With much gratitude I thank Pottstown Councilwoman, Sheryl Miller, for succinctly speaking to the housing crisis which is not only her biggest concern but that of every homeowner who clings to the hope that we’ll be heard and the county will step up to do what they should have been doing all along. And, many thanks to resident Barry Beasley for backing her up with a question of his own that, unfortunatley, isn’t published in the news.
We have a strong, committed advocate on council. All representatives on council need to find the time to lend their support, there can be no excuses.
THE HOUSING CRISIS IN POTTSTOWN IS THE FAULTY FOUNDATION OF ALL OTHER ISSUES THAT KEEP PROGRESS AT BAY.
Clik below for the Mercury coverage by Eric Devlin vv
Montgomery county commissioners hold town hall for residents last night in Pottstown
“Pottstown Borough Council member Sheryl Miller said her biggest concern was the borough’s housing crisis, which she attributed to the county “centralizing low and voucher housing into our borough,” an increased number of social service agencies coming into the borough to help the needs of the poor, and “unscrupulous investors and criminals seeking to take advantage of the desperate situation.” Property values then drop, she said and school taxes rise as a result.
“People being sent here are essentially set up for failure,” she said. “There are no living wage job opportunities here for people to rise above their circumstances.” This, county commissioners, contributes to the high rates of drug crimes that are the direct cause of declining home values/conditions/quality of life for us in Pottstown.
“HUD and subsequent court rulings have said the county <Westchester County, N.Y.> has failed to conduct an adequate review of impediments to fair housing in its zoning and housing ordinances.” N.Y. Times Desegregation article Montgomery County commissioners have the same obligation. Where is the wisdom in awaiting a costly, time consuming lawsuit to force the issue?
There haven’t been significant strides made to fix this issue since the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act was passed and amended in 2010. AMEN Sheryl. Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown representatives asked the same question of Senator Mensch in a meeting with him, late last year. We’ve received no response from his office.
“To date, the county hasn’t even tried to help the borough utilize the tools of the reclamation and revitalization act,” she said. “So I ask you, have you just forgotten about the homeowners here that are struggling day-to-day just to keep their heads above water?” Your continued blind eye to the “dumping” of the poor and disabled indicates that we, taxpayers, voters and Pottstown homeowners remain pawns to the political agenda of commissioners and Montgomery County.
Shapiro went on the defensive a bit by saying the Montgomery County Housing Authority is funded by federal money, primarily, and that money directs how those housing programs function, such as the housing choice vouchers. Commissioners on the defensive – why? Is it that we are finally speaking out, acknowledging that commissioners are not adhering to Federal requirements for CDBG and other funding but still, shamelessly putting their hand out for funding, even distorting the facts? How do you defend that?
“The housing authority does not give vouchers and tell (people) where to locate,” he said. “We give them a voucher and they can take that voucher anywhere they want to go and live anywhere they want with that voucher.” The voucher, he said is only worth so much but the county is able to increase the value of the voucher up to 10 percent. ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO GO? Where does Shaprio believe people are going to take their increased vouchers in Montgomery County when other towns have written zoning law to exclude them? Yes, Mr. Shaprio, they are told where to locate, Norristown and Pottstown.
The Anti-Discrimination Center <<clik points out: “Like more than a thousand other jurisdictions, Westchester County in New York has been a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other federal housing funds. A condition to be eligible for federal housing grants is the promise to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH); that is, to identify, analyze, and take the steps necessary to overcome the barriers to fair housing choice. When a jurisdiction seeks payment under its grant, it is making an implied representation that it has affirmatively furthered fair housing.“
The office of Housing and Community Development, <Shapiro> said has invested time and resources into Pottstown, and officials would look at the blight in properties to see what can be done. See what can be done? Have you seen with your own eyes HOW some of that money has been “invested” here Mr. Shapiro? Stick with me and you’ll see, below….Act 90 Neighborhood Blight and Reclamation Law spells it out Mr. Shapiro, since 2010, take a good look…
Here, here it is….easy to access Quick Guide prepared by the PA Housing Alliance <<it’s a simple clik away. Dare I say, Housing Alliance is a good organization to become familiar with, Mr. Shapiro, for the sake of Pottstown and Norristown because our communities really do matter.
CDBG money and tax credits that have been invested by the Montgomery office of Housing and Community Development in Pottstown – to what benefit? Shoddy, unusable curb cuts for the disabled, housing that was county owned, abandoned, with multiple codes violations adding blight and disgusting conditions to our neighborhood.
Below are only two examples of some of the county investments in Pottstown.
519 & 523 King St. renovated with Federal tax credits and CDBG funds. The county left them to blight (in violation of the tax credit requirements) they were sold last year, in a private sale (prior to the 30 yr. ownership stipulation for tax credits).
Curb cut for the disabled Mr. Shapiro? Come to Pottstown and watch an individual in a wheel chair navigate the light pole in the middle of the cut Mr. Shapiro. CDBG funds hard at work in Pottstown or wasted tax dollars? Your refusal to do what’s right is written in every aspect of the way we are forced to live with your decisions for Pottstown.
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Montgomery County is running out of excuses.
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This is an an excellent example of exterior doors I see on lots of rental properties in Pottstown.
