Is the past truly prologue in our neighborhood?The Growler was recently browsing through a mountain of files and press clippings and was stunned to come across some old articles that illustrate how this community continues to be stifled by philosophies that have not changed even a molecule over the years, despite the passage of time and evolving public policy.
For example, read this Washington Post account of a public meeting of a citizen panel called the Alexandria Forum. A. Melvin Miller, a senior HUD official who had served on the Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority Board from 1970 to 1977, “criticized some [C]ouncil members for advocating public housing alternatives such as dispersing low-income families in apartments throughout the City and issuing housing vouchers, much like food stamps, to subsidize rents for the poor.”
What's so remarkable about these comments? Mr. Miller made them in 1983, some 17 years after the landmark Gautreaux vs. Chicago Housing Authority case launched in 1966. The Gautreaux lawsuit charged that by concentrating more than 10,000 public housing units in isolated African-American neighborhoods, the Chicago Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development had violated both the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees all citizens equal protection of the laws, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlaws racial discrimination in programs that receive federal funding.
Decisions at the district, appellate and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court levels affirmed the Gautreaux plaintiffs' position, finding both CHA and HUD guilty of discriminatory housing practices. In 1969, a federal judge issued a judgment order prohibiting CHA from constructing any new public housing in areas of the city that were predominantly African-American unless CHA also built public housing elsewhere.
By contrast, ARHA in 1967 unveiled yet another project in the Braddock area (Andrew W. Adkins) that added further to the already critical and segregated mass of concentrated public housing in this community. A later Alexandria public housing task force commentary that the Growler dug up notes that HUD – obviously feeling the pressure from Gautreaux – demanded scattered site housing from ARHA and the City as part of the mid-1980s John Roberts-Colecroft redevelopment project.
In the years since the 1983 Alexandria Forum, much has changed regarding housing policy. Always it was moving ahead, not backwards. In a case launched in 1992, Hollman vs. Cisneros, which included the NAACP among its plaintiffs, the courts found that the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority had essentially perpetuated segregation in public housing, denying a range of housing choices (including vouchers) to residents. Consequently MPHA has spent years re-mediating its past policies including siting and housing mobility.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), also in 1992, unveiled the landmark HOPE VI grant program, which includes among its major goals "lessening concentrations of poverty by placing public housing in nonpoverty neighborhoods."
According to his biography, Mr. Miller retired from HUD in 1997, was reappointed to the ARHA board in 2000 and elevated to chairman in 2001. Surely he was familiar with these landmark legal cases and the philosophy behind the HOPE VI program? HOPE VI was employed to transform the "Berg" project into Chatham Square and to successfully develop scattered site housing for half the previous residents.
But does an examination of the timeline reveal something significant? The impetus for Chatham Square appears to date from the early to mid-1990s, when progressive players like Shawn McLaughlin were guiding ARHA into the future.
Why then are Alexandria politicians today continuing to empower a viewpoint that has grown stale with time? It’s time for the Growler’s familiar question, “Cui bono?” Who benefits?
But Mr. Miller is not alone in his Janus-faced commitment to the past. An undated article in the old Alexandria Journal describes the creation of the Samuel Madden Redevelopment Task Force in 1994 and the controversial appointment of housing advocate Herb Levy. The Journal’s correspondent Roberta Holland described the former ARHA employee and commissioner as an opponent of public housing redevelopment, reporting that he believed it needed to remain “cohesive.”
As regular readers of the Growler know, Herb Cooper-Levy later joined a private non-profit housing organization and in the last few years has secured more than $10 million in affordable housing loans on its behalf from the City of Alexandria. Cui bono? Does it pay to be a naysayer?
The question for our newly elected City Council is whether they will be content to be held hostage by those steadily gazing backward (like Mr. Miller or Mr. Cooper-Levy), or will be independent and strong enough to break free and allow themselves to march resolutely toward the future once again.
80 comments:
My word, I am a new resident and I cant believe what I just read.
I have met Mr. Levy once before. I did not know he held such ridiculously stupid views.
"Cohesive"? Has Mr. Levy ever even been around Bland at night? Has he ever even stood on Montgomery and seen it with his own eyes?
And we loan him 10,000,000 dollars?
