New Haven Independent

posted by: anon on January 23, 2012  1:10pm

When will these landlords be run out of town?

posted by: 2Unique on January 23, 2012  1:25pm

“George said IRIS, LCI, and the Department of Children and Families are now working together to find a safe new home for the family of 11.”

How ‘bout here…it’s PERFECT for a family of 11:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/44-Old-Quarry-Rd_Woodbridge_CT_06525_M40562-93240?source=web

posted by: More on January 23, 2012  1:47pm

seems like a semi-competent inspection program would have found and corrected this problem.  Where are those dollars going?

posted by: robn on January 23, 2012  2:03pm

ANON,

Kojo and Helen Gyamfi can’t be run out of town becuase they already are out of town; 10 Carle Rd in Branford to be exact. THANKS AGAIN BURBS!
...

posted by: Curious on January 23, 2012  2:10pm

“New Haven is one of the best places in the country to settle refugees,” George said

New Haven has the lowest vacancy rate of any city in the nation. We have a very high cost of living compared to other areas of the country. New Haven has a high unemployment rate, especially with regard to unskilled labor, or jobs that don’t require higher education. We also have a fairly high crime rate. How could we be one of the best places in the country to settle refugees?  I think its great what IRIS does and its great that NH can welcome so many refugees. I’m just curious what the factors are that make NH one of the best places.  It seems like places with high housing stock and/or low unemployment and low crime rates would be the most ideal.

posted by: HhE on January 23, 2012  2:49pm

2Unique, I think $5000 per month is out of reach for this family.

I don’r know, anon, but not soon enough.

I think the world of Chris George and IRIS.  I also think well of LCI’s Eric Johnson.

posted by: nhteaparty on January 23, 2012  2:51pm

“was incorrectly listed on the city tax rolls as an owner-occupied property and thus avoided regular inspection.”

Another secretary “accidently” write the wrong thing down again? http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/fbi_probe_spreads_to_city_hall/

posted by: Curious on January 23, 2012  2:52pm

**“The lesson for us is some families need much more and longer term assistance with adjustment and we are going to have to find ways to increase our resources so that we can provide them,” George said.**

Why isn’t the lesson to fix the inspection system, and inspect rental properties MORE often instead of the proposed longer term between inspections?

posted by: Stan Kontogiannis on January 23, 2012  2:54pm

Slum lords should be punished to the maximum of the law including stiff penalties and/or jail time. If there is no jail time some should be written into law. In addition, (my assumption) is that the tenants may have not paid for their medical visits and that cost should be added to the landlors fine. Why should we all pay for someones elses greed? Hurt them where it hurts to stop this insanity. This is why we need to maintain inspections on rental properties despite the flaws. Landlords (not everyone)will do anything for a dollar even risk the lives of children.

posted by: streever on January 23, 2012  2:56pm

Bad landlords need to go. I’m glad to see the neighborhood working together to promote a safe community for all—refugees, long-term residents, short-term residents.

No one should have to live in a house with these problems, and by calling attention to it, they have helped the refugees into a much better place to live—at least for the short-term.

posted by: TIM WRIGHTINGTON on January 23, 2012  3:10pm

First question: Why did these people move 3 times in 2 years?

posted by: F.F. Sal Consiglio on January 23, 2012  3:12pm

I was on the call for this apartment and also being a landlord in the city of New Haven I was disgusted to see how these men were living. The temperature in the second floor apartment was 41 Degrees and there was no heat. Bravo to Mr Ramos for condemning this apartment. This was something as a landlord is unacceptable. I wish these me well and hope they land on their feet with a nice roof over their heads. To take advantage of people like this is simply criminal .

posted by: streever on January 23, 2012  3:30pm

Tim
I have a theory to answer your question, and then two questions of my own.

I’d imagine that—as refugees—they came here with economic problems. They had to flee their home country. They probably have a hard time finding a job in one of the toughest economies that our country has ever faced, too! I imagine that they are forced to move by the unhappy economic situation they find themselves in, as a result of the persecution they faced which qualified them for the refugee status they immigrated here with.

