LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Sarasota Housing Authority Board Member Verbally attacked former Resident Commissioner at Ribbon Cutting
The year of 1997, our property manager at that time (Mary Marshall) asked me to be the representative Janie Poe Complex, which I accepted.
At the time Ms. Black was the Resident Commissioner, the next year I applied, I was appointed to the Sarasota Housing Authority Board. Since that time, I have been reappointed the Sarasota Housing Authority Board as a Resident Commissioner.
I served under two failed Executive Directors, residents lived in dilapidated apartments, treated as if they were on a plantation, mold, roach infestation, unworkable appliances, work orders not done in a timely manner. Residents rights were being violated, maintenance was being paid low salaries and everything started with the Executive Director, there was never an HR department.
Being a Resident Commissioner, residents are important to our community as well as the housing authority.
Mr. John Colon came to the Sarasota Housing Authority June 02, 2008. Mr. Colon and I were the only two that put the Sarasota Housing Authority in receivership under HUD, because of a failed board oversight. Under HUD leadership Mr. Velenti served as our receiver, he quickly got the authority on track. Velenti hired Mr. Russell as the Executive Director over the Sarasota Housing Authority I continued to protect the rights of the residents as well as the health of the Sarasota Housing Authority. During this time, we formed the Resident Council and then an Agency-Wide Resident Council, our office was in a 3-bedroom apartment in the courts as well as SHA (Sarasota Housing Authority) had resident services there also. We were moved to the Towers to held resident business and that became our office. The more I went to conferences, residents were in classes about our rights/what commissioners are supposed to govern. HUD expressed over and over about resident councils and resident services are to work together. This became less and less. The board became less and less concern about the safety of residents. The board felt more incline to believe whatever Mr. Russell said than all the proof I presented.
Each time it came to my reappointment John Colon and Mr. Russell would go to City Hall to ask Hagen Brody and others not to reappoint me. The flavor of the politics in our housing is horrendous. SHA is building apartments that even working residents can’t afford nor are they letting but a very few live in them.
Residents live in fear every day. Their housing has been threatened if they talk with the elected council representative. There is no accountability when it comes to residents.
Through the Collabraration with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota (Social Justice Committee) to help with light bills, so they would no longer be evicted for lights being cut off or help would be given to help with rent if it was a legitimate reason. The many years I attended the CCNA meetings sharing the unfairness in housing BUT it wasn’t important to the group. In 2005 a document was made (CONDEMED).
HUD encouraged me (Valerie Buchand) to apply for a ROSS grant in 2008, we received it twice. We received it for seniors to age in place. We started an art class, had 5 showings, visit the residents at hospitals and rehabs. We brought what residents needed, help those that didn’t understand the paperwork from the housing authority. The third time the housing authority wouldn’t help us. I volunteered mostly 12 to 13 hours a day reading HUD regulations/ checking on residents/ putting together programs.
We have someone in resident services that won’t serve all residents as they have needs. Many challenges I share with the board go unresolved.
Mr. Colon often talk down about the residents, didn’t want them coming to the board meetings with their problems. That’s when we started the resident interest committee. As Chair of the Board he has never participated in any event we had. The board has never gone to any conference to hear what we are being told/learned. The Board go to conference to learn how to put more restraints on the people they supposed to serve.
We have developed 4 properties, rehabbed 2 properties and now rehabbing the McCown Towers, building phase one of the courts.
We are doing mix-income developments however people are being displaced with vouchers.
My questions are always why more residents aren’t getting in these new developments. We are getting ready to build apartments on 22nd and central avenue but there is no storage, when I asked about this Mr. Colon said we aren’t building those kinds of apartments. It is clear to me that the Sarasota Housing Authority isn’t building for the people they are to serve.
I have worked tirelessly at this housing authority on every project and I believe Colon and Russell wanted me removed because they want to do what they want with no questions asked. I was the only resident commissioner now they have removed the resident commissioner and replace another citizen not a resident.
On October 26th of 2022, an invitation went out to commissioners and the public for the ribbon cutting for Lofts on Lemon development.
November 2, 2022. I attended the ribbon cutting celebration. As the ceremony starts, not only was I not recognized as being part of the project, after being asked to join in the ribbon cutting, I was verbally attacked by John Colon. It appears that they want to destroy the council and any history I have in serving the residents that rent from Sarasota Housing Authority. So much injustice, thanks be to God he sees it all.
Valerie Buchand