Growler, what have I moved into?
Simply shocking.
What's even more tragic is that in the past year, the City Council had two significant opportunities to correct the path of its housing policies - First, by not reappointing Mr. Miller to the ARHA Board and Second, by refusing to approve the new Bland which continued the policy of concentrated public housing in this neighborhood and at Glebe.
Unfortunately, on both occasions, the council displayed its utter lack of courage. They should be ASHAMED of themselves.
Not only is the City pursuing a containment policy with respect to housing low income minorities, it pursuing a de facto segregation policy with respect to its schools. How are these children ever supposed to attain self sufficiency under these conditions?
I would like to submit this as evidence of the cohesive nature of the public housing.
Name: First Name: JUSTIN Last Name: HENDRICKS Middle Name: WAYNE
Address: 1202 MADISON STREET
Address: ALEXANDRIA, VA. 22314
http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/offenderDetails.html?regId=22271
ARKANSAS 5-14-127 SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE 4TH DEGREE Sep 16, 2005 AR
ARKANSAS 5-14-110 SEXUAL INDECENCY WITH A CHILD Sep 16, 2005 AR
I don't even know where to begin with this one.
The Growler checked the address on the City's GIS map as well as the official Virginia sex offender registry. The address given (1202 Madison) is in the Andrew Adkins project.
So what is ARHA doing housing a sex offender with a conviction in the last five years in another state (Arkansas)in a complex full of little kids?
During the recent ICCA meeting, the City touted its ability to find loopholes enabling them to evict residents of public housing who commit various violations. Public housing is not a right. It's a privilege, and yet based upon the City's statement, we become beholden to public housing residents once they enter the system; requiring loopholes to remove those who break the law. I can't believe we put ourselves in that position. Where is the legal review, and where if the vetting process for recipients of our government services?
While I oppose public housing (reiterating that I support vouchers instead), I do not oppose supporting the needy and disadvantaged. However, when the needy and disadvantaged violate the criminal laws of our City, the privilege of public housing should be revoked.
As a beneficiary of the City’s goodwill, residents of public housing (and all recipients of City social services too) should be required to give back to the City in any way they can....even if it is as simple as being a law-abiding citizen.
Reading Mr. Miller's abbreviated bio and knowing that Mr. Priest also retired from HUD is theirs a former colleaguial or arms length relationship? Suddenly I doubt it is the latter.
"Not only is the City pursuing a containment policy with respect to housing low income minorities, it pursuing a de facto segregation policy with respect to its schools."
Yep, and Mel Miller has been intimately involved in both. Why the Mayor thinks these outcomes reasonable - he spouts his diversity crap for no other reason that to sanction the status quo - is a mystery.
So Harry Byrd still lives.
"So what is ARHA doing housing a sex offender with a conviction in the last five years in another state (Arkansas)in a complex full of little kids?"
I guess this is what is meant by the term "human capital"
"So what is ARHA doing housing a sex offender with a conviction in the last five years in another state (Arkansas)in a complex full of little kids?"
Dont forget to add that the school bus stops less than 2 doors down from 1202 Madison every morning and every afternoon.
I cant wait to see how ARHA spins this to blame the "gentrifiers"
"So what is ARHA doing housing a sex offender with a conviction in the last five years in another state (Arkansas)in a complex full of little kids?"
I cannot wait to see how ARHA tries to explain this. Perhaps they will blame the gentrifiers. It is all the more interesting considering that the school bus stops less than 2 doors away from 1202 Madison every morning.
"So what is ARHA doing housing a sex offender with a conviction in the last five years in another state (Arkansas)in a complex full of little kids?"
I cannot wait to see how ARHA tries to explain this. Perhaps they will blame the gentrifiers. It is all the more interesting considering that the school bus stops less than 2 doors away from 1202 Madison every morning.
""So what is ARHA doing housing a sex offender with a conviction in the last five years in another state (Arkansas)in a complex full of little kids?"
Isnt the ARHA Director of Operations Mrs. Ish responsible for screening the residents who live in ARHA units? The same Mrs. Ish who was arrested in PG County on drug charges?
I dont even have a joke here. Insert your own.
