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<br /> First, we believe this settlemen~ has cost the integrity of our City. _When you filed
<br />suit against HUD, you said to the Federal Government, "you can't dictate to us here in Ports-
<br />mouth", and we feel you were right. The Constitution says that powers not granted to the
<br />Federal Government are reserved to the people. Nowhere does that Constitution say that we,
<br />the people, will let the government tell us what kind of housing is best for us, or where it
<br />should be. But in settling your suit, you have given in on just that point, and now HUD
<br />knows that Portsmouth at least can be told how to spend its own money.
<br />
<br /> What else has it cost? It's now cost the integrity of our elected officials, who are
<br />seen as having~made a "Deal", behind closed doors. This "Deal" requires no hearings, no
<br />zoning changes, and offers our people no place to voice thir opposition. Granted the nec-
<br />essary steps were taken to satisfy HUD's conditions but don't you_owe more to the people
<br />who elected you? How can the people of Portsmouth rely on a Council that barely six months
<br />ago decided that the housing needs of the City could be met by new construction, and now propo
<br />only rehabilitation? That six months ago found our entire city racially and economically im-
<br />pacted, but now agrees with HUD that S~monsdale and Westhaven have been magically purified
<br />and are unimpacted areas.
<br />
<br />dale.
<br />Clout
<br />
<br />What did it cost? It's cost the faith and trust of the people of Westhaven and Simons-
<br /> Ynu've sent them a clear message, and it reads this way "You Don't Have The Political
<br /> That Hodges Manor Does; So We Can Ride Roughshod~OverrYeuU.
<br />
<br /> It's also cost the integrity of the political process in the city. Last February, not
<br />even a year ago, City Council publicly resolved that insuring the stability of individual
<br />neighbomhoods and the city as a whole required "considerable care". These are your words, but
<br />where is the care for the neighborhoods of Westhaven and Simonsdale today?
<br />
<br /> ~hat~;~did it cost?.~, tt~;_ca~led into question the integrity of our city employees. If thc
<br />apartments are substandard and require rehabilitation, what have our building inspectors been
<br />doing? Why were the apartments allowed to get that way? Why hasn't the city stepped in and
<br />forced the owners to upgrade before today?
<br />
<br /> And what about PRHA? The agreement the City has signed calls for the voluntary cooperaq
<br />tion of the property owners. Has that been -secured by PRHA officials? Or have the owners
<br />been told that they must cooperate or face condemnation? This is not an idle question - Civic
<br />League members have reported to me, after investigation, that a least onecowner does not wish
<br />to convert his property to subsidized housing. Have we paid with the integrity of PRHA as
<br />well?
<br />
<br /> What did it cost? It's cost thousands of dollars in property values in two fine neighbor
<br />hoods. You cannot ~elL:me the value of a home in Simonsdale or Westhaven is the same today
<br />as it was yesterday, when tomorrow that home will face federally subsidized housing.
<br />
<br /> And what of the people, many of whom are elderly, who live in these apartments today?
<br />To them the price is staggering. Tomorrow they must "qualify" to move back into their own
<br />homes, or else look for a new and probably more expensive place to live.
<br />
<br /> What did it cost? It's cost the faith of Portsmouth's poor and lower-income families,
<br />many of whom tried to intervene in your su~t which base,now been dismissed. They ask a simple
<br />question: "How C~n Throwing 88 Families Into the Street, Where They Must Compete For Avail-
<br />able Housing, Give Us M~re Places To Live?" Rehabilitation adds not one bedroom, not one
<br />kitchen, nor one bathroom to the number available in Portsmouth. And isn't the quanitity of
<br />housing for all of P~rtsmouth's people more ~mpo~tant than the quality.for some? A man who has
<br />no roof over-~s head won't care if your roof leaks.
<br />
<br /> What did it cost? Judging from all this it cost too much. But there are other choices.
<br />Throw open the process, and let Westhaven and Simonsdale have a say in this decision. If it
<br />is the right choice and the only way, you should be able to show why this is so. PRHA was
<br />instructed to find alternatives to resolve these problems, what have they found? HUD will
<br />retreat if pushed six months ago they would not accept rehabilitation to release the money,
<br />today they will. Have you asked what the policies of the new administration will be toward
<br />HUD's dictatorial position in this agreement? There are far too many options available to
<br />you az this point ~o justify a headlong rush into decisions too expensive for Pomtsmouth. We
<br />ask that you consider these options in working for this city and its people; don't make us pay
<br />a cost lasting far beyond your term in office, and a price too highutoday."
<br />
<br /> James L. Hughes, 510 Sussex Drive, representing Westhaven CivickLeague, relinquished
<br />his time to David Axelson.
<br />
<br />N. J. Brown, Jr., 3516 Arlington Place, representing Central Mid-City Civic ~ Simo~sdale
<br /> Civic League made the following presentation:
<br />
<br /> 'The remarks that I make tonight will be on my own behalf as well as on the behalf of the
<br />Central Mid-City Divic League and the Simonsdale Civic League.
<br />
<br /> I have lived and labored in the Westhaven community with my family f6r 27 years. When I
<br />moved to Portsmouth, I chose this community because it was a quiet, middle class community
<br />that offered those things which I thought to be in the best interest of my family.
<br />
<br /> I believe that my record of service to both my community and my city should serve as
<br />proof that I have the best interest of my city at heart. This Council and previous City
<br />Councils have seen fit to appoint me to a term of 1 year on the Naval Shipyard Museum,
<br />lo years on the Parks and Recreation Commission, the last 4 year as its Chairman, and for
<br />past 7 months on the Portsmouth School Board.
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