As you know, Mr. Akins had over $3 Million in two separate NSP allocations at his disposal.  Despite the fact that he wasted up to $75,000 per individual housing acquisition/rehabilitation project, whatever happened to the funds that were netted from eventual sale of these frivolous undertakings?  How much funding is involved?  Were these funds diverted to "downtown" projects like the acquisition of the asbestos-laden movie theater on Central Avenue?  Or, is he using these taxpayers dollars on more property demolition?  What is going on?

 

If HUD were to allow a reduction of 1,000+ S8 vouchers, what would be the impact on the housing market in Ward 2 and parts of Ward 1. The Reduction of S8 Vouchers in Middletown, if I am current, will have no impact on Ward 1 and Ward 2 as the vouchers will remain in affect until such time as the voucher holder exits the programs or moves to another housing authority. If you are talking Rental fees/amount, there will be no impact as HUD determines the rental amount by the number of bedrooms in each property. With the reduction of vouchers, is it true that current montly market rents for non-subsidized properties are significantly less?  Most Likely they would be less for non-subsidized renters. That's the way the cookie crumbles in the s8 rental business.  It is not up to the city to support the rental business in Middletown.  The fact that you believe there may be a reduction in rental fees in Wards 1 & 2 leads me to believe you know what will happen over time with these properties. Where will the up to 1,000 new renter households come from?  That is not a problem of the city or the residents of Middletown.  The residents of Middletown should not bare the cost or any other fee for private businesses.  How will the reduction of S8 units adversely impact residential property owners? Personally I think it will have little to no impact on my family. 

 

The majority of S8 vouchers added took place (for the most part) prior to the hiring of Marty Kohler.  Marty Kohler had his fingers in this pie enough to leave his prints behinds.  You should speak with Neal Barille and Angela Tucker about that.  However, as recently as 2006, Mr. Kohler bragged about the benefits of S8 insofar as rental property reinvestment was concerned.

 

The damage is now done and I have no issue with reducing some of the vouchers.  What I do not agree with is the lack of a cost-effective strategy to reclaim our declining neighborhoods.  The wrecking ball alone is hardly a comprehensive plan of attack.  It is true that quite a few structures warrant demolition.  However, surely there must be a more logical approach to accomplishing this goal.  Tear it down and they will come is not the answer. Don't tear it down and they definitely WON'T come.  Once again it is not the citizens of Middletown's $$ that should be use to line the pockets of S8 Landlords.  Having been a business owner for 22 yrs and the lose of my business due medical reasons, I do not expect the citizens of Middletown to pay my way or to make up for the lose of over $200,000.00 I suffered.  Even though I am now blind with a heart condition and have no use of my right arm.  I am now in the process of starting another business and I do not expect a hand out or freebie from the city or anyone else.  Pacman