The lawsuits referenced in this post seem to have two things that are lacking in Alexandria - some organization that is willing to stage a fight in the courts on behalf of tenants, and tenants who are struggling to extricate themselves from segregated Public Housing. Here we seem to have the opposite - organizations that would typically fight for the rights of urban poor see the status quo as a good outcome, and the residents seem, at least to me, to be happy with the services that they receive from ARHA and Alexandria Government.
Unless and until something changes in either of these two areas any comments or complaints that we make to the City will be all too easily treated as coming from "gentrifiers" (I cannot come up with a better word) who do not understand how Alexandria does business.
If the long-term goal of Alexandria's Public Housing policy was to eliminate dissatisfaction with Alexandria Government on the part of the urban poor then it has been a resounding success. Any desire to fight the system seems to have been eliminated.
Can someone explain why minimal standards of comportment are not expected from ARHA residents? The crime is inexcusable, of course, but I'm talking here about simple acts like picking up trash, shoveling sidewalks, and maintaining one's yard. For instance, ice-covered sidewalks of the 1200 block of Madison Steet in Adkins went unshoveled for at least two weeks last winter, and an overturned shopping cart remained in front of an occupied dwelling in Adkins for at least that long.
No wonder other neighborhoods don't want public housing. Does anyone seriously think that vouchers will somehow generate responsible behavior?
"Does anyone seriously think that vouchers will somehow generate responsible behavior?"
The concept of vouchers provides a multi-pronged solution: 1) it disperses residents throughout the City; 2) it puts the onus of housing on private landowners, and removes it from government; 3) it creates a 1-on-1 relationship between tenant and landlord and enables both parties to seek legal solutions based upon a standard lease agreement (e.g., eviction of tenants involved in illegal activity; and fines against landlords who do not provide liveable quarters).
Ultimately, it integrates residents into broader society and places them in a more healthy environment where there is a greater push to greater self-sufficiency. Absent responsible behavior, voucher recipients will find no place to live.
"Can someone explain why minimal standards of comportment are not expected from ARHA residents? The crime is inexcusable, of course, but I'm talking here about simple acts like picking up trash, shoveling sidewalks, and maintaining one's yard."
AMEN!!! I'm sure the snow removal and lawn mowing is the responsibility of ARHA, not the tenants. That's clearly one of ARHA's many failures.
Not throwing trash, however, is everyone's responsibility. As is picking it up. And lest anyone think those of us who have privately owned homes don't get trash thrown in our yards, think again. I can't remember a day when I didn't pick up trash in front of my house. Of course, I live a block away from a huge ARHA property. I guess if you can throw trash on your own yard, you have no problem throwing it on someone elses.
"The concept of vouchers provides a multi-pronged solution: ... it puts the onus of housing on private landowners, and removes it from government;"
Except where ARHA is the landlord. Isn't that what is causing the problems at Chatham Sq, the large ARHA-managed Sec. 8 Tancil Ct. property?
NOt that this is realistic, but the obvious solution to me is a move to vouchers, AND the abolition of ARHA.
"The crime is inexcusable, of course, but I'm talking here about simple acts like picking up trash, shoveling sidewalks, and maintaining one's yard."
We are moving off point aren't we? Crime drinking and drugs are the issues. We have an elderly neighbor who physically cannot shovel snow so my husband takes care of her sidewalk and car. Frequently I see older Adkins residents picking up trash usually women early morning. It's the kids and teens who bother me, the ill mannered marginally producing ones that hang on the corners and at the Braddock 7-11.
"Absent responsible behavior, voucher recipients will find no place to live."
So how do you respond to Miller when he tells you that yours is the path to homelessness?
"So how do you respond to Miller when he tells you that yours is the path to homelessness?"
I tell him that his is the path to what you see now.....
Economic and social ghetto.
Love the picture on the blog post Growler. That basically is how my face looks every time I see yet another call for service around Adkins.
What I found hilarious in reading the Post article is that the crowd at the forum stood and cheered.
Looking back 26 years I wonder how many would cheer now.
Section 8 funding has gone up over 6% a year since 1983. Housing subsidies (the policy of Miller) have gone down more than 40% since then.
Mr. Miller guessed wrong and we all have to pay for it now.
