Latest news with #PreservationofAffordableHousing
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Residential retrofitting program turns on high-speed internet for Bay Meadow Apts. in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Luz Ramos, a 29-year resident of the Bay Meadow Apartments affordable housing complex in Springfield, helped Monday to turn on new, high-speed internet capable of delivering up to 1 gigabit-a-second upload and download speeds. 'This is going to open a lot of doors,' Ramos said after a news conference Monday at the complex. She recently received her high school equivalency diploma. And she plans to go on and take college courses. Ramos also describes how her grandchildren, and her neighbors and their children will now be able to do homework, and access information and job opportunities easily without a trip to the library for better internet. 'The doors are open, and I'm going to walk right through them,' she said. The 148-unit Bay Meadow Apartments is the first housing development in Massachusetts to get connected through the Residential Retrofit Program of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Massachusetts Broadband Institute. Funded with $82 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, the program already has committed $38.9 million to deliver internet to more than 27,300 housing units across the state, said Michael Baldino, director and general counsel for the institute. In Western Massachusetts alone, the institute has committed $14 million for 8,000 units, Baldino said. The units are in Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, Northampton and Westfield. Housing operators interested in applying to the next round of the retrofit program may submit an expression of interest form by July 31. For more information, applicants should visit The funds must be spent by the end of 2026. The program pays for upgrades to wiring and connectivity infrastructure that in some cases is phone cabling that's 50 years old, Baldino said. Through internet provider Aervivo Inc. and property owner Preservation of Affordable Housing, Bay Meadow Apartment residents get free service of 100 megabits per second. For $19 a month, residents can upgrade to the faster 1 gigabit-a-second service. 'Which is more than enough for any family to do anything they need to do, whether it is doing Teams meetings for work, accessing education, checking with family, accessing government resources. This is state of the art,' said Baldino. Without the upgrades, it's a different story. 'The wiring prevents them from getting high-quality access,' Baldino said. 'The speeds might be lower. It may cut in and out.' The internet has gone from an amenity to a must-have utility, said Preservation of Affordable Housing President and CEO Aaron Gornstein. 'Having high speed internet access is really key to economic opportunity for our residents,' he said. 'It is really crucial for participation in our economy.' At the event, U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal called internet access a 'civil right' for the 21st century, given that it's required to do almost any everyday task. It's a right that the Residential Retrofit program will continue to guarantee, despite the political changes since the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill was passed in 2021. He said the money is still secure. 'The American Rescue (Plan's) roots have taken hold for sure. I think there is no threat,' Neal said. Chicopee budget up 6% on personnel, police costs; mayor proposes $3M to defray taxes ICE takes two into custody in Amherst in crackdown on 'sanctuary' communities With cannabis industry struggling, Western Mass. sellers and growers seek relief from high court Read the original article on MassLive.
CBS News
22-04-2025
- CBS News
Lawsuit filed in murder of 9-year-old Florida City boy, loved ones speak out
Five months after 9-year-old Antavious "Tay Tay" Scott was fatally shot while playing football outside his Florida City apartment complex, his grieving family is demanding justice. Surrounded by loved ones wearing shirts bearing his name and holding framed photos in his memory, Antavious's mother, grandmother and uncle gathered where the tragedy unfolded to announce a negligent security lawsuit. The shooting occurred on November 16, 2024 , outside the Southpoint Crossing apartment complex on Lucy Street at Southwest 12th Avenue. According to detectives, Antavious was struck in the back by a bullet and killed when two groups of men exchanged gunfire near the area where he was playing with family and friends. He was just 9 years old. Police later arrested 20-year-old Montreal Savontae Jackson Jr., who now faces charges of second-degree murder in connection with the boy's death. Now, the boy's family has filed a lawsuit against Boston-based POAH Communities LLC, which owns and manages the Southpoint Crossing complex. The lawsuit alleges that POAH (short for Preservation of Affordable Housing) failed to provide adequate security despite a documented history of criminal activity in the area. Fighting back tears, Antavious's mother, Shanika Williams, shared memories of her son with the crowd of supporters and reporters. "Antavious meant the world to me," she said. "He was my everything. He was my baby. He loved to play football and loved to play video games. Every day he used to say, 'I want to go to the store.' That was his favorite thing — 'Mom, can I go to the store when I come home from school?'" Overcome with emotion, she broke down mid-sentence and was comforted by her mother, Teretha Williams, as she tried to continue speaking. "I just don't want this to happen to anyone else," Shanika said. Her mother echoed the sentiment, urging for immediate changes to prevent future tragedies. "It's hard to live your life and feel like everything is okay when you realize you are broken inside," said Teretha Williams. "I would like to see that this not happen to another family, another mother, another grandmother, a father or siblings. If there were better security, Antavious would still be here today." Antavious's uncle, Quintavian Williams, also spoke, calling on property managers to consider the safety of all residents. "I just want them to think — if you lived here, if your child lived here — how would you like security to be? I would like to see better security." The family's attorney, Michael Haggard, emphasized that the shooting was preventable, citing longstanding issues with security at the complex. "Had that gate been locked and had there been a roving patrol, this never would have happened," Haggard said. "There is no security program here." According to Haggard, a front gate meant to restrict entry to the gated community had been broken and left open for an extended period, allowing anyone to enter the premises unchecked. He also pointed to a history of violence in the area that he says should have prompted stronger security measures long before the deadly shooting. "You should talk to your police department," Haggard urged. "There were four shootings in Florida City the week before. Talk to Florida City police. We need extra patrols. Recommend a security company to us. We can have patrols with armed security. Secure the gates so someone can not drive freely in like they do right now. There is a call box there, residents can use it. That restricts access." CBS News Miami reached out to POAH Communities for comment. In a statement, spokesperson Maria Plati expressed condolences but said the company could not comment further due to the ongoing litigation. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Antavious and extend our heartfelt condolences to his mother, Shanika Williams and other family members," Plati stated. "Due to the pending litigation involving this tragic incident, at the moment, we cannot offer comments on this matter or the public claims made by Antavious Scott's family and their attorney during today's press conference." In addition to seeking accountability for Antavious's death, the family is calling for sweeping changes to security not only at Southpoint Crossing but at other high-risk properties across the area. The hope, they say, is to prevent any other families from experiencing the same heartbreak. "This lawsuit is not just about one child," said Haggard. "It's about protecting every child who lives in these communities."
