World AIDS Day - Saturday, December 1
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. This year's theme is "Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths."
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. This year's theme is "Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths."
05/12/2011
Good Morning!
I’m sorry to have to bother y’all again,
however, this Bed Bug issue has been drug out way too
long!
I first saw and reported the lil critters
at the end of 2009, and they’ve been treating them ineffectively for over a year
now.
Their first response, after the first of
2010; was to find a cheap alternative to a Professional pest control operator.
BTW; in advance of this big HUD inspection on the 16th; they’ve stocked up on
bandages and lipstick to camoflauge this pig... Anyway; they found a “friend”
& ex-employee of a professional firm (which has now been revealed as "Terminix") to moonlight part-time on weekends to
do the job. The story was that even though he had a full time position with a
local law firm; he was “starting his own business” and would be just as good,
LOL! What we’ve learned over the course of his treatment:
- Since he’s got a real job, he only works when he feels like it – on weekends.
- The tenant below me had a serious infestation that he never mentioned; probably because he was working at Lowe’s and hadn’t reported it. He told me as he was making his quick getaway after I had reported my sighting.
- There are 4 units in this building, but only two have been treated. I’m thinking that’s why they keep coming back after the spraying has worn off.
- The spraying was haphazard at best, all over; and you can see on the walls where it ran.
- Earlier this year when a friend gave me a new sofa so I could finally get rid of the one they had me wrap in plastic, they asked me to move furniture away from the walls, put my records, office supplies, etc in bags & boxes and live out of them and they came in and sprayed all over... It appeared that had done the trick and I signed off on it.
- The other day I saw the new tenant downstairs drag a piece of furniture in off the street and asked her if she was aware of the BB history in her unit and did she check out & clean the entertainment center?
- As I said; they’re in a frenzy regarding the upcoming inspection. When Ms. Slover took over the HUD Property Manager duties and inspected, she said upon seeing the spraying effects, damage in the living room ceiling where it had leaked due to gutter problems, etc... that I was due to have my unit painted and it would be done. Thankfully, I still hadn’t completely moved the furniture back or unpacked all the boxes and bags yet, so I decided to wait & see if the re-paint would happen.
- Yesterday; a maintenance man came by to check to see what hadn’t been done yet... In looking at the Living Room, leak spots etc he said it looked like touch up had been done before with caulk & I replied “Yep “Almond Paste” colored and the dirt marks are from the guys who applied it prior to last year’s inspection”. After he left, I pulled back the bedding to check...
- So now I’m dreading the band-aids and lipstick approach they’re taking prior to Monday...
Obviously, since I’ve opened this can of
worms; I’m probably gonna be scrambling for my life at the end of this years
lease. So, I might as well go for it and make sure that this won’t happen to any
other Low-Income Housing Tenants in the future. Thanks for your interest,
attention and consideration.
Michael W. Connett
859-261-HIVe1 (4481)
EXTREME MAKEOVER
Designer's
Challenge
Just what are those damn, pesky HQS's (Housing Quality Standards)??? As best I can determine, there are no basic differences between HUD's and Covington's minimum requirements for HQS. But it is only when a unit is made available through a HUD Voucher, is it held to any accountability to those standards. Aren't all residential renters entitled to that same minimum protection and safeguard???
"Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what
nobody has thought."- Albert von Szent-Gyorgyi
Think "People Working Cooperatively" with Long-term, single adult Low-income tenants and their landlords. The benefits would beincrease the quality of residential rental units, tenants quality of life, landlords ability to compete, illustrate the incentive for upgrade, reduce need or desire for turnover and capitalize on established programs and funding.Dedicated to improving tenants "Quality of Life"by ending stigma & discrimination in Low-Income Housing
315 W
7th Street #2 - 2nd Floor-Front
This space is currently rented on a site-based HUD contract lease @ $829.00 monthly, of which the tenant pays $123.00. The Taxpayer-HUD funded portion comes to $706.00. However; The tenant is responsible for Gas & Electric (currently BB @ $233.00); Water and Sanitation included in rent.My Rental DilemmaSingle male, 57, AIDS Survivor, SSDI of $861.00/mo, relies on public transportation, desires to be within walking distance of laundry, major grocery, etc.. I have reached the end of my Journey with just my Social Security, Medicare and Uncle Sam. I have no need or desire to own any property and will be a renter for as long as I have left.*Amounts determined annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).Rents generally vary according to location, quality of unit and amenities to name a few factors.So here's the deal: As you may know, Housing -especially rentals, is a contentious issue here in The COV. City Leaders push for more "Market Rate" housing and have led citizens to believe that there is a difference between that and "Low-Income or Affordable" housing. I've asked for the definition of "Market Rate" and the answer most often given or implied is that it's Housing not accessible, affordable or appropriate for The Poor!How do you define "Market Rate Housing"?