"So how do you respond to Miller when he tells you that yours is the path to homelessness?"
Id say - Thats OK Mel, we've got that base covered too. And only one person has been murdered at the Carpenters Shelter recently.
"So how do you respond to Miller when he tells you that yours is the path to homelessness?"
I would say "where is your path taking us?"
"We are moving off point aren't we? Crime drinking and drugs are the issues"
Yes, but so are other anti-social behaviors such as beating dogs, throwing trash all over the place, peeing on the sidewalk, letting your kids run in the street unsupervised, etc. These things are not OK. Yet we reward them, but continuing to allow people who repeatedly engage in this behavior to live in housing subsidized by the taxpayer.
Aren't pets prohibited in ARHA properties? If so, why do I see residents repeatedly walking dogs? What good are rules if you don't enforce them?
Pets are not prohibited. Dogs do have to be under 60 lbs though from what I heard.
Wow. Reading that Post article is eye opening. Truly, nothing has changed.
Even today, when the Council tries to take action to improve the sorry state of Alexandria's public housing, Melvin Miller and his friends gather a group of people to cry race. And the Council backs down. Just like they did at the time of the article, and just like they did with the reappointment of Miller and the approval of Bland.
It's time Council stood up to Melvin Miller and his gang of haters and did the right thing. We just can't keep things the way they are. Why does Melvin Miller want that?????
"If so, why do I see residents repeatedly walking dogs?"
Let's keep the argument on a higher plane. We have many dog walkers in this neighborhood and many pet owners walk without poop bags.
"I have met Mr. Levy once before. I did not know he held such ridiculously stupid views."
His in some ways has been the most damaging influence. Levy's self appointed Braddock Action Team with Planning Chairman John Komoroske's help laid the groundwork for the Braddock Road Small Area Plan, Bland, the Braddock Road Implementation Group. Levy is a BRIG member. Hamer brings no objective voices to the table including Artemel, Levy and the Mayor's Alexandrians for Dense Development Around Metro ADAM. They're pay for play but claim smart growth.
Superb Herb strikes again.
I remember that meeting he screamed and threw a fit at. I didn't even live in PG then but remember the way he sounded was like a sheer imbecile.
"During the recent ICCA meeting, the City touted its ability to find loopholes enabling them to evict residents of public housing who commit various violations."
You mean like evicting 80 year old ladies but leaving sex offenders in place?
The City has NOTHING to tout when it comes to public housing. To proclaim that Alexandria has an "innovative" approach to public housing policy as I have heard previously belies the question; then why is no one following that innovation?
Miller's policy hasnt changed much from his thinking in the 1970's if at all. I think perhaps he was indoctrinated in policy then under the Carter Administration and has refused to accept any change in the status quo.
Sad thing is its the residents who suffer, many who live in substandard housing surrounded by guests they dont want around and economic wastelands.
"Reading Mr. Miller's abbreviated bio and knowing that Mr. Priest also retired from HUD is theirs a former colleaguial or arms length relationship?"
Dont read anything into it; Mr. Priest has shown a willingness to communicate, a willingness to think flexibly, and a willingness to challenge his own agencys thinking and actions.
"Why the Mayor thinks these outcomes reasonable"
It keeps problems out of other City neighborhoods.
"Can someone explain why minimal standards of comportment are not expected from ARHA residents? The crime is inexcusable, of course, but I'm talking here about simple acts like picking up trash, shoveling sidewalks, and maintaining one's yard."
dont blame the residents, blame the property manager.
ARHA pays crews to come in and clean up the courtyard and other common areas, and they end up cleaning up for the residents too. But they only come once a week.
And its a small subset of residents who cause a large part of the problem. Whats flabbergasting is that many of the troublemakers are long time residents.
""Does anyone seriously think that vouchers will somehow generate responsible behavior?"
They seem to be working in Fairfax, Montgomery, PG, DC, and Arlington.
They dont generate responsibility so much as they force some responsibility on the residents by making the threat of eviction a little more real.
Right now, ARHA doesnt manage their properties well at all; no security staff, little in the way of property management, a director caught using drugs.
Vouchers dont force responsibility but you can be damn sure private tenants and property managers are going to be a little more proactive when it comes to managing their property.
