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Newsom Jabs Hope VI, As Oakland Embraces Hope VI
Recently San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom took the wealthy on a tour of San Francisco's much needed public housing complexes in an effort to privatize and gentrify them. But, in a moment of brutal honesty Newsom and SFHA Director Gregg Fortner took a jab at HUD and the Hope VI program which ends up costing cities millions in lost housing funds to play the Hope VI demolition game, with no guarentees that a city will receive a Hope VI grant after demolishing their public housing units!
Newsom Jabs Hope VI program, As Oakland Embraces Hope VI
HUD's Larry Bush confirms that the Oakland Housing Authority is about to apply for a Hope VI grant for Tassafaronga Village public housing complex
By Lynda Carson
Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Housing Authority Director Gregg Fortner recently took a jab at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Hope VI program for costing cities millions in lost housing funds to play the Hope VI demolition game. Meanwhile the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) is spending millions in an attempt to hook a Hope VI grant by using much needed funds being grabbed from it's Section 8 and public housing funds.
On August 29, 2007 the Chronicle reports, "Newsom and Fortner both have said they'd rather spend the $200,000 it costs to prepare a (Hope VI) grant application on improving developments immediately. The mayor added that recent federal budget cuts have depleted the pot of money once available under Hope VI, which was begun under President Bill Clinton."
Meanwhile, the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) is moving full steam ahead and spending millions in much needed housing funds from local and federal sources in an effort to demolish and privatize it's Tassafaronga Village public housing complex.
Despite being turned down twice by HUD (Hope VI proposals) in their attempts to demolish Tassafaronga Village and privatize it, as recently as 1991 the OHA spent $7.4 million to remodel the 87 unit complex which then was enough money to buy a home for each of the families residing there according to a report.
According to a June 14, 1991 article in the Daily News of Los Angeles , "Money spent to remodel a housing project in Oakland could have bought a home for each family in the 87-unit structure, according to a published report that claims federal housing funds are "squandered" in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Tassafaronga Village housing complex that will reopen in a few weeks was completed nearly three years late and, at $7.4 million, was double the estimated cost."
As recent as February 15, 2007 the City of Oakland sued the OHA and accused it of being a slumlord, and according to City Attorney John Russo the OHA has been spending millions on buying land for it's Hope VI ventures rather than spending the money to maintain it's public housing properties.
According to City Attorney John Russo, "But the fact that the Authority continues to purchase new properties in a practice of “land banking” refutes their claim to have no money for the repairs and management of the existing sites. In fact, it is not a question of resources, but more a question of OHA priorities which clearly favors purchasing new properties with federal HOPE VI funds with non-profit developers over regular maintenance, management and repair of existing housing."
Further research and documentation shows that the Oakland Housing Authority is using local Section 8 Reserve Funds, and local Section 8 Administrative Reserve Funds as a huge slush fund, for it's notorious Hope Vl proposal for Tassafaronga Village.
Oakland continues to spend millions in attracting another Hope VI proposal for Tassafaronga Village, while it's low-income tenants suffer.
According to OHA's Philip Neville, housing authorities gain extra points in their efforts to receive a Hope VI grant if they displace the public housing tenants and demolish their housing units before a Hope VI grant has been applied for. But, Nevile went on to say theres no guarentee that HUD would grant the Hope Vl grant after the demolitions took place.
In Wikipedia's description of the Hope VI program, "Federal auditors found that HUD was awarding grants based on the ability of the area to generate income for the city rather than the actual state of the housing project in question."
Despite the vicious attack on the poor in their efforts to gentrify San Francisco's public housing complexes, Newsom and Fortner had it right when condemning the Hope VI ventures that end up wasting millions in precious local and federal housing funds.
The Tassafaronga Village articles below may have different versions, and some may have more details than others...
See articles and reports below for further documentation on the Hope VI program, and the Tassafaronga Hope VI proposal in Oakland...
*********
Seeking donations, Newsom takes rich on tours of public housing
Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/29/MNM3RR4R6.DTL&tsp=1
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says he is leading some of the city's wealthiest residents on tours of the city's decrepit public housing developments in the hope they will donate to help rebuild them.
Explaining the roots of his outrage on Tuesday, Newsom said that during the backpack giveaway, he learned that a plastic playground set that had been built by the city with money donated by the Dave Matthews Band had been burned - not once, but twice.
"I go to see something where we did try to make their lives better, and it's melted. It breaks my heart, and I'm angry - I'm angry at myself, I'm angry at HUD, I'm angry at Gregg, I'm angry at the city for not stepping up and every single person who lives in every district who's never been to the housing (developments)," Newsom said. "I'm angry at all of us."
