The Anatomy of Public Corruption

Showing posts with label Dead Homeless. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dead Homeless. Show all posts

Probe Finds ‘Squalor,’ Vermin and No Heat in New York City Homeless Program

 
  • U.S. 
  •  NEW YORK 
  •  TRI-STATE AREA

  • Probe Finds ‘Squalor,’ Vermin and No Heat in New York City Homeless Program

    A municipal-run program to relocate homeless shelter residents paid landlords a year of rent upfront despite the poor conditions for residents



    New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city was working on improvements to a program to shelter homeless residents in homes. PHOTO: JUSTIN LANE/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCK
    A New York City-run program to relocate homeless shelter residents outside the city placed some people in apartments without heat and infested with mice and vermin, according to a report released Thursday.
    The program, called the Special One-Time Assistance, is also at the center of a lawsuit filed Monday by the mayor of Newark, N.J., who alleged Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York City placed residents in dangerous apartments in his city.
    The probe by the Department of Investigation found employees didn’t properly check some apartments before placing residents in them. The city paid landlords and brokers a year of rent upfront and additional money despite the poor conditions for residents.
    “Some SOTA families placed in housing outside of New York City were living in squalor under the roofs of unscrupulous landlords, who collected tens of thousands of dollars in rental payments upfront from the city to provide these subpar conditions with little risk of accountability for their actions,” Margaret Garnett, the agency’s commissioner, said in a statement.
    The report said the landlords couldn’t be held accountable due to a flaw in the city’s paperwork.
    Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat, said at an unrelated press conference Thursday that the program was designed to help the working poor who end up in shelters and that the city was already working on improvements.
    Some of the suggestions from the Department of Investigation report include requiring landlords to submit deed information and valid occupancy certificates, and requiring landlords to show properties are not in foreclosure.
    The initiative, which began on Aug. 31, 2017, provides one year of rent upfront anywhere in the U.S. in exchange for landlords accepting qualified tenants who lived in a Department of Homeless Services shelter.
    Tenants had to show they could make rent payments after the subsidy, and meet other qualifications, according to the city.
    A total 12,482 people, including 5,074 families, used the program through August 2019, at a cost of $89.12 million on rental payments from the city, according to a spokesman for the homeless services agency. Most of the tenants—65%—moved out of the city, mostly to nearby counties including Nassau and Westchester counties in New York, and Union and Essex counties in New Jersey. The rest stayed in New York City.
    The investigation found that although housing specialists were supposed to inspect properties in and outside of the city, many didn’t. They were also not properly trained to detect safety hazards inside the apartments if they went in, the report found.
    One Newark apartment where a family was moved to was only 42.6 degrees in the winter, which is well below the minimum standard of 68 degrees. The building was later found to have a defective boiler, according to the report.
    Many of the forms used in the program also had “defective language” that couldn’t be applied to properties outside of the city, and prevented the agency from holding these landlords and real estate brokers accountable for placing clients in bad housing. The language was specific to New York City, and eliminates these landlords from any criminal prosecution, the report found.
    Write to Katie Honan at Katie.Honan@wsj.com
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    Homeless patrol making a difference in Walnut Creek

    Homeless patrol making a difference in Walnut Creek

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    By Leslie Brinkley
    Wednesday, September 18, 2019
    WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- Walnut Creek this summer launched a new homeless patrol comprised of two police officers dedicated to following up on calls about transients. So far it's working, and other communities are looking to try something similar.

    It all comes down to communication. Officers get to know the homeless by name, understanding their backstory to get them into the services and programs they need.

    RELATED: Mobile hygiene unit for homeless 'CleanStart' launches in East Bay

    On a ride-along, ABC7 news captured an arrest for possessing 10 grams of meth. Enough for 100 hits. It was in the possession of a homeless man living along the creek adjacent to Broadway Plaza shopping center-- he was arrested.

    Officers connected with 66-year-old Wayne Malmgren who was once a guitarist. He was near the Whole Foods store in Walnut Creek with his wheelchair and several signs asking for assistance. Since his stroke, he has been homeless in Walnut Creek for a year.

    Officer Domenick Clemente approached Wayne saying, "Hey Wayne-- you know the last time we spoke to you you were doing pretty well and you said you were waiting for housing so I want to find out how we can move this forward."

    Malmgren said the officer's lookout for him.

    RELATED: Looking for Answers: Homelessness in the Bay Area

    "They make sure I don't screw up, which I can do. And trying to get me help."

    Officer Clemente said, "Wayne knows he's doing really well. We're really proud of him. We're no longer getting six calls a day of a male drunk in the middle of the day lying in a crosswalk. "

    Officers said 60 percent of the calls coming into Walnut Creek police are now about transients. Recently they moved out a camp on Jones Road wedged between the BART tracks and 680. There is a lot of garbage left behind that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to clean up.

    Officer Gary Silva on the homeless patrol said, "The last individual I talk to on main street was from Pacheco. I said what are you doing here? He said I'm here to make money. I said how much did you make? He said $80. I said how long have you been here? He said 20 minutes. I said why did you come to Walnut Creek? He said because I can make more money here. I mean what do you say to that?"

    RELATED: Fremont moves forward with homeless navigation center behind city hall

    The police here say giving money can fuel drug addiction, that it's better to donate to agencies that can help the homeless like Trinity Center.

    One officer said if they hold up a sign saying "anything will help" in this affluent community, they can make $40 an hour. At the holidays perhaps $100 an hour.
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    The Free Pizza Kidnappers of Hillside Covenant Church

    The Free Pizza Kidnappers 

    Most have an opinion about God's friends but my opinion is based on first hand observations, on camera interviews and police reports. 

    The kidnapping report filed in 2013 named specific persons from Hillside Covenant Church.  One person in particular connects to former Danville Council Member Mike Doyle, his son Terrance Doyle and his law now deceased law partner former Walnut Creek Officer Richard Grossman.  

    In 2012 I filed claims with Hillside but they were able to deflect my claim and did this best to attack me with vicious dogs, ban me from Trinity Center Walnut Creek and get me arrested.  





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    OBIT: Adam Long Milford December 30, 2009

    Adam Long Milford

    Mr. Milford is a childhood friend of local businessman whose offices were adjacent to Authentic Technologies (closed in 2004) located in Walnut Creek CA

    Adam Long Milford ;

    Adam Long Milford Resident of Moraga Adam Milford died December 30, 2009 in Walnut Creek at the age of 47. Adam was a native Californian and graduate from Campolindo High School and Lassen College. For 25 years he worked in the ski industry in California, on maintenance crews- welding. He had a deep love of nature, enjoyed hiking and camping in the rugged mountains and worked for a couple of summers as a fishing guide in Alaska. He never tired of mountain climbing, snowmobiling, skiing or fishing. Loved to commune with nature. His hobbies were music (he especially enjoyed listening to the "Grateful Dead"), playing the drums with his band in his younger years, car racing, working with his hands using tools of any kind, and helping friends or strangers in need. He was predeceased by his brother Richard Milford of Orinda and his wife, Kimberley Milford. He is survived by his loving parents, Sigmund and Louise Milford of Moraga; daughter, Catherine Peralta; grandson, Jonathan of Fallon, Nevada as well as many cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek, January 23rd at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to "Make a Wish Foundation" 235 Pine St., San Francisco, CA 94104 or to a charity of your choice.
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