Residents in New London public housing worried about neighbors who have been arrested
New London – A trio of residents on Tuesday raised concerns about the number of people charged or convicted of crimes living side by side with the elderly in city public housing.
Kathleen Mitchell compiled a list of local arrests that contained dozens of people who listed their addresses at either 127 Hempstead St. or 202 Colman St. Both housing complexes are managed by the New London Housing Authority.
“I was stunned by the number of arrests,” Mitchell said Tuesday during a meeting of the New London Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
“Seniors are afraid to be in their apartments alone at night, and they’re afraid to walk the hallways at night,” Mitchell said. “Is this really the way you expect our seniors to enjoy their golden years? I think you owe some explanation about what’s going on.”
Tuesday’s meeting comes a week after the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission granted preliminary approval for a seven-story, 24-unit addition to the 11-story building at 202 Colman St. The estimated $6 million project, which includes renovations at the existing high rise, is contingent on state funding.
The state-funded apartments, known as the George Washington Carver apartments, are reserved for low-income seniors and others with disabilities.
“These are most vulnerable citizens,” said Wayne Vendetto Jr., who was also at Tuesday’s meeting.
Vendetto questioned the wisdom of building a high rise and “warehousing” low-income residents rather than trying to reintegrate them back into neighborhoods as they are doing elsewhere in the country.
Dennis Downing, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the City Council, asked the commissioners if they were aware of the number of arrests and whether or not “you would want your parents living there.”
He suggested some type of separation of the elderly from the younger tenants.
Board member Russell Carr said the housing authority is aware of every arrest, and there is an eviction policy in place.
The authority, Carr said, is governed by state and federal policies that mandate how to respond to things like potential felonies. People found guilty of felonies are evicted, Carr said, but the authority cannot take action against people simply because of suspicions.
The New London Housing Authority manages a total of 433 units across the city, a mix of low-income housing funded by both state and federal governments.
Sue Shontell, executive director of the New London Housing Authority, said they must also follow state Fair Housing laws which govern who may or may not live, or apply to live, at the subsidized units. She said part of the reason for the renovation and construction proposal was to address the needs of seniors by making more of units compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Mitchell requested that the board make a better effort to publicize its meetings and decisions. While the commissioners are appointed by the mayor, the board is not a city agency. Agendas and meetings minutes are available at the housing authority offices off Colman Street. Meeting notices are posted on the city’s website.
Because of the number of questions raised at Tuesday’s meeting, board member Tambria Moore suggested some type of roundtable discussion in the future.
The five-member Board of Commissioners meets every fourth Tuesday of the month in the community room of 202 Colman St.
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