UPDATE: Milking poverty at BMHA

[kernwatch]

"PIMPIN' POVERTY' has long been a major function at BMHA . . . .to benefit developers & patronage jobs. . . but it has even longer been a forbidden topic to discuss.

Here is the latest news on those fronts.

Interestingly, "BMHA Leadership 2007" has finally been updated to include newly-elected tenat rep Elaine Diallo, but BMHA VP Ron Browns's term is still expired as of October 2009. And one of five Byron Brown appointments is still vacant, since Oct 2008.

I have had no success locating new 'crime analysit' George stokes, who I hope to meet during my vist to Bflo in early Sept. Now there is also just-revealed 'crime analyst (#2?)' Al Thompson Jr & 'compliance officer' Clarence Lott to meet!

One can only imagine what creative new ways BMHA will invent to spend the $14 million in 'stimulus funds' . . to help Bflo's poor, of course?!

From ARTVOICE:

http://artvoice.com/issues/v9n31/wee...iew/seven_days

Patronage Watch

BMHA got fat paid by Uncle Sam.We’re told that long-time Grassroots political operative Clarence Lott failed to hold on to his patronage job as a “training coordinator” for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, having failed the civil service exam that position requires. But never fear: BMHA has found a new position for Lott, as a “compliance officer,” a posting that will give him another shot at clearing those pesky civil service hurdles.

Lott’s colleagues at BMHA include George “Eddy” Stokes, uncle of basketball-star-turned-failed-restaurateur Leonard Stokes; George landed a position with the housing authority as a crime prevention specialist after marrying Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples. Another Grassroots connection at BMHA is crime analyst Alonzo Thompson, Jr., whose father, also named Alonzo, was a deputy commissioner at the Erie County Board of Elections and more recently a staffer for the New York State Senate majority’s Western New York office, courtesy of political hack Steve Pigeon and his boss, divisive and embattled State Senator Pedro Espada of the Bronx.

In a previous column, we reported that BMHA had succeeded in obligating the $14 million in federal stimulus money it received by the March deadline imposed by Washington, DC. (Failure to line up contracts by March could have forced BMHA to return the money to the feds, who want it spent as quickly as possible.) Now BMHA must succeed in actually spending 60 percent of that $14 million by March 2011, and we’re told the agency is a couple months behind schedule, with the construction season more than half finished. Something to keep an eye on

COPY:

http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/Cit...ity/Leadership

Commissioners for Year 2010

Michael A. Seaman - Chairman
(5-year term expires October 19, 2010)
Ronald Brown - Vice Chairman
(5-year term expires October 19, 2009)
Hal D. Payne
(5-year term expires October 19, 2011)
Joseph Mascia - Resident Commissioner
(2-year term expires June 30, 2012)
Elaine Diallo - Resident Commissioner
(2-year term expires June 30, 2012)
Jason C. Shell
(2-year term expires October 19, 2013)

[NBuffaloResident]

So, you still have a hard-on for the BMHA? Didn't learn a thing from your spell in the court room, eh?

[WNYresident]

So, you still have a hard-on for the BMHA? Didn't learn a thing from your spell in the court room, eh?

From reading what goes on the BMHA is a big suck hole for tax money and patronage. Your happy with that?

[NBuffaloResident]

From reading what goes on the BMHA is a big suck hole for tax money and patronage. Your happy with that?

And where does this reading material come from? Dickie Kerns' site?

[WNYresident]

Just the Buffalo News, items we have heard on local tv news stations over the years, the amount of money that seems to go into a giant hole with nothing to really show for it

[NBuffaloResident]

Just the Buffalo News, items we have heard on local tv news stations over the years, the amount of money that seems to go into a giant hole with nothing to really show for it

You mean, all the money going into what everyone knows is a loss? Does anyone expect a return on subsidized housing?

The point of subsidized housing is not to have a return on investment. To think that is just stupid.

[kernwatch]

It is puzzling that few, if any, care that BMHA squanders untold millions of HUD poverty funds year after year in one of the poorest US cities having a massive vacancy crisis.

The real economic cost of housing an average BMHA household of two exceeds $1500 monthly, in a city having about 22,000 housing vacancies . . . and many abandoned one & two family houses available for $5,000 - $10,000.

As BMHA consistently operates with nearly 800 vacancies, they routinely demolish units & rebuild new housing units costing $120K to $200K each.

A productive way to address Bflo's epidemic of poverty, blight & abandonment?

[joe d.]

You mean, all the money going into what everyone knows is a loss? Does anyone expect a return on subsidized housing?

The point of subsidized housing is not to have a return on investment. To think that is just stupid.

ALL ASIDE FROM A LOTTA RHETORIC,....and even his motives...there are factual reports from Mr Kern...Your jaded eyes need to see thru this and control your reactions, until you have done some research on what you criticize!

[mnb811]

You mean, all the money going into what everyone knows is a loss? Does anyone expect a return on subsidized housing?

The point of subsidized housing is not to have a return on investment. To think that is just stupid.

No one should get subsidized housing. If you can't afford it you shouldn't live in it. Period. Another reason why we have /had a housing problem in this country.

[Linda_D]

No one should get subsidized housing. If you can't afford it you shouldn't live in it. Period. Another reason why we have /had a housing problem in this country.

Oh, so, 90-year-olds who live on a pittance of SSI should be kicked out on the street, yes?

[FisherRd]

Oh, so, 90-year-olds who live on a pittance of SSI should be kicked out on the street, yes?

No, they should get an all expenses paid trip to see Dr Kevorkian.

[NBuffaloResident]

ALL ASIDE FROM A LOTTA RHETORIC,....and even his motives...there are factual reports from Mr Kern...Your jaded eyes need to see thru this and control your reactions, until you have done some research on what you criticize!

Wait, so I should do someone's homework, and prove their point?

Good gawd man...

No one should get subsidized housing. If you can't afford it you shouldn't live in it. Period. Another reason why we have /had a housing problem in this country.

Yep, we should just boot the elderly out of their homes if they can't afford it.

I take it that's the "christian way?"

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

You mean, all the money going into what everyone knows is a loss? Does anyone expect a return on subsidized housing?

The point of subsidized housing is not to have a return on investment. To think that is just stupid.

Shouldn't there be some type of expectations?

How about subsidized housing only being provided to those who REALLY need it, rather than those who can provide paperwork that claims they need it?

How about subsidized housing that does not create a negative on the community by the way it is constructed or managed?

How about subsidized housing as a means of transition rather than lifestyle.


As for your question of Does anyone expect a return on subsidized housing?

The answer is yes! In fact, anyone who does not expect a return is part of the problem. I do not like Kern but "Milking Poverty" is a tradition in Buffalo. It is a huge part of the problem.

The amount of money that has poured into Buffalo in the last 50 years for public housing should have produced some type of return.

The goal should be simple. Provide acceptable housing at the lowest cost possible.

Take Marine Drive for example. That project has an IDEAL location right now. It was not always the best location but today it is pretty good. The BMHA should have a pricetag on that project. It should be perpetually for sale. This idea has been discussed before.

[WNYresident]

Oh, so, 90-year-olds who live on a pittance of SSI should be kicked out on the street, yes?

So you really think it's all 90 year olds?

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

So you really think it's all 90 year olds?

She knows better...

Just easier for her to paint her pictures using the 90yr olds on SSI.


If Buffalo could get the minds who are so good at 'Selling Poverty' to the taxpayers to "Sell Buffalo' to outside businesses, it would not be in such a bad place right now.

The fact that discussing the topic of milking poverty is such a taboo subject only ensures it never is fixed.