Section 8 Report 6/10

I agree with most of what you have said, but I had to focus on tangible numbers that we had the ability to gather.  The impact on our schools would have to factor in the specific performance of children on the Section 8 program living within the City vs. the population as a whole, and I don't believe those specific numbers could be easily generated.  There clearly is some impact on the school system.  The same with business.  The study showed that when Section 8 exceeds 10% of your housing stock, widespread disinvestment occurs in the area, but it is difficult to separate out the impact of the recession and the foreclosure crisis and the loss of disposable income's effect on business vs. the impact of Section 8 vouchers specifically.  The same with home values.  We can measure disinvestment, and the report deals with home values directly showing a steep drop in surrounding home values when more than two Section 8 homes are clustered together.  It took 96 pages to get to where we can "start" the discussion, this is not meant to be the end of the process, merely the first step.

Who has the finle say that we are allowed to reduse the number?

This from today's Middletown Journal:

"To date, 1,662 voucher holders make up 8.6 percent of the city’s population. As the report outlines, the city has a higher percentage of Section 8 residents than Butler, Warren, Montgomery and Hamilton counties combined."

Who in the world is responsible for this city having a higher percentage of Section 8 vouchers than all of Butler, Warren, Montgomery, & Hamilton counties combined?????

Rhodes it is past Councils and City Employees.  I am still having a hard time believing that any City Employees or elected Officials would OK the escalation in Vouchers just to fill vacant homes.  I don't know of any other  City that would raise their Poverty Rate by 50%+  just to fill vacant homes.  It just doesn't make sense financially, economically and is definitely not in the best interest of the city overall.  I don't get why City Officials can't get the big picture especially in the past 5 years or so although some have gotten better.  The sad part is some of those same City Officials/Employees are still calling the shots.

Yes, you're right swohio75, but then again, she is the captain of the ship in this town and as such, is responsible for the overall activity. She chose to be a city manager and when you play the role of "CEO", you accept criticism that may or may not be of your own choosing.

You are correct.... to her credit, in the beginning, she did suggest dropping CONSOC and moving it to the housing authority when the three councilmembers you mentioned were here. But Marconi, Armbruster and Schiavone have been gone for awhile. Have you heard of any attempts from her as to a new approach with a new group of councilmembers? I haven't. Perhaps the Adkins report is the start of her attempt at changing this program for the better. I hope so. The Section 8 fiasco is just the tip of the iceberg for me and what she has done since her arrival. IMO, it has not been a performance anywhere close to a satisfactory rating and she is one of several contributors toward this town's potential demise. Look at what she has condoned from Robinette's department toward inactivity, Kohler's agenda of selective business attraction and the downward spiral of the city in general. It is shameful and they are shameless. JMO

Packman -

High one of the Reports I read stated that the big run up in vouchers occurred between 2004-5 to 2007.  I will see if I can dig it up again.

The section 8 numbers in Middletown are sickening, I will give credit where credit is due and Mr. Adkins is at least making an attempt to right the wrongs of past city leaders.

I think what gets under my skin the most is the lack of interest shown by Becker and the Mayor and now Picard to have these problems addressed. Lets be honest here, Becker was the city manger for a while and the number of vouchers went up unchecked. Now he site there on City Council with out a care in the world as to how or why it should be fixed.

Well Vet, if anyone can get him to answer a phone call or an email please let me now. Becker is one of the reason we are in this boat, just one of many. But, you cant ask him beacuse he wont talk to you...he is above us.