Thursday, June 26, 2014

First Response

On Tuesday, Gossips reported that State Assemblymember Didi Barrett and Common Council president Don Moore had sent letters to Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand seeking their help in getting an inspection by HUD or an independent inspection commissioned by HUD of Bliss Towers. Yesterday morning, Gossips received from Jeff First, executive director of the Hudson Housing Authority and property manager at Bliss Towers, a letter he had written in response to Moore's letter.

First's letter, which is two pages long and addressed to the entire Common Council, reports that, since receiving a copy of Moore's letter, he has contacted both Craig Haigh, Hudson code enforcement officer, and Ed Coon, Columbia County public health sanitarian, and both attest they have received no complaints about hazardous or unhealthy conditions at Bliss Towers. First also contacted Patrick Gallagher, HUD specialist in the Buffalo Field Office, who, First reports, "had been in touch with [Senator Gillibrand's and Senator Schumer's] offices and informed them that HUD had no issues with the Hudson Housing Authority. No Fair Housing issues, good financial indicators, no audit findings, and we were scored as a Standard Performer on our 2013 Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) physical inspection."

First's letter goes on:
I am still at a loss to determine why, after over 40 years, we are the focal point of the City and the center of these "major" scandals. I humbly invite the Common Council to take this opportunity to come down and visit the Hudson Housing Authority to see exactly what the conditions are. Please bring Mr. Haigh, a representative from the County Health Department and whomever else you think you may need to alleviate any concerns regarding conditions here. Also, in the future, if you have some concern regarding conditions, management, appearance or long term plans, please follow professional protocol and contact this agency and discuss these concerns prior to reaching out to State and Federal officials. I am also taking this opportunity to reach out to these same State and Federal officials with the same offer. I welcome any independent investigation into the matters so mentioned.
During my tenure I have had the privilege to work under the administration of several Mayors. I have disagreed occasionally, but cooperated continuously and have given them my utmost respect and admiration. But most importantly, I valued my relationship with the administration of the City of Hudson. I affirmed this relationship to my colleagues in the industry on many occasions. Now I see this 23 year cooperative relationship strained and perhaps irrevocably damaged due to the political agenda and political idealism of a few individuals. . . .
Finally, lately I have been personally and professionally attacked in the media with proven half truths and outright lies and the credibility of the Hudson Housing Authority has been called into question by a group with ill intention and a personal agenda. It is an unfortunate set of circumstances when an agency with an impeccable record and uncompromised integrity has to tolerate this nonsense from our elected officials and or their supporters while bringing unwarranted attention to the residents and staff of this complex.

1 comment:

  1. You see, here's the problem. Jeff First pretends nothing is wrong with Bliss Tower. But the reality is that the building leaks all of the time. It is worse in serious rainstorms. When it's raining hard, they put trash cans in the hallways to collect the water. Everyone knows that when buildings get wet, they also get moldy. This is a particular problem for those who live on the upper floors. See these pictures:
    https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0ByVk81uHxwkka2hxMXkwYlMzTDA&usp=sharing

    In the above post Jeff First had this to say:
    "Finally, lately I have been personally and professionally attacked in the media with proven half truths and outright lies and the credibility of the Hudson Housing Authority has been called into question by a group with ill intention and a personal agenda. It is an unfortunate set of circumstances when an agency with an impeccable record and uncompromised integrity has to tolerate this nonsense from our elected officials and or their supporters while bringing unwarranted attention to the residents and staff of this complex".

    The reality is very different. If Mr. First would stop pretending that everything is OK, he would find that he would have many willing partners to help find solutions to the building's problems. I know I would be one of them. But he must first stop pretneding that everything is under control and admit that he needs help to solve them.

    The people of Bliss Tower and the 2nd Ward have long been ignored by City Hall. Now City Hall and others are looking to help find some solutions and we are being told that everything is fine. Really?

    If solutions are to be found, we must first all admit there is a problem. How about it Mr. First?

    ReplyDelete