On Tuesday, while Newsom was discussing his anger and talking about his appeal to wealthy San Franciscans, federal housing officials suggested Newsom could be doing more on behalf of public housing residents, and Fortner, the Housing Authority director, defended his leadership at the agency at a time of decreasing resources.
Larry Bush, a spokesman for HUD's regional office in San Francisco, said it's ironic that the mayor complains about the state of public housing in San Francisco while ignoring a potential solution: annual grants awarded to local housing authorities under HUD's Hope VI reconstruction program.
"I know that Mayor Newsom's not as familiar with Hope VI as any of the previous mayors because San Francisco has never applied for a Hope VI grant since he's been mayor, though we have offered funds every year," Bush said.
This year, $120 million is available in roughly $20 million chunks to five or six local housing authorities, Bush said. Applications are due this fall, though an exact deadline hasn't been set.
Newsom and Fortner both have said they'd rather spend the $200,000 it costs to prepare a grant application on improving developments immediately. The mayor added that recent federal budget cuts have depleted the pot of money once available under Hope VI, which was begun under President Bill Clinton.
"I want to use that money to actually do the work in the neighborhood, so I think it's a pretty stale argument," Newsom said.
HUD spokesman Bush said 30 housing authorities around the country applied for the six grants during the last funding cycle and that San Francisco would stand a good chance of getting one this year. Oakland, he said, already is preparing its grant application.
**************
HOPE VI
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedi
See numbers 9 & 8...
9] Federal auditors found that HUD was awarding grants based on the ability of the area to generate income for the city rather than the actual state of the housing project in question.
8]a b c d Tassafaronga Hope VI proposal threatens Oakland’s poor. San Francisco Bay View (2007-06-05)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HOPE_VI
**************
Article 1 of 1, Article ID: 9101270340
Published on June 14, 1991, Daily News of Los Angeles (CA)
BAY AREA HOUSING FUNDING REPORTED BEING SQUANDERED
Click below for link to story...
http://tinyurl.com/294tgz
Money spent to remodel a housing project in Oakland could have bought a home for each family in the 87-unit structure, according to a published report that claims federal housing funds are "squandered" in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Tassafaronga Village housing complex that will reopen in a few weeks was completed nearly three years late and, at $7.4 million, was double the estimated cost, according to a story in Wednesday editions of the San Jose Mercury News.
Complete Article, 651 words ( )
**************
General Contractor for Tassafaronga Village Residential Development
Addendum #1
[[[Has there been a lead and asbestos survey completed for the Tassafaronga Village public housing development buildings that will be demolished? ...]]]
Date issued and released, July 2, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/2ngqpz
The following questions were submitted by the deadline and are answered in this addendum:
ANSWERS:
1. Has there been a cost estimate completed for the Tassafaronga Village project?
Response: A preliminary cost estimate was completed in May 2006 by URS Corporation. The estimate was based on a different site plan and therefore is not a source of useful information.
2. Has there been a lead and asbestos survey completed for the Tassafaronga Village public housing development buildings that will be demolished?
************
REPORTS:
City Sues Oakland Housing Authority
http://www.patkernighan.com/News/March07.htm#13
This month City Attorney John Russo filed a lawsuit against the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) for failure to maintain the physical condition of their many buildings throughout Oakland and to keep them free of criminal activity and nuisance activities.
[[[There can be no argument that the current federal administration has under funded public housing over the past five years. But the fact that the Authority continues to purchase new properties in a practice of “land banking” refutes their claim to have no money for the repairs and management of the existing sites. In fact, it is not a question of resources, but more a question of OHA priorities which clearly favors purchasing new properties with federal HOPE VI funds with non-profit developers over regular maintenance, management and repair of existing housing.]]]
*************
REVISED: Tassafaronga Hope Vl Proposal Threatens Oakland's Poor
by Lynda Carson ( tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com )
Tuesday Jun 5th, 2007 4:14 AM
Oakland Housing Authority Is Using Local Section 8 Reserve Funds, & Local Section 8 Administrative Reserve Funds As A HUGE Slush Fund, For It's Notorious Hope Vl Projects!
Tassafaronga Hope Vl Proposal Threatens Oakland's Poor
By Lynda Carson
June 5, 2007
Click below for updated version, with links to documentation...
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/06/05/18424915.php
***************
Oakland's Tassafaronga Hope VI Proposal Threatens The Poor
Click below for links to story, and more links for further details of Oakland's newest Hope VI scheme...