I was under the impression that the HOPE VI Money to replace the Jacob Price project is what will be used to finance this new housing and it will be accessible and affordable to those families who are being displaced from Jacob Price. Seriously, I want to know what Covingtonians think is the difference and why!? These days, isn't all Housing sold or rented at the "Market Rate"; and the Market is a mess. The HUD FMR's are calculated by the local average and classified by # of Bedrooms only, there is no rating or classification by amenities, neighborhood or management practices. It seems that HUD has finally caught on that speculators and slumlords have been gouging them for an "FMR" that the "Market" wouldn't give them. The Market Rate based on age, conditions, neighborhood, etc for a 1 Bdrm apt may only come in at $395.00 & since there's no HQS inspections or motivation to improve Market Rate Rental Housing in Covington the only way to get more money is to rent it on a Section 8 voucher and charge HUD the FMR of $585.00. When the Pulse was flipped from condos to rentals starting at $650.00 for a 1 Bdrm, that affected our Market. My landlord has contracted with HUD for my 1 Bdrm at a rate of $685.00 and it's nowhere near the quality of the Pulse. So I step up to fight for better conditions and the landlord's reaction is to blame me because they hired an idiot to spray for bedbugs and he's failed at eradicating them 4 times since I reported the first one late in 2009, their paperwork has been out of wack since they bought the place in 2007 and I've paid what their statements have said but they made mistakes and I should now cough up an extra $462.00 to cover them, Ky Housing said I was not responsible and shouldn't pay anymore than the $113.00 on my contract which was just recertified , signed and effective on May 1st; I tried to pay that and it was refused and now he's just decided to get rid of this whistleblower... "The only thing required for Evil is that good folk do Nothing"Following HUD guidelines, my apartment is due and scheduled for it's 5 year Re-Paint. As I'm aware that there are often Grants available for "Demonstration Projects", I'm thinking that this would be a perfect opportunity to show Covington what "Affordable Market Rate Housing" could be! Instead of just moving furniture and slapping a new coat of paint on; what if the lovely old woodwork and the layers of wall paint were stripped, it was updated with all the pre-wiring for the digital/internet age, was also equipped with the greenest-most efficient appliances, the attic was converted to "usable" rather than storage space, and more spacious living space created thru the use of built-ins like bookshelves!? In the past; I've tried to get a Harpo Hook-up or makeover from Oprah, but just couldn't get her attention. So now, I'm just gonna share the idea and see what happens...
"What would our community look like if it were a really healthy place to live?" The National Civic League (NCL) posed this question to neighbors in hundreds of communities across the country. This is how people everywhere responded:
We must be careful not to over generalize, since some Northern Kentucky communities may not fit these trends fully, or even at all. There will always be crosscurrents and countertrends. A few communities may have high levels of interconnectedness and public participation, with few glaring social problems and plenty of resources. But these communities are the exceptions.Is the solution financial? Solutions often cost money, so, of course, more public funding to address local problems would be helpful. Support these efforts, but realize that in the present economic and political climate, success will not come easily and will cost each of us more than money. We need to understand there are no short-term solutions. We need CommUNITY Leaders who will engage, listen and translate the words into compelling long-term actions. Leaders who can then garner the support of government, private sector, faith community, public sector organizations and residents for the action plans.Residents, along with the people who work, worship or have roots in a community need to be seen as an alternative resource, as someone with something important to share.The task is to identify these alternative resources, then to coalesce and organize them, to plan, develop, implement, and sustain multiple community wide solutions. This will not happen all by itself. The structure for organizing and mobilizing community resources is generally not in place. A big plus is that people, 63 percent in one poll, believe that people are willing to pitch in and fix what is wrong in their communities, if they knew how. Mechanisms for involvement are rare, but do exist. Let us identify these processes and bring them into our communities.America is the great democratic example, but because we lead there is no blueprint. America's greatness has been due to our ability, on the national, state and local levels, to find common ground. To large extent, it is our ability to reach consensus through civil discourse that has contributed to our greatness. Today, in our communities, neighborhoods, media and even in our legislative bodies, far too often, a difference of opinion is painted as evil, making constructive dialogue impossible.In doing this work, the Boston Foundation developed "Seven Guiding Principles for a New Social Contract."Incorporate those directly affected by policies at the heart of dialogue and community building.Value racial and cultural diversity at the foundation for wholeness.Promote active citizenship and political empowerment.Build on community strengths and assets.Ensure access to fundamental opportunities and remove obstacles to equal opportunities.Support and enhance the well being of children and their families.Foster sustained commitment, coordination, and collaboration based on a shared vision and mutual respect.
We hear congress can't get anything done, or that government can't get anything right. We are a democracy; the government is a reflection of ourselves.The task ahead will be long and is not easy, so it is important we get started. In the words of Bobby Kennedy: "The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new idieas. Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason and courage in a personal commitment to the ideals of American Society."
"Class is an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky. Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared. It is self-discipline and self-knowledge. It's the sure footedness that comes with having proved you can meet life." --Ann Landers—"HIV is something you live with every day for the rest of your life. You may never die of it, but you always die with it..."Michael W. Connett, Grantor/Trustee - The Michael W. Connett LIVING Trust
"I used to be afraid of dying, I'm not anymore. I'm more afraid of what happens to the people who live..." from "And The Band Played On
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