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Many Civil Servants despise the poor. They wholeheartedly believe that poor people are stupid ~ the rationale being that if they were smart, they would not be poor. Few organizations have honed their disdain for the poor as well as The Raleigh Housing Authority. To understand the generous vituperation many are met with when seeking help, one only has to look at the qualifications needed to work at The Raleigh Housing Authority. While there is a section to list education past high school, Excel, PowerPoint and Word proficiency are the most sought after skills.
My rent was raised almost $100.00 in a three year period. I asked why. It is a simple question, one that requires a simple (yet complete answer). Last year I asked for a FORMAL HEARING. I also asked to review the paperwork The Raleigh Housing Association held before the hearing. At first I was told by Priscilla Batts that the rent had been raised and her decision was final. I persisted.
My Formal Hearing was set for 06, April, 2023. Laura McCann, a ten year veteran and curent employee of The Raleigh Housing Authority was the mediator. I has given specific times and dates that would work for a ZOOM hearing, as I am disabled, do not drive and there is no public transportation from my apartment to their offices. According to their rules I should be able to: Present an argument, call witnesses, ask questions and make a closing statement. I was not informed before the meeting that I would only be allowed thirty minutes!
To on ones surprise, I did not prevail in my hearing. According to their rules, a Certified Letter would be sent out within ten business days telling me of their decision. Also of no surprise, no such letter was ever sent. The Raleigh Housing Authority also said they would provide me with a CD/DVD copy of the hearing - I asked it be readable on a Mac machine. I have not seen that either.
The Raleigh Housing Authority then set up an additional Formal Hearing on 27, May, 2023 and informed me that it would be at their office. They did not offer to pick me up and drop me back home after the hearing.
The Raleigh Housing Authority had engaged as a mediator for the second Formal Hearing, a law firm known for their skill in defending housing authorities from actions by tenants. I could not imagine in my wildest dreams any such person or law firm being dispassionate in that situation. This situation was indeed the very definition of "Jiggery-Pokery" (trickery, hocus-pocus; fraud; humbug, sly, underhanded action, manipulation). Their hire, The Banks Law Firm thinks they are pretty good at what they do; 'We have also defended lawsuits and potential lawsuits against clients alleging discrimination and non-compliance with housing programs.'
While The Raleigh Housing Authority is by no means singularly blameless in perpetrating this perversion of justice, they have done nothing in their power to act fairly, ethically, honestly, or in a timely manner. While our Social Security income in old age is barely enough to keep our lives together, we are able to maintain dignity despite efforts of The Raleigh Housing Authority to strip away needed and appreciated support for those of us who who are old, infirm and poor.
One final thought; while many Civil Servants truly despise us poor people, and readily show their arrogance and disdain in attitude and action, we are not as stupid as they imagine....
I learned early on not to trust so I recorded the Formal Hearing knowing full well that their recording would never be forthcoming. And if you, RHA, have any problem with anything I have said in this or any other email or missive to Priscilla, Laura, or anyone else in The Raleigh Housing Authority, you can seek redress in a court of law and I will, gladly make that recording public.
You know what? You don't have the stones! read more