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2007/Tassafaronga-Threatens-Poor3jun07.htm
Oakland — During a recent March 2007, Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) board meeting, OHA's Phil Neville announced that the OHA intends to file another Hope VI application, in an effort to demolish the Tassafaronga Village low-income public housing units, despite having already being turned down twice by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the project.
************
Oakland's Tassafaronga Hope Vl Proposal Threatens the Poor
by Lynda Carson‚ Jun. 05‚ 2007
During a March 2007 Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) board meeting, OHAs's Phil Neville announced that the Housing Authority intends to file another Hope VI application, in an effort to demolish the Tassafaronga Village low-income public housing units, despite having already being turned down twice by HUD for the project.
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4582
***************
Tassafaronga Hope VI proposal threatens Oakland’s poor
by Lynda Carson
Tuesday, 05 June 2007
Oakland – During a March 28 Oakland Housing Authority board meeting, OHA’s Phil Neville announced that the agency intends to file another Hope VI application, for the 87-unit Tassafaronga Village public housing complex, despite being turned down twice already by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in recent years.
According to Oakland Hope VI Director Phil Neville, the application has not yet been filed but it will soon. He says 79-80 families are still living in Tassafaronga, but the agency is not filling any more vacancies. Neville mentioned that HUD awards points to the OHA towards the Hope VI program if they evict all the tenants and demolish the buildings before they apply for Hope VI funding.
Click below for story...
http://www.sfbayview.com/052202/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=184&Itemid=14
**************
MEDIA RELEASE
Contacts: Erica Harrold
February 15, 2007
(510) 238-3148
Claudia Jimenez, Aide to Councilmember De la Fuente
(510) 734-4071
Councilmember Desley Brooks
(510) 238-7006
Jennie Gerard, Aide to Councilmember Pat Kernighan
(510) 238-7023
City of Oakland Sues Oakland Housing Authority
http://tinyurl.com/yvjqlc
Lack of on-site management contributes to problems
(Oakland, CA) Today, Oakland City Attorney John Russo, Oakland City Council President, Ignacio De
la Fuente and Councilmembers Desley Brooks and Pat Kernighan announced the filing of a lawsuit
against the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) for failing to maintain their properties. OHA is one the
largest landlords in Oakland with over 3300 apartments.
**************
NCPCs (SNITCHES) Are Behind Oakland Housing Authority Lawsuit
by Lynda Carson ( tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com )
Thursday Mar 1st, 2007 3:46 AM
[[[Erica Harrold of the City Attorney's office says, "We are VERY CONCERNED that the OHA continues to buy properties, while at the same time not being able to maintain what properties they already own."]]]
Click below for full story...
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/03/01/18370650.php
*************
HUD's Larry Bush confirms that the Oakland Housing Authority is about to apply for a Hope VI grant for Tassafaronga Village public housing complex
By Lynda Carson
Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Housing Authority Director Gregg Fortner recently took a jab at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Hope VI program for costing cities millions in lost housing funds to play the Hope VI demolition game. Meanwhile the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) is spending millions in an attempt to hook a Hope VI grant by using much needed funds being grabbed from it's Section 8 and public housing funds.
On August 29, 2007 the Chronicle reports, "Newsom and Fortner both have said they'd rather spend the $200,000 it costs to prepare a (Hope VI) grant application on improving developments immediately. The mayor added that recent federal budget cuts have depleted the pot of money once available under Hope VI, which was begun under President Bill Clinton."
Meanwhile, the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) is moving full steam ahead and spending millions in much needed housing funds from local and federal sources in an effort to demolish and privatize it's Tassafaronga Village public housing complex.
Despite being turned down twice by HUD (Hope VI proposals) in their attempts to demolish Tassafaronga Village and privatize it, as recently as 1991 the OHA spent $7.4 million to remodel the 87 unit complex which then was enough money to buy a home for each of the families residing there according to a report.
According to a June 14, 1991 article in the Daily News of Los Angeles , "Money spent to remodel a housing project in Oakland could have bought a home for each family in the 87-unit structure, according to a published report that claims federal housing funds are "squandered" in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Tassafaronga Village housing complex that will reopen in a few weeks was completed nearly three years late and, at $7.4 million, was double the estimated cost."
As recent as February 15, 2007 the City of Oakland sued the OHA and accused it of being a slumlord, and according to City Attorney John Russo the OHA has been spending millions on buying land for it's Hope VI ventures rather than spending the money to maintain it's public housing properties.
According to City Attorney John Russo, "But the fact that the Authority continues to purchase new properties in a practice of “land banking” refutes their claim to have no money for the repairs and management of the existing sites. In fact, it is not a question of resources, but more a question of OHA priorities which clearly favors purchasing new properties with federal HOPE VI funds with non-profit developers over regular maintenance, management and repair of existing housing."
