With the help of Council Persons Al Vann and Letitia James, PACC was persuaded to relocate Mrs. Williams. PACC also agreed they would inspect the indoor air quality using EPA inspectors and then repair the peeling paint and warped floors. As a representative of the 277 Gates Tenants Association we would like to express our deep felt gratitude. Mrs. Williams would still be suffering if you had not intervened. Thank you.
As for the tenants association: Thank you Paula, Margie, Norma and Greg for your direction on the email discussion with PACC. Vincent and Rhonda helped to move Mrs. Williams things and Jackie and Rhoda helped Mrs. Williams set up her telephone. Kim thank you for your constant support.
Yes, its takes a village. Thank you all!
Portia Adams, President, 277 Gates Tenants Association
http://277gatestenants.blogspot.com/
NEXT TENANTS MEETING WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH 2008, 8PM
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
A recent letter to PACC concerning one long-time tenant's ongoing problem.
November 14 th , 2008
To: Deb Howard,
Executive Director of PACC
RE: Ms. Mabel Williams and Pratt Area Community Council (PACC)
Mabel Williams has lived in 277 Gates since 1980. PACC bought her building in 2002 for $50,000 from the city promising to provide affordable housing. Mrs. Williams a former secretary did not leave the building while it was being renovated until there was literally a flood of water into her apartment. PACC stated it packed and stored Mrs. Williams’ furniture. Mrs. Williams then stayed in temporary housing on Spencer Street. Ms. Williams had to fight PACC with the help of Bed-Stuyvesant Legal Services to keep her apartment in 277 Gates and in the end she was pictured with local stakeholders and Deb Howard, the Executive Director of PACC at the ribbon cutting and opening of the building.
Mrs. Williams returned to 277 Gates and her furniture was brought back to her apartment but the furniture was broken and damaged by a flood in the apartment, some of her furniture was never retrieved and among the things brought into her apartment were broken things that were not hers. Mrs. Williams still has the damaged and broken furniture in her apartment today, and her other things like custom made shades, lamps, couch, end tables, etc. are gone. More paint is peeling off her walls than is staying on them. The living room floor is warped. Mrs. Williams can represent her story better than I can, and Rick Sostchen of Baltic Street Inc., 718 855-5929, ext. 25 can confirm this event.
Most importantly there is an irritant in the apartment that is not odorous but feels like you are inhaling sandpaper. Frequently buildings that have experienced flooding are susceptible to indoor pollutants. Several home health aides have complained to GuildNet home health services that there is an irritant, and that the apartment is falling apart.
A few words about Mrs. Williams, her vision is extremely impaired and she needs help in her apartment and to go about her daily business. She uses Meals on Wheels. She is fiercely independent, and mentally sharp. So much negative has happened to her since PACC took over the building. The daily micro-aggressions from PACC staff, the ever-changing superintendants, and unreliable home health care agencies are very frustrating for her, but she still praises God, has a great sense of humor and keeps going. Many in our building deeply respect Mrs. Williams.
PACC has made offers to paint Mrs. Williams’ apartment and to temporarily re-locate her at Gibbs Mansion, 218 Gates Avenue. Mrs. Williams strongly refused to move to Gibbs Mansion: the mansion is perceived in the neighborhood as a place where AIDS patients go to die.
Council Member Leticia James came to our tenants meeting on October 31, 2007. At that time we discussed heating, security, and the peeling paint. After the meeting Deb Howard, and her staff: Ms. Blue, Ms. Roman and the super Everoll met with me and Mrs. Williams in her apartment . At that time Deb Howard agreed to coordinate a temporary move of Mrs. Williams to an apartment on Spencer Street and that PACC would repair her apartment and reimburse her for her lost and damaged furniture and Mrs. Williams agreed to that plan. That plan never materialized. Later PACC offered to move Mrs. Williams to the 5 th floor apartment in 277 Gates. Since that time PACC’s chief focus has been on painting the apartment. One year later Mrs. Williams apartment is in terrible condition, PACC behaves as if they cannot do the painting then they cannot inspect the apartment for pollutants, or reimburse Ms. Williams for damages. Mrs. Williams also refused to move to the 5 th floor apartment. In this case she reported concerns about using the elevator and being able to get out of the building on her own (the elevator has several breakdowns and tenants have been trapped inside).
Presently, there is a very distrustful and polarized relationship between Mrs. Williams and PACC. But here we have an opportunity. The neighboring apartment to Mrs. Williams has been empty, the tenant left. If PACC could temporarily move Mrs. Williams into that apartment (there would be no issues about elevators or suspicious buildings) then PACC could have the apartment inspected for air pollutants and once that has been evaluated, they could paint the apartment. A tenant issue that has dragged on for more than 3 years could be resolved. I hope you will try this alternative.
Sincerely,
Portia Adams, PhD, LCSW
President of the 277 Gates Tenants Association,
917-627-2415, 212 636-6675.
Portia Adams, Ph.D
Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Social Service
Fordham University
113 W. 60th Street, Office 725C
New York, New York 10023
(212) 636-6675
Fax (212) 636-7876
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