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A letter from Barry Cassidy to The Community of Phoenixville
Editor’s Note: The following is a statement by Barry Cassidy in reaction to the story, “Coppedge blasts Cassidy,” in the Wednesday, August 27, edition of The Phoenix.
I believe that a community is judged by the way they treat their poor, infirm and underprivileged population. The discourse on our difference of opinion is the difference in what is perceived to be the community standard for housing between the Borough Codes Department and the Chester County Housing Authority... Rules apply to public agencies just as they do to private landlords... everyone should be treated the same. I feel passionately about housing and I acted according to my passion.
I personally believe that people are innocent until proven guilty and that they are entitled to clean, safe and well functioning housing. People on welfare or down on your luck deserve to be treated in a respectable manner, regardless of their circumstances.
My experiences working on low income housing in East Baltimore’s Patterson Park section and Philadelphia’s Kensington section has given me a unique perspective concerning interactions with large agencies which provide voucher and project based Section 8 housing. Some agencies are more responsive than others, you have to take it on a case by case basis because each one responds differently.
Barry Cassidy
Executive Director,
Community Development Corp.
posted by The Phoenix Files at
9:42 AM
10 Comments:
Found on WATCHINGPHOENIXVILE.COM Blog and worth posting here:
I just watched the video you provided as a link in your post. Out of 7 minutes of productive information about various grants, the Elm St project, plans for the Steel Site, etc. BC spent about 20 seconds talking about his opposition to packing in more tenants at Fairview. From what I've read in the Phoenix and watched in the videos regarding King Terrace, Fairview, the raw sewage footage, etc and the quoted responses from Ms Mitchell Weston- the LAST thing the Chester Co Housing Authority needs to do is add more tenants!!
How about spending that money to CLEAN UP the DEPLORABLE living conditions the current tenants are forced to live with?
BC may not have the most politically correct verbage to soften his opinion, but I for one agree with him on everything he said! Those places are disgusting and in my opinion uninhabitable. These tenants are our own elderly, handicapped, poor people. They are in need of clean housing- not warehousing and certainly deserve better from the CCHA than what was seen in those disgusting videos.
I agree with Mr Cassidy. If Mr Coppedge was publicly embarrassed by the truth, so be it. Fix the problem, don't shoot the messenger.
Hey Barry,
Our cars were towed from Molly Maquires PERSONAL PARKING LOT- you know the one at the corner of Main and Bridge? Wait-is that an outdoor extension of their restaurant or is it a borough parking lot? Can't remember.
Any idea where we can find our cars and how much the fines will be? Tell them thanks for me. You can bet I won't be patronizing that restaurant ever again, so I won't be able to thank them myself.
Amelia....I would suggest that you re-read Mr. Coppedge's letter to find the true facts on conditions at Fairview. NO RAW SEWAGE EXISTED AT FAIRVIEW all fabricated by a convicted drug dealer and now under arreast for fraud. The messenger should have spent some time investigating the facts before going on his childish, mean spirited, personal vendetta attack on Mr. Coppedge and the HACC. I am a resident of the public housing that both Mr. Cassidy and you have called deplorable and uninhabitable. I am part of the huge majority of public housing residents that live in a clean and safe place. You are welcome to come to my Apt. any time to see for yourself what the truth is. Maybe you will quit insaulting comments about our homes and the way we are treated by HACC.
Hey William...you apartment must not be too good, they are talking about tearing it down.
William,
A few questions-
Are you saying you would rather live in your current apartment than something brand new?
What was that black debris in the plastic seen on the videos? Did you enter the apartment for yourself? Did the Phoenix reporter make this up just to get a story?
I read the former tenant moved out because a mold problem made her family sick. So the mold problem continued on to the next tenant? Was it 'just' moldy drywall falling from a collapsed ceiling into the tarp, minus any leak from the upstairs plumbing (which I assume was a bathroom or someone else's kitchen drain debris)?
I would think any other landlord would have to correct the source of the mold issue or wouldn't be able to rent such a unit twice. Do you have a tarp hanging over your stove when you cook? Would that be acceptable to you?
hey big dick johnson, my apartment is just fine and they are not going to tear it down, as I dont live in the fairview complex I live in Kings Terrace and was refering to amelia's comments that she included Kings Terrace in her oponions.
Amelia, I am sorry to say that it sounds to me like you are trying to shoot the messenger in your responce to my previous post. I live in King Terrace not Firview as I have no family that lives with me. Yes, I would like a new apartment, but am thankful for the present one. yes, it needs some improvements but it is clean, neat, tidy and warm and dry. No plastic over any sinks here in any apt. HACC does not make repairs in that fashion, If the problem you have will take time to fix I have seen HACC move the tenant to a new apt. and then move them back when repairs are done. I have witnessed this personally. The tennent up at Fairview was Mrs. Tomas and she was being evicted for fraud and not because of mold. HACC could not obtain entry because Mrs. Thomas refused to let them in to check on her problems she claimed to have. I talked to the HACC maintenance man myself and he confirmed that Mrs. Thomas threated them and denined them entry. She fabricated the maintance problems and this was later proved by a neutral expert after she was arrested and evicted from the premises. The house has not been rented as it will probably be torn down. I have talked to the reporter that wrote the story and I truly believe he was completly taken in by Mrs. Thomas. He was young and wanted to help the disadvantaged residents of Phoenixville. I believe he lost his job because of the article and if that is true it is too bad. I am upset because I have seen Council Meetings where Barry Cassidy has stood up and spread un-truths about King Terrace and Fairview and not researched his information. I again extend a invitation to you to come and see for your self. Be it ever so humble it is my home.
William,
I'm sorry, but I've been inside and I stand by my assessment. I am glad, though saddened, that you are content with your living arrangements. I believe HUD could do better by you. I've been in low income housing in many urban areas- some better and some worse,and believe it or not your facility has much room for improvement.
Are you saying that the plastic tarp seen on the videos along with rotting window sills, etc were stage props?
Amelia,
In answer to your question, Yes I do feel that the plastic etc. at Fairview were just props. Based on Mr. Coppedge's letter and personal conversations with maintance men that were there and the report from unbiased experts. And the report of Mrs Thomas's arrest. I believe that Mrs Thomas fabreicated the maintance problems to make HACC look bad and garner sympathy for herself. I do realize that improvements can be made here at King Terrace. There is major improvements in the planning stages and will be made in the near future, hopefully. Public housing has enabled me to live in a safe and clean apt. and have enough money from my social security check for food and medicine. I am truly grateful for what I have and try to live with some dignity. Thank you for the kind words and thoughts in your last post. I guess we see King Terrace from different perspectives.
It seems like William is either a housing authority employee or their high priced attorney.
If there was not a problem why did the pathetic housing authority director not answer the borough's letter of inquiry. Instead she sent a terse letter that insulted the council, which prompted Cassidy's comments.
The Chester County Housing Authority is a mismanaged mess with an executive director, Tanya Mitchell Weston, who is a disgrace to her profession. She is under attack not only in Phoenixville but Coatesville too. The woman’s incompetence knew no bounds. If she knew what she was doing why would so many be fed up with the results of her administration.
I believe it is time to call for public dialog concerning her job performance.
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