In looking at Adkins and the possibility that it might be redeveloped in 20 years, is anyone in the City awake to the fact that many of these kids are growing up in an environment that is noxious and toxic to their future wellbeing?
Does anyone care?
I see kids that care there every day, but they are picked on, made fun of, and just overwhelmed by guests, knucklehead residents, and the sheer lack of any opportunity.
How dare our Mayor spout about "compassion" and "diversity". He is condemning an entire generation of low income City residents to economic and social hell to preserve a quota.
"They're pay for play but claim smart growth."
What "play" ... We have no growth. See any "growth" lately - besides in crime stats?
the Plan has to get off the ground first, thats why you didnt see more of a reaction to it, everyone knows its a joke and a figment of imagination.
"Ultimately, it [vouchers] integrates residents into broader society and places them in a more healthy environment where there is a greater push to greater self-sufficiency."
Well said, Phil! I cannot fathom why the City would not want this for all its citizens (aside from perhaps selfish political interests).
Was it mentioned at the ICCA meeting to have the new Council members come and walk through the housing projects?
See it for themselves, unannounced.
Wasnt Donley on the Berg Workgroup?
"
What's even more tragic is that in the past year, the City Council had two significant opportunities to correct the path of its housing policies"
And now you are seeing the results of their cowardice....
"See it for themselves, unannounced."
They are now part of the machine, which will announce to all residents and have a clean up crew run through the properties before they arrive.
I saw this before both Mayor's walks. Just another point in which the City thinks we are stupid residents.
An interesting side note to the Gatreaux litigation. Some of the low income families who were relocated to more affluent suburbs participated in a study which tracked various aspects of their lives in an attempt to study the impact of dispersal of public housing.
The results of the study showed that nearly two decades later, the relocated families were able to attain greater levels of eductional attainment, self sufficiency, and mental health, as were their children. These benefits also were maintained intergenertionally (i.e. their children were more successful as well).
This, to me, argues for the demolition of the current public hosuing concentrated in North Old Town (Adkins, Bland, etc.) with a move to vouchers. Subsequent studies showed, however, that if residents were moved to other areas of concentrated poverty via vouchers (similar to what Alexandria has done at Tancil Court) there were no gains for the residents.
"This, to me, argues for the demolition of the current public hosuing concentrated in North Old Town (Adkins, Bland, etc.) with a move to vouchers. Subsequent studies showed, however, that if residents were moved to other areas of concentrated poverty via vouchers (similar to what Alexandria has done at Tancil Court) there were no gains for the residents."
What this tells me is that residents in Delray are no different than the suburbs of Chicago.
They basically want to build a wall around their community to prevent any low income housing from entering.
I never see Miller and Euielle demanding that public housing be resited to a wealthier part of town with better schools and opportunities.
"I saw this before both Mayor's walks. Just another point in which the City thinks we are stupid residents."
I have seen that too. Its just totally embarrassing. I figured Council members would take unscheduled visits before voting on 8 million in loans.
"dont blame the residents, blame the property manager."
I am sorry I blame the residents too, even it's only 10 percent of the residents who attract "the bad element". And yes while I am angry about the muggings and murders I am also upset about the "simple" things like litter, public urination, letting children run and bike in the street unsupervised and the drunken fights on the 4th of July. These are all unacceptable and while I am sure to the council these are minor matters and part of a diverse, urban area, they are NOT acceptable outside of an ARHA neighborhood. If these properties were populated by elderly people who picked up litter and/or families with children who weren't learning to be thugs I am sure we would be supportive of the this attempt to help. Where are the studies showing how many people (preferably from Alexandria) need a place to live in ARHA properties for 6-12 months and then move on? Why are there so many supporters who argue this is needed because generations of families have lived here?
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the children who live in ARHA properties are learning to be thugs, even if it is only from the "bad elements/guests" that are attracted to these properties. Only a politician who is looking for votes in the next election and doesn't care who he or she hurts would continue down this road of perpetual poverty. I am sure our part-time mayor was crushed when his policies didn't land him a seat in the current HUD, but Obama and everyone else who is in touch with reality would never support a failed, not even failing, outright failed entity like ARHA. That won't keep Mayor Euille, Mr Miller and others from trying to slither up the political chain using our neighborhood as their "shining example."
