases. Thank you Council person Eneida Martinez for exercising your oversight in the District. Are there any lessons regarding oversight by a Fair Rent Commission (that perhaps needs to be at full strength promptly as intended several years ago by the City Council) that can communicate about the rights of citizens who rent, which is not in action today? Time will tell.
JML, Wait! What? Hold on a second! Help me with the math here:
Dorothy’s rent is $1,500 per month according to housing court records. From January 1 st. to March 30, 2026 (3 months), the mathe should be 3× $1,500= $4,500 (let’s add April) + $1,500=$6,000.
How did Councilwoman Eneida Martinez calculated $9,000?
https://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DocumentInquiry/DocumentInquiry.aspx?DocumentNo=31881624