U.S. CONGRESSMAN BILL JOHNSON Proudly Representing Eastern and Southeastern Ohio

Steubenville Herald-Star
By Dave Gossett
Published August 24, 2012

Inspectors from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted a physical inspection of the Fort Steuben Apartment facility on North Fourth Street Thursday and will conduct a management and occupancy review in the near future.

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, announced the inspection Thursday afternoon during a discussion on health care at Eastern Gateway Community College.

"This physical inspection will specifically seek to address many of the issues brought to my attention by the community regarding safety and security issues relating to these taxpayer subsidized issues. The secretary of HUD has advised that he will continue to keep me posted as to the results and findings of this inspection," Johnson said in a prepared statement.

Johnson had sent a hand delivered letter to HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan requesting an investigation into Section 8 federally subsidized housing and public housing in Steubenville following a June meeting with city and Jefferson County officials.

"This investigation is the first step. We got a commitment from Secretary Donovan to take this issue very seriously. HUD will be looking at the Fort Steuben Apartments as well as the Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority public housing units," Johnson said.

City Manager Cathy Davison said the inspection of the apartment building is "a good first step and we are very pleased to hear this news."

Davison and Mayor Domenick Mucci met with the Fort Steuben Apartment assistant property manager Wednesday to discuss developing a working relationship.

The manager had sent a letter to the city requesting a meeting earlier this month.

"That was also a good first step and we hope to build on that initial conversation. We agreed to assist the manager with criminal background checks of potential tenants. The police chief will also meet with the regional manager of Alicia Holding of New York to see what the property owner needs," said Davison.

Davison also said the city has been meeting twice a month with JMHA officials "and have made tremendous strides toward an open relationship to resolve criminal activities in the public housing units."

"I commend the housing authority for moving forward and I thank Congressman Johnson for taking our concerns to Secretary Donovan," she added.

Mucci also hailed the announcement by Johnson calling the HUD inspection and investigation "good news for the city."

"This investigation will put at rest the minds of JMHA, Fort Steuben Apartments and city officials. This will also put at rest the minds of the residents living in these housing units. And it will put at rest the minds of our community residents," stated Mucci.

"We will expect any violations will be resolved. We want a safe environment for our residents and our neighborhoods," he added.

Mucci and Fair Housing Practices Commission Chairperson Gloria Crossland sent a letter to the HUD secretary in April citing residents living in fear.

"Residents said the 88-unit apartment building is overrun with criminal activity and that they are living in fear. They said management does little or nothing to screen applicants for housing, offering almost anyone who applies a unit in spite of extensive criminal histories. Our local police department has verified this stating that while many landlords contact them for free assistance regarding tenant criminal background checks, they have never been contacted by Fort Steuben Management," Mucci wrote.

"The residents stated that security cameras were not working, doors were left unlocked and there were no security guards physically present at the building. Several residents of the building are convicted felons with extensive criminal records well known to the police department," Mucci said in his letter to HUD.

Johnson said Thursday the HUD inspectors will be looking at "break-ins, vandalism, drug activity, arrests and auto thefts. The evaluator will also look at the types of security measures utilized at the site, such as tenant patrol, motion sensors and security cameras, and will require the (property) owner take corrective actions based on the findings."

"Lastly we are asking that the community help us in this effort. If you have something to contribute to this investigation, we want to hear from you. Complaints may be anonymous. Simply state in your call or letter that you wish to remain anonymous. These are important first steps and we'll continue to keep in close contact with the community as this investigation unfolds," remarked Johnson.