In the end though I have no solution, so this is just venting; the projects will stay, as will the crime and the litter. Even the 7-11 isn't going anywhere. Parker-Gray will be mired in the 1970s era policies of Miller and Euille if for no other reason than the next city election will be in November and excellent candidates like Phil Cefaratti who listen to us and believe in change will be overwhelmed by Old Town residents voting in the general election who, if nothing else, will vote the party line. Plunking won't work next time, even the mayor will get more than a measly 70% of the vote when he runs unopposed.
"In the end though I have no solution, so this is just venting; the projects will stay, as will the crime and the litter. Even the 7-11 isn't going anywhere."
Amen, that's the conclusion I reached after the Plan got approved. Why worry about it when most of it is just fairytales?
There simply isnt going to be much change in the short term, until City leadership changes and the outdated thinkers move on to the afterlife.
"I am sure our part-time mayor was crushed when his policies didn't land him a seat in the current HUD, but Obama and everyone else who is in touch with reality would never support a failed, not even failing, outright failed entity like ARHA."
I remember him crowing after the election that he would no doubt be selected for an important position in the Obama administration.
Did he really believe he, as a mayor of a city which, despite its very high wealth, promotes segregation of low income and minority residents to failing schools and crumbling public hosuing complexes, would be sought out???? Really???? How sad. Change may have come to America, but it is certainly not tolerated in Alexandria or at ARHA.
I thought Mr. Euille appeared to be nervous at the ICCA meeting. While he was previously able to slither out of the public housing question by blathering on about being caring and diverse, Leslie did not let up which caused the mayor to sputter and bumble about how much he cared. When Leslie called his BS, Euille actually then gave out his personal cell phone number in an attempt to demonstrate that he did, in fact, give a shit about our neighborhood.
Quite a change from his performance at the mayor's walk, when he tried to disavow knowledge of the Fair Share Task Force on the grounds that he was only a part time mayor.
"Even the 7-11 isn't going anywhere."
Efforts have been made to deal with problems at the Braddock 7-11 especially alcohol sales but unfortunately planning staff has yet to rally. For example, the 7-11's recent SUP renewal application remained on Council's consent calendar despite the Police Department's last minute expression of interest. Two neighborhood 7-11s
(Henry Street and Columbus Street) have been taken down, but only after Southland Corporation ran afoul of well-engineered neighborhood campaigns. What is your exact statement of the Braddock 7-11 problem?
"When Leslie called his BS, Euille actually then gave out his personal cell phone number in an attempt to demonstrate that he did, in fact, give a shit about our neighborhood."
Hes given his cell phone number to numerous folks. I have it and have called regarding public housing issues but he just will claim that the City has no control over ARHA and we need to call the police.
"What is your exact statement of the Braddock 7-11 problem?"
The problems are numerous -- there is a well chronicled issue with litter from 7-11 everywhere around the Metro stop.
There is the fact that we have to pay to have a sheriff there every weekend to deal with problems.
There is the fact that we can support a SUP for a 7-11 but apparently we cant get a grocery store to come to Parker Gray.
Need we go on?
Why do we need a 7-11 there? I have asked Councilmembers and Planning Staff. They claim there is "nothing" they can do.
Nothing?
Huh?
"Did he really believe he, as a mayor of a city which, despite its very high wealth, promotes segregation of low income and minority residents to failing schools and crumbling public hosuing complexes, would be sought out???"
I would simply ask the Mayor; what cities or counties are following the Alexandria public housing model?
Arlington...um no. They rejected a housing authority in no small part due to our City's problems with ours.
DC...they have moved away from unit for unit replacement and seem to be the place to "tour" when it comes to our planning charades, but they never seem to want to tour here.
Fairfax...We have the same number of public housing units and they have 10 times as many people. Makes sense I guess....
The list goes on and on. Our City is a model for exactly what not to do with public housing. Claiming Chatham Square is a "success" because an architects association says so is not success.
Many residents of Chatham Square dont consider it a success.