Further research and documentation shows that the Oakland Housing Authority is using local Section 8 Reserve Funds, and local Section 8 Administrative Reserve Funds as a huge slush fund, for it's notorious Hope Vl proposal for Tassafaronga Village.
Oakland continues to spend millions in attracting another Hope VI proposal for Tassafaronga Village, while it's low-income tenants suffer.
According to OHA's Philip Neville, housing authorities gain extra points in their efforts to receive a Hope VI grant if they displace the public housing tenants and demolish their housing units before a Hope VI grant has been applied for. But, Nevile went on to say theres no guarentee that HUD would grant the Hope Vl grant after the demolitions took place.
In Wikipedia's description of the Hope VI program, "Federal auditors found that HUD was awarding grants based on the ability of the area to generate income for the city rather than the actual state of the housing project in question."
Despite the vicious attack on the poor in their efforts to gentrify San Francisco's public housing complexes, Newsom and Fortner had it right when condemning the Hope VI ventures that end up wasting millions in precious local and federal housing funds.
The Tassafaronga Village articles below may have different versions, and some may have more details than others...
See articles and reports below for further documentation on the Hope VI program, and the Tassafaronga Hope VI proposal in Oakland...
*********
Seeking donations, Newsom takes rich on tours of public housing
Heather Knight, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/29/MNM3RR4R6.DTL&tsp=1
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says he is leading some of the city's wealthiest residents on tours of the city's decrepit public housing developments in the hope they will donate to help rebuild them.
Explaining the roots of his outrage on Tuesday, Newsom said that during the backpack giveaway, he learned that a plastic playground set that had been built by the city with money donated by the Dave Matthews Band had been burned - not once, but twice.
"I go to see something where we did try to make their lives better, and it's melted. It breaks my heart, and I'm angry - I'm angry at myself, I'm angry at HUD, I'm angry at Gregg, I'm angry at the city for not stepping up and every single person who lives in every district who's never been to the housing (developments)," Newsom said. "I'm angry at all of us."
On Tuesday, while Newsom was discussing his anger and talking about his appeal to wealthy San Franciscans, federal housing officials suggested Newsom could be doing more on behalf of public housing residents, and Fortner, the Housing Authority director, defended his leadership at the agency at a time of decreasing resources.
Larry Bush, a spokesman for HUD's regional office in San Francisco, said it's ironic that the mayor complains about the state of public housing in San Francisco while ignoring a potential solution: annual grants awarded to local housing authorities under HUD's Hope VI reconstruction program.
"I know that Mayor Newsom's not as familiar with Hope VI as any of the previous mayors because San Francisco has never applied for a Hope VI grant since he's been mayor, though we have offered funds every year," Bush said.
This year, $120 million is available in roughly $20 million chunks to five or six local housing authorities, Bush said. Applications are due this fall, though an exact deadline hasn't been set.
Newsom and Fortner both have said they'd rather spend the $200,000 it costs to prepare a grant application on improving developments immediately. The mayor added that recent federal budget cuts have depleted the pot of money once available under Hope VI, which was begun under President Bill Clinton.
"I want to use that money to actually do the work in the neighborhood, so I think it's a pretty stale argument," Newsom said.
HUD spokesman Bush said 30 housing authorities around the country applied for the six grants during the last funding cycle and that San Francisco would stand a good chance of getting one this year. Oakland, he said, already is preparing its grant application.
**************
HOPE VI
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedi
See numbers 9 & 8...
9] Federal auditors found that HUD was awarding grants based on the ability of the area to generate income for the city rather than the actual state of the housing project in question.
8]a b c d Tassafaronga Hope VI proposal threatens Oakland’s poor. San Francisco Bay View (2007-06-05)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HOPE_VI
**************
Article 1 of 1, Article ID: 9101270340
Published on June 14, 1991, Daily News of Los Angeles (CA)
BAY AREA HOUSING FUNDING REPORTED BEING SQUANDERED
Click below for link to story...
http://tinyurl.com/294tgz
Money spent to remodel a housing project in Oakland could have bought a home for each family in the 87-unit structure, according to a published report that claims federal housing funds are "squandered" in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Tassafaronga Village housing complex that will reopen in a few weeks was completed nearly three years late and, at $7.4 million, was double the estimated cost, according to a story in Wednesday editions of the San Jose Mercury News.
Complete Article, 651 words ( )
**************
General Contractor for Tassafaronga Village Residential Development
Addendum #1
[[[Has there been a lead and asbestos survey completed for the Tassafaronga Village public housing development buildings that will be demolished? ...]]]
