Posted by Ed on January 13, 2007, 4:40 pm
24.34.144.49
Hey group,
Thursday 1/11 Lowell Sun, State Rep. Robert Hargraves, R-Groton, filed a bill to reform a portion of the 40B affordable housing law. Three cheers for Rep. Hargraves for taking a stand against the greedy developers (not our local builders making a living) for misusing the state law to by pass local town bylaws. This a great article which mentions, Mass. Inspector General Sullivan stating, “lack of oversight” has led to the investigation of 10 developers for abusing the state law and inflating the cost of their projects to suck up more of our money as taxpayers! The article even suggests that affordable housing is needed, which many will agree, but the misuse is undeniable.
Hargraves states the bill will face strong opposition, my guess is it will be from the not in my backyard power brokers up at Beacon Hill. I agree with Rep. Hargraves that a better system could be put in place which would prevent the towns from being terrorized from greedy developers (my words not his) and result in reasonable growth relating to affordable housing. I will be urging our Rep. Mr. Greene to support this bill and so should you.
The article actually made my mouth water as a critical thinker when I read statements from the executive director of CHAPA, the Citizens Housing and Planning Association, Aaron Gornstein. Rita Savard the articles author, was wonderful enough to have his comments printed and my mind began to eagerly dissect the statements and her generalizations. The article reads 40B has been responsible for 80% of all affordable housing in suburban communities which may sound good unless your town, area, taxes or child’s school system and education quality has been affected by this housing! Mr. Gornstein the executive director of this nonprofit organization claims that the average cost of homes in Mass. is about $340,000 and their organization allows for families to purchase their own home. I am not ashamed to say that I am not one of the citizens that he proclaims to represent, nor am I living in a $340,000 home. He also states, “By taking away 40B, you’d be losing the primary tool for creating mixed housing in Mass.” He then professes that their success stories with 40B housing. Time to checkout Mr. Gornstein and what his agenda may be.
When I googled his name I felt like I opened a can of worms as I began to explore his background. Turns out Gornstien resides in West Newton with his wife Sharon Englehardt and also appears to own property in other towns. He was also presented with “The Community Hero Award” from “Banker and Tradesman and Commercial Weekly.” I guess these people like to shove unwanted development down our throats, at us the taxpayer’s expense! When I accessed the registry of deeds in Southern Middlesex County and did a property search under he and his wife’s name (which is public record and not a invasion of privacy) they seem to being doing quite well and are able to pay off their mortgages rather quickly compared to the average working families in the suburbs, which he envisions placing a greater tax burden upon to forward his agenda and his proclaimed success stories.
The next step of this critical thinker was to go to switchboard.com and found the area in which the “Community Hero” award recipient resides. I was not at all surprised when I discovered his comment of “creating mixed housing in Mass.” did not apply to where he and his wife reside. By accessing the town assessor’s street directory and going to the aerial view of his home, which would probably sell for ¾ of a million in today’s market due to the area it is located in West Newton; I did not see any form of affordable housing nearby! In fact, the street appears to be a dead end and two tennis courts are located at the end of the street and what looked like quite a bit of open space, and if he had once ounce of integrity maybe he would ask one of his developer buddies to build a huge 40B complex there. I do not wish to make this sound like a personal attack but, facts are facts and this is the man hailed by many of the self-serving to champion the poorer members of society. Mr. Gornstein seems to be benefiting himself while aiding greedy developers to destroy what many of us have work so hard to obtain like a rural community to raise our children or grow old with dignity. CHAPA and its director have been destroying rural Massachusetts Town’s along with their Charm, Quality of Life, Tax Base, Educational Systems ect. ect. for years now and we must support Rep. Hargraves legislation to prevent any further harm and abuse to our areas.
Just to add the 1/11/07 edition of the Lowell Sun contains a 40B battle-taking place in Chelmsford, Concerns over the school budget in Tewksbury and Fridays Sun contains an Editorial, “Seeking a compromise on affordable housing” and much more. I hope all will become critical thinkers so we can put and end to this taxpayer’s nightmare and the greedy self-serving Groups and Orgainizatons of our state!
Ed
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