Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Speakers Offer background on Liberty Village Saga

Two people added some back story Monday to the Liberty Village controversy, while Deputy City Administrator Carlos Sanchez attempted to focus on action needed for the Section 8 complex's next chapter and Assemblyman Jerry Green called for a probe by Rep. Rush Holt on residents' rights.

Current owner Sam Perelman began his remarks by citing "a lot of misinformation" at the town meeting called by three City Council members. He echoed the timeline Sanchez had explained, the property being built in 1982 with a 50-year "payment in lieu of taxes" agreement. There was also a 30-year management plan with the Housing Authority of Plainfield. In 2009, the senior partner died and Perelman said he met with HAP staff, but was not allowed in the complex.

Perelman said he "knocked on nine doors" and took pictures and statements.

"I saw things I was disgusted by,' he said.

His investigation led to a lawsuit that was settled by not having HAP manage the complex any more, and the owner sought the "biggest and best" management company, which he identified as Interstate. He said for 78 of the 96 units, improvements included 105 refrigerators and stoves, 38 cabinets, 25 new hot water heaters, new roofs on all buildings, re-tiled bathrooms and window bars.

"We did everything," he said.

He said his company "looked very hard" to find a new owner and settled on Tryko, which owns 6,000 units.

"We're at a crossroads now," he said.

The PILOT was brought to the council on April 8 and did not get moved to the agenda.

"We want Tryko to be the new owner," he said.

Regarding use of a community room, he said it was necessary to use it as a staging are for the repairs, which other speakers said resulted in the complex going from an unacceptable rating from HUD to a much higher one.

He asked the council members, all seven of whom attended the meeting, to please vote for the PILOT agreement.

In another revelation, a former manager at the complex told residents, "There are things in place to prevent the kind of things you were subject to."

She said the property was never registered with the state Department of Community Affairs and so was never inspected for 26 years. The state usually inspects multi-family dwellings every five years. However, HUD inspections revealed sub-par conditions that yielded unacceptable scores.A new manager was able to improve the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) scores.

(David Rutherford's Plainfield View has video of most of this. See and hear for yourself.)

4/22 correction from Bridget Rivers
Good morning,
1st I would like to say thanks for coming out last night. I just want to make one correction I did say I would not push to have a special meeting until I have everything that was mentioned in WRITING.
The residents were promised many things in the past which were not delivered, and there is nothing in writing from the owners to substantiate that. I do not want the same thing to happen again.
I was not there when the now owners took over management from the housing authority so I have nothing to do with what was done in the past, but I can speak up for the residents now.
 I will have a special meeting to make sure the deadlines are meet.
I also would like for the new potential owners to meet with the residents. You must know no matter what I have the residents best interest at heart.
Guys I cannot allow the residents to get burnt on this one. Please understand. As always your I appreciate constructive criticism.

Thanks



27 comments:

  1. Why can't our City Council rise above their infighting and help the residents of Liberty Village stay in the complex and keep it affordable for the next 20 years?

    Do they have a problem with the Mayor negotiating 60% increase in tax, returning the community room and installing a better security system?

    Seems to me they should be voting for this now and moving on to other issues. There were 60 residents who were at the meeting who want the Council to vote for the Pilot.

    Do the Councilors actually listen to their constituents in the 4th Ward?

    Sarah

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  2. WHERE WAS THE MAYOR YESTERDAY OH YEAH I FORGOT HE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE RESIDENTS IN THE FORTH WARD UNLESS HE NEEDS A VOTE

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    1. You should ask where the mayor was instead of assuming. But, I am sure you were glad that Jerry "I ain't got all night to be here," Green was there, being so concerned about the people in Liberty Village.

      Jerry met with people 6 months ago who told him that they were doing a lousy job in maintaining the Village. He did nothing.

      Mayor Mapp was at the meeting also. He is trying to change the conditions in Liberty Village.

      So, we have someone who showed up, knew about the poor conditions but did nothing about it.
      We have someone who knew about the poor conditions and is trying to make it better.

      I would rather give my vote to the person who is trying to DO something (Mapp) even though he may have had prior commitments that evening, than someone who showed up, knew about the conditions but did noting, and on top of it insulted the people ("I ain't got all night to be here,")

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    2. And your reasoning is? Sounds like you're talking about the council people who are playing games with this. The mayor got us more money and a signed agreement to make repairs and make Liberty Village viable for years. I bet you loved Sharon! Take your jokes elsewhere; this is serious business.

      Bob Bolmer

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    3. umm, its the mayor and his staff that are working to get this deal done to improve the housing for the residents and bring in more tax dollars to the city to help relieve some burden from the rest of us. In case you haven't realized its 4 of your council people causing all this drama and standing in the way

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    4. Green could care less about easing tax payers burden. HIs plan is to increase it with an additional 660 units that given time will be liberty village and every other apartment complex in Plainfield.

      KS

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  3. The Councilors representing the 4th Ward not only don't listen to their constituency but the Assemblyman is missing in action as well. He grand stands about being "the head of housing" and he has residence in his own town living in a subpar development. Well past time for him to retire.

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  4. Bridge, you cannot allow the people in Liberty Village, your friends, neighbors and family, to continue living like this.

