PERTH AMBOY – Since 1989 I have proudly served the Perth Amboy Housing Authority Board of Commissioners with good standing.

I am very proud of the many accomplishments of the Perth Amboy Housing Authority, such as the construction of the Otlowski Gardens on Convery Boulevard, the Dzema Gardens on Penn Street, the Sofield Gardens on Catherine Street, and the Parkview Building across from Washington Park.

I am also very proud to be one of the Commissioners who voted yes to sell the Stockton property to the Board of Education so the Richardson School could be built there.

One organization that I am not proud or happy with is the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Team for Neighborhood Enterprise and Revitalization better known as PARTNER.

In 2003 using $600,000 from the Section 8 reserved (tax payers money) the Perth Amboy Housing Authority formed a nonprofit corporation named PARTNER to provide economical opportunity as well as housing to low income families and individuals.

At the end of 2010, I became outraged when I found out that from the beginning the majority of the funds spent by PARTNER went to pay dual salaries to two top Perth Amboy Housing Authority employees. The same people who suggested the formation of PARTNER in the first place.

From 2003 to the end of 2010, approximately $252,000 was spent. Only $21,000 were used for 21 scholarships to 21 High School Students, and the rest went for salaries and other administrative expenses. (This to me is outrageous adn unacceptable.)

I brought this information to the attention of my fellow Commissioners and to the PARTNER Board of Directors. All refused to see anything wrong with the way the funds were being spent. (Unbelievable.)

At the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, the office of HUD Inspector General audited the Perth Amboy Housing Authority and PARNTER, and in June 2012 presented a 25-page Audit report to the Housing Authority.

The Audit found that while PARTNER was formed to provide economic, social and housing opportunities to low income families and individuals. The majority (86%) of the funds had been expended for PARTNER salary and administrative expenses, with limited accomplishments.

Even with this information in front of them, my fellow Commissioners and PARTNER Board of Directors saw nothing wrong. (Incredible.)

Two Commissioners who are also members of PARTNER Board of Directors plainly stated that the HUD Inspector General Audit was just a waste of time. (Just a waste of time, they should be ashamed of themselves.)

And while this was going on in Perth Amboy, I learned that the Housing Authority of Rochester, NY was going through a similar situation.

There the Commissioners with the help from city elected officials took action, and the end result there, is that the top people that were receiving dual salaries are no longer with the Rochester, NY Housing Authority. (Gone.)

I was hoping for the same result in Perth Amboy. So on August 3rd and September 5th 2012, I met with some city elected officials. At those meetings the elected officials appeared to be outraged and promised to help. But after 16 months of waiting for help, it is clear that help is not coming, and if it is coming, it is too late.

So, because I cannot tolerate PARTNER’s financial record and lack of accomplishments from 2003 to the end of 2010, and since I did not receive the help promised by some elected officials to do something about it, and also, because I no longer trust the people in charge of running the Perth Amboy Housing Authority, I have sadly decided to withdraw my request to be reappointed to the Perth Amboy Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. I am sad, outraged, frustrated, and very, very disappointed.