New York Times
13-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Federal Agency Pauses Program for Energy-Efficient Upgrades in Affordable Housing
Earlier this year, everything seemed set for a major renovation to make two Chicago apartment buildings for mostly lower-income elderly residents more energy efficient. An affordable-housing organization had secured a federal loan, a state loan and money from private investors. But the project, which was to start in a few weeks and include the installation of solar panels, is on hold after the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has delayed funding a critical $5.4 million loan that it had previously approved. 'Things are in limbo,' said Aaron Gornstein, chief executive of the Preservation of Affordable Housing, a Boston-based firm behind the Chicago project that operates in more than a dozen states. 'Everything has been held up.' Housing advocates say the industry has received no explanation from HUD about the holdup, but they believe the program, known as the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, was probably targeted because it encouraged the use of green energy, something President Trump has often mocked. A HUD spokeswoman, Kasey Lovett, said in a statement on Thursday the program was being reviewed to ensure it is carried out consistent with the housing agency's core mission to promote affordable housing. 'The previous administration's extreme energy-efficiency crusade diverted valuable resources, including funding, from the department's mission,' Ms. Lovett said. 'The department is evaluating options to ensure rural, tribal and urban communities have the resources they need, which are not solar panels.' Mr. Gornstein said the federal loan was a critical piece of the roughly $33 million in financing his organization had cobbled together to pay for the renovations on the two Chicago buildings known as Corcoran Place. Together they have 94 units, and one of the buildings is nearly a century old. Now it's unclear when the construction will happen. Dozens of energy-efficient projects across the country that had loans approved by HUD are also at risk, housing advocates said. The Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, included in the Biden administration's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, was supposed to provide financing for renovations on older apartment buildings for people who are poor, elderly or veterans. Providing about $1 billion in grants and up to $4 billion in loans, the program was part of an effort to help building owners upgrade aging properties to make them more energy efficient and better resistant to the impact of climate change. Some housing advocates say the Trump administration is misguided in regarding the program solely as a 'green' initiative. They say the combination of grants and loans gives property owners the money they need to overhaul buildings. The energy-efficiency aspects not only save money for owners by reducing operating costs, they argue, but also enable owners to keep rents low for residents. 'This is not some program about feelings and ideology,' said Julia Gordon, who was an assistant secretary for housing during the Biden administration. For affordable housing projects in particular, money is often required from multiple lenders and investors to get the work started. The loss of any one funding source can upend the whole project. Denise Muha, executive director of the National Leased Housing Association, which represents operators of affordable apartment buildings that receive federal assistance, said property owners were concerned about how little information HUD was providing on the status of previously approved projects that have not yet been funded. 'I am hoping that once they understand what they are doing' they will put the projects back on track, Ms. Muha said. Her association said nearly 300 projects had been approved to receive a total of $1.2 billion in grants or loans. Separately, the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday that it was canceling a $20 billion allocation for climate and clean energy programs after freezing that money for weeks. The work on the Corcoran Place apartments in Chicago was supposed to be extensive. The project would replace all windows and install a new roof with solar panels. Each apartment would get a new heating and cooling system, toilets and appliances. In total, Mr. Gornstein's organization has 19 projects that had received approval for up to $70 million in financing from HUD but are now on hold. He said the projects are in buildings that are fully occupied. He estimated the work would generate jobs for about 2,300 people. Erika Poethig, a board member on the Illinois Housing Development Authority, said the loss of federal money for the Corcoran Place project could be devastating. 'Our funding partner, the federal government, is reneging,' said Ms. Poethig, who is an executive with the Civic Committee and Commercial Club of Chicago and a former Biden administration official. 'In theory they could get the money elsewhere but that is very hard.'