Just as many neighbors of Bland and Adkins dont see the "caring" or "compassion" or understand why it takes so long to redevelop and scatter them if that is indeed the expressed intent; to scatter public housing around the city.
When we have a real public housing policy other people follow and look to, then the Mayor and ARHA can crow and talk about how much they care and how wonderful they are.
Until then, their blather and mindless cheerleading creates more of a fissure in our neighborhood than it serves to help in any way.
Poor Mr. Mclaughlin, seems like he wanted to move public housing in a new direction back in the 90s but got shot down...one of the issues I see is there are no real candidates to take ARHA in a new direction, just as there really never have been. Thats why this stuff goes on and on, you just have the same tired thinkers and their tired ideas and their tired task forces and tired meetings.
Priest is trying his best but it seems new staff and new board members are desperately needed.
Didnt Mr. Miller also state that if P&Z hadnt rejected the application to upzone Glebe Park, he would have moved more public housing units there?
He really doesnt want scattered site public housing.
"Parker-Gray will be mired in the 1970s era policies of Miller and Euille if for no other reason than the next city election will be in November and excellent candidates like Phil Cefaratti who listen to us and believe in change will be overwhelmed by Old Town residents voting in the general election who, if nothing else, will vote the party line."
Is it time for us in Parker-Gray to fight money with money and form some sort of Political Action Committee to help in funding a sympathetic candidate's campaign? I know that I would gladly contribute to it.
Why is the Arlington Green Party pushing for an Alexandria like ARHA? I saw the story in last thursday's local section.
"The lawsuits referenced in this post seem to have two things that are lacking in Alexandria - some organization that is willing to stage a fight in the courts on behalf of tenants, and tenants who are struggling to extricate themselves from segregated Public Housing."
Why does someone believe lawsuits are limited to struggling tenant groups? Maybe 6-8 years ago West Street residents reported the law firm of one was considering a pro bono law suit. Apparently Euille successfully deflected the threat. Maybe now that West Street residents are dealing with murder they will revisit the issue.
If the West St. residents do hire a law firm, please let us know here on this blog. I would be happy to contribute financially.
"Apparently Euille successfully deflected the threat. Maybe now that West Street residents are dealing with murder they will revisit the issue."
What does Euille's stupid committee proposal if anything have to do with the West Street group's want for better communications with ARHA? Is the Mayor trying to buy them off once more? Please don't hold the rest of us hostage to their back and forth negotiations. The police need to wake up get on their feet and we hope to see the new but still invisible community officer working somewhere in the neighborhood.
I disagree with any assertion that the police department bears any responsibility for the failings of public policy supported by our elected Council and Mayor.
The police do not need to "wake up" OR "get on their feet". Their performance is exceptional by almost any empirical measure.
"The police do not need to "wake up" OR "get on their feet". Their performance is exceptional by almost any empirical measure."
Operation Spring Break happened only after citizens rallied and spent a long Saturday morning in Council chambers. Now the city wants kudos because the effort was successful. The cops responded to political pressure and little more. Cops need to get on their feet and walk the neighborhood.
"Why is the Arlington Green Party pushing for an Alexandria like ARHA? I saw the story in last thursday's local section."
The Arlington Democratic Party overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a housing authority last year, in no small part due to Rob Krupicka, who told them it would be a bad idea due to the problems Alexandria has with their housing authority.
"The cops responded to political pressure and little more. Cops need to get on their feet and walk the neighborhood."
Look around the neighborhood for once. They are there and in force. the problem is they have to concentrate too much manpower at Adkins and Bland to make more of a difference there.
"What does Euille's stupid committee proposal if anything have to do with the West Street group's want for better communications with ARHA"
Its Bill Euilles time-honored way of making it look like he is doing something. Appoint committees, workgroups, task forces, consultants, etc...., produce nice powerpoints, and then proclaim that a solution has been found.
The problem is that was what Braddock East was supposed to be until ARHA hijacked the process and threw a fit because they didnt like the truth that was coming out.
" The police need to wake up get on their feet and we hope to see the new but still invisible community officer working somewhere in the neighborhood.
"
What would this new community officer "do"? I see a strong police presence nearly every day walking to Metro and living near the Bland projects.
Police presence to me doesnt seem to be the problem. Also, each housing project has an officer assigned to them.
