VietVet wrote: Brown said Middletown needs to concentrate on economic development, bringing in new businesses with new jobs, and the city’s 23 percent poverty rate will drop. “That’s where their time and energy should be,” she said.

swohio75 wrote: VietVet wrote: Well, it looks like the Section 8 fiasco between the city and HUD is going to hit the fan. Journal story... Elizabeth Brown, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, a Cincinnati-based housing rights organization, said Middletown officials are “playing with fire if they continue to thumb their noses at HUD.” Of course she's going to say this.  Her livelihood depends on these types of programs.  Of course she wants us to believe that Middletown is wrong in their approach. I want to see hard facts on this notion that Section 8 voucher holders are generational Middletonians.  From what I understand, the goal of the increase was to help with the decline of housing stock, not to serve a need of a population.

SWOHIO75..... ONLY THE FIRST LINE OF YOUR QUOTE IS MINE. CHECK THE STORY AGAIN. I DID NOT SAY, NOR SHOULD I BE QUOTED THE LINES PERTAINING TO BROWN. IF YOU READ IT AGAIN, IT IS PART OF THE STORYLINE FROM THE REPORTER. I MERELY COPIED THE STORY. NOT MY THOUGHTS. NOT MY WORDS.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE????

Today's Journal story....

Residents upset over scheduled demolition of recently-purchased home

MIDDLETOWN —
Charles and Chire Byrd had barely started fixing up the Glenwood Avenue home they thought they’d bought for $5,000 earlier this month when city officials “kicked in the door” on March 15.

The siblings were surprised to discover that the home had been declared a blight and was put on the city’s demolition list in January.

HOW CAN A HOME BE ON THE MARKET FOR PURCHASE IN MARCH WHEN IT HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE DEMO LIST IN JANUARY???? WHO WOULD HAVE DONE THE CLOSING ON THIS WHEN THE HOUSE WAS CONDEMNED?

The Glenwood Avenue home was purchased by Fannie Mae for $24,400 in May 2012 and then Home America, a California-based company, acquired it for $1,000 in August 2012

Because of its poor condition, the city determined on Jan. 7 that the house should be torn down and a demolition order was posted on Jan. 9. Home America, any lien holder, or anyone interested in buying the home had until Jan. 29 to file an appeal, but no one did.

The Byrds began the process of buying the house from Home America in early March, but were unaware it was slated for demolition. They became the official owners of the property March 21

IF HOME AMERICA KNEW OF THE DEMOLITION ORDER FOR THE PROPERTY, HOW COULD THEY HAVE SOLD IT TO THE BYRD'S? SOUNDS LIKE FRAUD ON THE PART OF HOME AMERICA, DOESN'T IT? HOW CAN A COMPANY KNOWINGLY SELL A DEMO LIST HOME TO ANOTHER CLIENT?

Scott Meier, operations manager for Home America, said the building was sold “as is” and believes his company was upfront with the Byrds. ( "AS IS" MEANING DEMO LISTED)- A MISREPRESENTATION OF THE FACTS BY MEIER.

“We tell people to check things out before you buy,” Meier said. “This is an as-is purchase, and we encourage you to go out and to look at the the property, make as many calls as you want, call the city, call the county, check things out before you buy it, because you’re buying an as-is.”

WHAT? BUY "AS IS"? A HOME THAT WAS TO BE DEMOLISHED IS A "BUY AS IS"? SCOTT MEIER AND HOME AMERICA NEED TO BE PROSECUTED I BELIEVE. WASN'T NOTIFYING THE BYRD'S OF THE PROPERTY STATUS PARAMOUNT HERE? WHY WAS THIS PROPERTY EVEN OFFERED?

Chire Byrd said she does not want to file any action against Home America because they want the house

BUT THEY COMMITTED FRAUD HERE CHIRE. PROSECUTE THEM. THEY TOOK YOUR MONEY ON A BOGUS DEAL.

??? WHY WOULD HOME AMERICA WANT A HOUSE THAT IS TO BE TORN DOWN? DOES THIS MAKE SENSE TO ANY OF YOU FOLKS?


Vice Mayor Dan Picard voted to move ahead with the demolition, but stated if there was some type of court action preventing the city from moving forward, “I might be of a different opinion.”

IF THE COURTS PREVENTED ACTION FROM THE CITY, DANNY, YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO BE OF A DIFFERENT OPINION. IT'S NO LONGER YOUR CALL.

Charles Byrd said he simply wants a home for his family in Middletown.

“Isn’t that what it’s supposed to be about?” he said. “People moving into a house, keeping it nice, fixing it up. That’s what I want to do. This is my town, I love Middletown

CHARLES REALLY LIKES MIDDLETOWN AS HE HAS EXPRESSED THIS MANY TIMES.

There is more to this story......More to Charles' story...

Bill calls for people receiving assistance to have drug test

TonyB wrote: Is there any wonder why we have such a budget deficit and public debt when we demand that the state pay millions to save thousands? Look at this program in the state of Florida: spent over $100 million to save $600 thousand. What may sound like a reasonable idea is, in fact, a state funded giveaway to private testing companies. There has to be a better method.

Better method?

Give the people who are applying for assistance a list of approved drug testing facilities. Have the facility doctor review/sign off on the results and forward to the Section 8 people for their records. Have the applicant pay for the test at the time of the test. If they really want the taxpayer to foot the bill, then they should have no problem affording the testing fee and not whine about it. The testing should be scheduled without notice and at different intervals. If they are given a test date, they have time to purge. Can't allow that. No state funds used.....only potential participants money is allowed. No pay-no passing the test-no housing. People don't have the money you say? Tough. Get it if you want to qualify. Enough coddling.

Some.....some people looking for a handout have alot of nerve thinking they "deserve" this service with no commitment. Wrong.   

Bumper,

the office did have pre-employment testing but never random..so IMO yes it was flawed..it was saving them money..

also forgot to mention my home at 652 auburn st was arsoned on 9/20/2010 never found out by whom all this is in referance to 1710 glenwood the byrds and the concil meeting on 3/19/13 and 4/2/13 as to the rats yeah right ask an exterminator rats and mice as well as roaches leave droppings where they walk THERE ISNT ANY

thank you vivian we go to court on 4/18 at 9 am in butler co court  hopefully things go good i just dont understand though they want to reduce govt housing so why dont they let our citizens purchuse these low $ homes to rehap then they will own maintaian and pay property taxes would that not be more benificial to ones pride and self worth as well as more $ for the city just sayin

bumper wrote: what this man did was wrong, i can't see where he can do much harm if its true his hands are ooo smashed,well DESERVED!! ouch that had to hurt... but i believe his sister is the one that got the place ,she does not look like a crack head,Heroin junkie,  walmart thieve, air conditioner hocker,   if they dont give this lady a chance!!! then ones that say they are moving forward should live a burning life in hell.!! IMO heck i have 6 within a mile of me but im not skerred!! you can put in any address you want, in any city within miles and their there, glad to see more and more women buying and getting their ccw, thats not good news for the rapist.

how do you truley know for sure with out giving it a chance and not to sound bad i am talking about people who are low income and can not get a convintinal loan you know at least 10000 a year in earned income I really think you would be surprised but lets even say put a cap on the purchuses only 1 per family or person and if you make 40000+ you are not eligable to keep out slum lords and reduce the need for gov housing and bring us back to when you can do it trust me roofing ,dry wall,and plubing is not that hard however I always have my electrician on hand I aint doin that not even a switch plate