Date issued and released, July 2, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/2ngqpz
The following questions were submitted by the deadline and are answered in this addendum:
ANSWERS:
1. Has there been a cost estimate completed for the Tassafaronga Village project?
Response: A preliminary cost estimate was completed in May 2006 by URS Corporation. The estimate was based on a different site plan and therefore is not a source of useful information.
2. Has there been a lead and asbestos survey completed for the Tassafaronga Village public housing development buildings that will be demolished?
************
REPORTS:
City Sues Oakland Housing Authority
http://www.patkernighan.com/News/March07.htm#13
This month City Attorney John Russo filed a lawsuit against the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) for failure to maintain the physical condition of their many buildings throughout Oakland and to keep them free of criminal activity and nuisance activities.
[[[There can be no argument that the current federal administration has under funded public housing over the past five years. But the fact that the Authority continues to purchase new properties in a practice of “land banking” refutes their claim to have no money for the repairs and management of the existing sites. In fact, it is not a question of resources, but more a question of OHA priorities which clearly favors purchasing new properties with federal HOPE VI funds with non-profit developers over regular maintenance, management and repair of existing housing.]]]
*************
REVISED: Tassafaronga Hope Vl Proposal Threatens Oakland's Poor
by Lynda Carson ( tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com )
Tuesday Jun 5th, 2007 4:14 AM
Oakland Housing Authority Is Using Local Section 8 Reserve Funds, & Local Section 8 Administrative Reserve Funds As A HUGE Slush Fund, For It's Notorious Hope Vl Projects!
Tassafaronga Hope Vl Proposal Threatens Oakland's Poor
By Lynda Carson
June 5, 2007
Click below for updated version, with links to documentation...
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/06/05/18424915.php
***************
Oakland's Tassafaronga Hope VI Proposal Threatens The Poor
Click below for links to story, and more links for further details of Oakland's newest Hope VI scheme...
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2007/Tassafaronga-Threatens-Poor3jun07.htm
Oakland — During a recent March 2007, Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) board meeting, OHA's Phil Neville announced that the OHA intends to file another Hope VI application, in an effort to demolish the Tassafaronga Village low-income public housing units, despite having already being turned down twice by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the project.
************
Oakland's Tassafaronga Hope Vl Proposal Threatens the Poor
by Lynda Carson‚ Jun. 05‚ 2007
During a March 2007 Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) board meeting, OHAs's Phil Neville announced that the Housing Authority intends to file another Hope VI application, in an effort to demolish the Tassafaronga Village low-income public housing units, despite having already being turned down twice by HUD for the project.
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4582
***************
Tassafaronga Hope VI proposal threatens Oakland’s poor
by Lynda Carson
Tuesday, 05 June 2007
Oakland – During a March 28 Oakland Housing Authority board meeting, OHA’s Phil Neville announced that the agency intends to file another Hope VI application, for the 87-unit Tassafaronga Village public housing complex, despite being turned down twice already by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in recent years.
According to Oakland Hope VI Director Phil Neville, the application has not yet been filed but it will soon. He says 79-80 families are still living in Tassafaronga, but the agency is not filling any more vacancies. Neville mentioned that HUD awards points to the OHA towards the Hope VI program if they evict all the tenants and demolish the buildings before they apply for Hope VI funding.
Click below for story...
http://www.sfbayview.com/052202/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=184&Itemid=14
**************
MEDIA RELEASE
Contacts: Erica Harrold
February 15, 2007
(510) 238-3148
Claudia Jimenez, Aide to Councilmember De la Fuente
(510) 734-4071
Councilmember Desley Brooks
(510) 238-7006
Jennie Gerard, Aide to Councilmember Pat Kernighan
(510) 238-7023
City of Oakland Sues Oakland Housing Authority
http://tinyurl.com/yvjqlc
Lack of on-site management contributes to problems
(Oakland, CA) Today, Oakland City Attorney John Russo, Oakland City Council President, Ignacio De
la Fuente and Councilmembers Desley Brooks and Pat Kernighan announced the filing of a lawsuit
against the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) for failing to maintain their properties. OHA is one the
largest landlords in Oakland with over 3300 apartments.
**************
NCPCs (SNITCHES) Are Behind Oakland Housing Authority Lawsuit
by Lynda Carson ( tenantsrule [at] yahoo.com )
Thursday Mar 1st, 2007 3:46 AM
[[[Erica Harrold of the City Attorney's office says, "We are VERY CONCERNED that the OHA continues to buy properties, while at the same time not being able to maintain what properties they already own."]]]
Click below for full story...
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/03/01/18370650.php
*************
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