[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 49 (Thursday, March 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E624]]
                    REPUBLICAN CUTS DEVASTATE HOUSING

                                 ______


                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 1995
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, the rescissions voted by the 
Appropriations Committee last week threatens serious harm to the social 
fabric of our Nation. By increasing military spending, and focusing 
overwhelmingly for reductions on programs which seek to provide 
assistance for those most in need in our society, you and your fellow 
Republicans have seriously erred. Increasingly, it is becoming clear to 
many people that the priorities of the House Republicans threaten 
seriously to exacerbate some of the gravest social and economic 
problems we face. I will from time to time be sharing with our 
colleagues information I receive about the devastating effect these 
cuts will have as they become available to me from people in my 
district and elsewhere who are grappling with these issues.
  For example, on March 3, the New Bedford Standard Times printed an 
article in which the executive director of the New Bedford Housing 
Authority Joseph Finnerty, clearly outlines the terrible effects which 
will result from the devastating cuts voted in housing programs by the 
Appropriations Committee last week. Interestingly, Mr. Speaker, some in 
your party have sought to justify these cuts by pointing to defects in 
the way HUD has been administered.
  It is true that HUD has suffered from maladministration in recent 
times--most grievously during the 8 years of Ronald Reagan, when Samuel 
Pierce presided over a department which was corrupt, inefficient, and 
overall a disaster. Victimizing lower income people today who are in 
continuing need of housing because of the outrageous record of 
Secretary Pierce under President Reagan is terribly unfair. But that is 
what the Appropriations Committee has chosen to do.
  Mr. Speaker, in the hopes of persuading my colleagues not to go 
forward along this path, I ask that the New Bedford Standard Times 
article featuring Mr. Finnerty's discussion of housing programs be 
printed here.
          [From the New Bedford Standard Times, Mar. 3, 1995]

               Reduction Would Cause Chaos, Finnerty Says

                            (By Bill Ibelle)

       The massive federal funding cuts that are racing through 
     Congress will have a devastating effect on public housing 
     tenants in New Bedford, according to Executive Director 
     Joseph Finnerty.
       The cuts, which would slash the maintenance budget and the 
     five-year modernization program by 30 percent each, would 
     create ``chaos'' in the city's public housing, Mr. Finnerty 
     said Thursday during the Housing Authority's monthly meeting.
       ``This is not a false alarm,'' he said. ``The new 
     Republican majority in Congress has the votes for these cuts. 
     Now, just when we are on the verge of major improvements in 
     our neighborhoods, we have this ax hanging over our head.''
       The maintenance cuts, which would amount to $625,000 a 
     year, would cause a steady deterioration in public housing, 
     Mr. Finnerty said.
       ``This is not something that is going to be felt 
     immediately, but it will have a devastating long-term 
     effect,'' he said, ``These cuts are unprecedented, massive 
     and eroding to public housing.''
       The federal cuts also would kill or seriously delay major 
     modernization projects like the one scheduled for the aging 
     Bay Village complex later this year. That project includes 
     lead paint and asbestos removal as well as installing new 
     windows and doors. Similar modernization projects have 
     already taken place at the Westlawn and Brickenwood projects 
     and are about to begin at Presidential Heights.
       ``The improvements we're making now are not just for public 
     housing tenants but for all residents of the surrounding 
     neighborhoods,'' said Mr. Finnerty. ``By modernizing these 
     units, we're making these neighborhoods into a better 
     investment.''
       Mr. Finnerty also unveiled exterior drawings for the 43 
     units of new public housing to be built throughout the city 
     this year. The units will replace units lost with the 
     demolition of Evergreen Park.
       The duplex units are designed to blend in with the single 
     family homes common to the city's neighborhoods:
       Three of the sites will have two duplexes each (the corner 
     of Shawmut Avenue and Coggeshall Street, the corner of 
     Cottage and Campbell streets and a plot that runs between 
     Sylvia and Howard streets).
       One site will have four duplexes (North Street behind the 
     City Hall annex parking lot).
       One site will have two row houses with a total of seven 
     units (South First and Rivet streets).
       The largest site will have eight duplexes (New Plainville 
     Road just north of the tank).
       Mr. Finnerty said the Housing Authority completed
        buying all six sites Feb. 24. Construction is slated to 
     begin in June and last 12 to 14 months.
       In other business the board:
       Approved payment of an additional $10,864 to the Boston 
     Architectural firm, Hicks & Krockmalnic, for rebidding of the 
     Presidential Heights modernization project. Due to a legal 
     challenge by two of the unsuccessful bidders, the Housing 
     Authority had to cancel the original contract and put the 
     project out to bid a second time.
       The $4.5 million project which includes removing lead paint 
     and asbestos, installing exterior siding, windows, doors and 
     building new porches and fixing the roofs, is slated to begin 
     this summer.
       Approved payment of an additional $3,875 to Enviroscience 
     for drawing up new bid speculations for lead and asbestos 
     removal at Presidential Heights.
       Approved a $15,980 contract to Coro Construction of East 
     Greenwich, R.I., for re-roofing eight duplexes on Chaffee 
     Street. Coro was the lowest of eight bidders.
       Approved the payment of $5,255 to Seaview Construction of 
     Providence for installing railings at Harwich Manor.
       Approved a $23,763 contract with Electronic Sales and 
     Service of New Bedford for installing a communications system 
     that includes 43 portable radios. The system will be used by 
     the authority's maintenance staff.
       Approved a 2.3 percent increase in the income limits for 
     the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, which serves 182 
     families in the city.
       Approved a 1.2 percent increase in the income limits for 
     the federal Assisted Housing Program.
       Voted to support efforts by John G. ``Buddy'' Andrade to 
     increase membership in the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts among 
     public housing tenants. Mr. Andrade requested the authority's 
     support in drumming up interest for a Scouting show scheduled 
     April 2 at the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational 
     Technical High School on Ashley Boulevard.
       Fielded a request from the Caroline Street Tenants' 
     Association for several maintenance improvements. The 
     residents asked the authority to cut down an apple tree, 
     complaining that youths throw the apples through windows, the 
     apple blossoms attract bees and the fallen apples are 
     hazardous to senior citizens using walkers and canes. The 
     association also requested the removal of tree roots that 
     have caused sidewalks to buckle and the installation of 
     outdoor lighting around the apartments.
       Observed a moment of silence at the beginning of the 
     meeting in honor of commissioner Umberto ``Battle'' Cruz, who 
     died unexpectedly last month.
     

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