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  5. Here we go the same old blame it on Assemblyman Jerry Green!!!!! anon 10:32 your point is well taken I was just informed that Mayor did not show up. I was also told that the previous Mayor was there. go figure

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    1. You mean the former Mayor who know about this before she left office and did nothing about it? And the Assemblyman Green who is the Chair of a housing committee and allowed a development like Liberty Village to exist in his own town? yeah - those are two people fighting for their residence. Laughable that people ever supported them. The elected officials that showed up last night did it to grand stand and act like they care the only group that has worked to improve the situation at Liberty is the Mapp Administration - why would he bother to show up to that circus?

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  6. Anon 10:32 - who studied the issue and got the PILOT resolution to the city council? Mayor Mapps Administration. Who increased the PILOT fee from 6.28% to 10% (which comes out of owners pockets not the residence and benefits the entire city)? Mayor Mapps Administration. Who included in the terms of the PILOT resolution the improvements mentioned last night (community room with computers, laundry facilities, upgrades to security, upgrades to apartments and buildings etc.)? Mayor Mapps Administration. Who blocked the resolution twice, then wasted everyones time with a grand standing meeting and then claimed this morning that they just want everything promised to residence to be in writing? Bridget Rivers - who apparently didn't read her packet the last two times this resolution was presented to the council or who is just doing the bidding of Jerry Green for God only knows what reason. Rivers, Greaves, Taylor and Reid - made an issue out of nothing and are claiming success because they are getting what they want for the residence - which happens to be exactly what was on the table the last two times this resolution was brought to the Council.

    The Mayor could have been there last night but what purpose is served by him being there? This was a political stunt by Green and his minions to make up for the fact that they were about the screw over the residence of Liberty Village.

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    1. Rivers is doing Jerrys bidding because he got her the job she has with the county, Greaves is just clueless and Taylor is on an ego-power trip and just want to show Jerry she can be a good little soilder.
      KS

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  7. Dear City Council,

    Here is a novel idea for you. Please vote for what your constituents came out last night to tell you. They want Liberty Village to stay affordable so they need you to vote for this Pilot.

    Drive by the property at 5 pm today and see all the smiling faces and the kids playing. This is a result of better management that is only going to improve with the new owner.

    What purpose does it serve our community to make 100 families pawns in a political fight. RISE ABOVE the politics and you will get the respect from everyone in our community.

    I for one am tired of hearing Mayor Mapp this or Assemblyman Green that or who is a pawn. Last time I checked this is America and all 7 Councilors can make independent decisions.

    If you do not act in time, I suggest you personally apologize to all the residents who need affordable housing to stay in our community.

    James

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  8. The Mayor Mapp knew about this 6 months ago also. Mayor Mapp and his criminals are making a profit off of this deal I promise you that. WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN no one wants to touch that issue. I can not wait until the real truth comes out about this projet. The ones that VOTED know look underneath the layers before you vote yes. The current property manager will give you all the correct information. He could care less he wants to get this property from under him so he's selling people out like you would not believe. Council people don't be fooled.

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    1. I guess you still support Sharon for Mayor. News flash, she lost.

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    2. Right - Mayor Mapp knew about this 6 months ago, and is trying to make things better for the residents and the children (who by the way attend a failing school system).

      Jerry Green also knew about it 6 months ago, and has done nothing.

      Don't you be fooled. People at Liberty Village are already saying that the owner has made improvements. Look beyond your fear and politics and see the facts.

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  9. THE TRUTH ABOUT THIS PROPERTY WILL BE COMING OUT SOON

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  10. I knew those Republicans would hurt the Peoples in the City, looks like they have, by letting us have just Democratic run things.

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  11. Of course, Jerry Green came after me while I was chatting with Liberty Village residents after the meeting--he was demeaning, nasty, and he thoroughly denigrated the women (and especially me). Folks who were there got a taste of his nastiness during the meeting, but those (including Mr. Muhammad and the other folks standing there) who witnessed his angry rant against me got the full "Jerry." Councilor Brown called out his disrespectfulness in her church, but I guess he thought it didn't apply outside. Once a bully, always a bully.

    Rebecca

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  12. The situation at Liberty Village has been going on for a while. What did Sharon do about it in her 8 years as mayor?

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    1. No one did anything about Liberty Village and the Housing Authority just milked the property for the fees and let it depreciate. So lets stop making this about Mapp vs Sharon or Green vs Mapp.

      The blame for the property rests with the Housing Authority and that is where we should have an investigation and shake up their house.

      If Plainfielders focused on the issues and not petty politics going into a primary, maybe our elected officials could do something constructive for our community.

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  13. I think this is simple. We residents came out in force for the Pilot and yet this is still an open question. Aren't our leaders meant to represent our interests? We want the Pilot and we want new ownership. This is beyond unbelievable at this point. Our future is at stake. Are the councilpersons purposefully trying to hurt us? Vote for the Pilot and stop delaying.

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    1. Remember this when you vote.

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    2. you think jerry green and his lackeys care what we the people want. He showed disdain even being there at a forum on an issue that the community he has represented for over 20 needs addressed.

      like anonymous 9:28am said remember this on june 3rd and dont let the vote the line push greens going to make trick you his candidates are laughably bad and ill informed.

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    3. Great point. Maybe the only way these guys will learn is if we vote them out of office. Approve the Pilot and let's move towards a better future.

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    4. Do you think the council members and Jerry Green who are blocking this realize that if they are voted out they won't be around to support Green's agenda anymore? Taylor, Reid and Greaves should pay attention.

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