"The police do not need to "wake up" OR "get on their feet". Their performance is exceptional by almost any empirical measure."
Agreed, there is little need for more police presence and they are doing a good job. Obviously you havent talked to them about what they think of ARHA and current public housing policy.
Hoping that cops can solve bad public policy is a stretch.
"I see a strong police presence nearly every day walking to Metro and living near the Bland projects."
To the Growler and her bloggers the world does not begin and end with Bland. We are sick of the losing rants. We who do not live Bland agree the proposed project is poorly considered and the multifamily buildings a throw back to a bygone era. This morning's trash pick up yielded crack packets and beer bottles and what we want is coordinated neighborhood coverage 24/7 a second community cop on foot visibly patrolling including allies. Don't kid yourself the police department is as political as any other branch of city government.
"They are there and in force. the problem is they have to concentrate too much manpower at Adkins and Bland to make more of a difference there."
Growler did you not once post a piece asking various quadrants to state their civic needs. Please tell some of these yellow belly civic sissies that not every one lives next to on top of or in public housing and that crime regardless of origin occurs throughout the neighborhood. Some of the rest of us want help and we are not regularly getting it.
"The Arlington Democratic Party overwhelmingly rejected the idea of a housing authority last year, in no small part due to Rob Krupicka,"
Councilman don't look now but someone gave you credit for something and it was written on this blog. Are you smiling?
What a minute is this the same Krupicka who said “It's a real mistake when in one of the wealthiest cities in our state, we have a public housing authority that does not have the widespread support that neighboring jurisdictions have with their public housing authorities,” at the Departmental Progressive Club before this most recent election? If he doesn't think it's a good idea in Arlington, why does he think it should have support in Alexandria?
"If he doesn't think it's a good idea in Arlington, why does he think it should have support in Alexandria?"
Does Mr. Krupicka have an answer to your question?
The Growler takes a fairly charitable view of Mr. Krupicka's comment. He is saying ARHA doesn't enjoy widespread support in Alexandria -- and anyone reading this blog would know that is true -- but he's not saying we need to support and defend it the way it currently is.
"If he doesn't think it's a good idea in Arlington, why does he think it should have support in Alexandria?"
Because like every other politician, he sees the wrath when anyone questions ARHAS activities or policies.
Why deal with that?
Does anyone know of an online source where we can view the actual write-in votes for mayor in the last election? After the mayor's bumbling performance at the ICCA meeting, we were giggling about whom we had written in for mayor. We'd like to see what everyone else did.
just out of curiosity, does anybody know when the Bland construction will start? Last I heard, it was supposed to be in October, but a resident just told me that she has heard nothing from ARHA about relocation.
Like most ARHA productions, it probably wont start in October but will get delayed. I would be happy to see it start in October but I wont get my hopes up.
Also, Bland isnt touched in the first phase. Glebe Park is rebuilt because Res. 830 requires new housing to be present. Thus, not a single Bland resident will move until Glebe Park is rebuilt.
Growler, are we getting any responses from Mayor Euille, Herb Levy or Melvin Miller? If not, why not I wonder!
What is most frustrating to me is that when the Berg was being redeveloped, I was among others who wanted the entire place rehabbed for the public housing tenants who lived there since it had been their neighborhood for years and years. It was in the part of Old Town that no one else wanted to live in in the 50s and 60s and before.
Then when property values skyrocketed, the mantra was "this property is too valuable for these people."
Certainly a most inappropriate and pejorative reason. So, the citizens were sold on the mixed-use development concept; putting high income owners with public housing occupants.
Nothing can be more demotivating to a poor person than to live among rich, and there are studies to support this statement. I haven't seen the results, but I do imagine the scattered housing people are faring better than the poor in Chatham since they are living among middle income people.
Now, the Council and ARHA decide that Parker Gray needs to keep its preponderance of poor in the name of diversity. What happened to this need for scattered housing vis-a-vis the Berg? I think they speak with forked tongue. How about Cameron Station, Potomac Yard, Del Ray, and other Alexandria neighborhoods?
We the residents deserve an answer with integrity from ARHA and Mayor Euille. Hopefully the new council will govern with a more equitable hand.
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