Why do you wonder?
What is your second question?

posted by: unreal on January 23, 2012  3:49pm

Why did they let the mold grow like that? A sponge with a little water and Clorox would clean that right up.

posted by: Vanessa Poholek Fasanella on January 23, 2012  4:53pm

There’s an awful lot of “slipped through the cracks” in a lot of different agencies in New Haven.  It is not good enough for our residents, our children; it is not good enough for any of us!

posted by: Vanessa Poholek Fasanella on January 23, 2012  4:58pm

To Unreal: ... this is a toxic/black mold problem, not the almost harmless type of mold that grows in your fridge.  It is not easily fixed, and it can easily spread and cause serious health problems if not professionally contained.

posted by: anon on January 23, 2012  6:07pm

Tim, about 25% of city residents moved within the past year.  So it wouldn’t be very unusual if someone moved 3 times in 2 years.

posted by: mama on January 23, 2012  6:24pm

Curious, I couldn’t agree with you more!  I too want refugees to get the best possible placement to start over and wonder how New Haven meets that criteria. I work for a local nonprofit and know how limited the resources are. Unless the refugees already have ties here, wouldn’t another city have more to offer? This isn’t a criticism Iris- they do amazing work with very little.
Wishing the best for this family!

posted by: flaxwell on January 23, 2012  8:02pm

To eloquently represent what some haters have probably tried to cram through the Comment Filter:

Is it possible that this family of eleven people trashed the place?

What’s the story with the used condoms and prostitution accusations? Who put the living room furniture in the back yard?

Oh, and can I effectively report my old Cottage Street landlord now? His property is nearing this level of toxicity.

posted by: pat on January 23, 2012  8:15pm

LCI has never inspected the number of units it said it would and if it gets the fee increases it is seeking from the Board of Aldermen, it will NOT increase the number of inspections Eric Johnson admitted before the Legislative Committee he appeared before recently.
A strong, complaint driven program will target the offenders and direct resources to where they are needed.
How can a short 20 minute “inspection” really turn up more than some superficial problems? It can’t. And if LCI can’t even reach all the units in a 2 year period, what is the rationale for increasing fees?
It looks like revenue increase disguised as “covering expenses”.
The Building Dept. used to do inspections for free.
Why are owners charged now?????

posted by: Chip Croft on January 23, 2012  10:24pm

Rafael has done a tremendous job over the years enforcing codes and helping those in trouble. He should receive more recognition for his great work!

posted by: Neighbor on January 23, 2012  11:48pm

I watched NHPD and LCI do a great job at 17 Nash Street; they came more than 100 times and made 10 arrests- mostly I think , of the men on the 2nd floor.

Mr. Ramos and Lt. Reddish were especially sensitive, effective and even-handed in working with all of the parties involved: they are obvious very committed. Huge kudos & lots of respect to them. 

LCI & NHPDT gave the people on the first floor, from the Congo many chances and as you can see from FF Sal Consiglio’s remarks they showed compassion for the 2 men (out of the original 4-6 men) who continued to come into the 2nd floor even after it was condemned.
(BTW some of the 2nd floor tenants seemed to be very decent despite the fact that their housemates appeared to engage in a variety of illegal activities.)

Thank you to Mr. Ramos, Reddish, Paszak and all of your team.

posted by: NeededToBeSaid on January 24, 2012  2:37am

To:  Tim Wrightington and Streever

I would like to give another “theory” to Tim’s first queation as to “Why did these people move 3 times in 2 years?”  I would imagine these tenants were asked to leave their prior East Rock residences due to behavior similar to what you, Streever reported in your SeeClickFix post to “Unfit for Occupancy Notice Removed” on December 8, 2011 where you write:

“... I was actually threatened by people hanging out at this house over the summer… and then repeated his warning that I should “act smart” and get off that street before there were “problems”... “

you also write

“... Two friends of mine who lives on this street later told me that they had some serious run-ins with the occupants of that house… “

To give a theory to Streever’s question to Tim, “Why do you wonder?”; Perhaps it is because no one seems to want to admit the tenants had alot to do with this downward spiral as well.  The owners of this property may very well be the slumlords people are saying.  However, I am quite sure they did not drive from Branford each time to:

- Place decaying food in the yard.
(SeeClickFix “Decaying food, broken windows, glass, tires, etc”)

- Dump harmful detergents and chemicals into the soil.
(SeeClickFix “Contaminating soil”)

- Become argumentative when asked to be quiet at 12:45.
(SeeClickFix “Noisy Neighbors at it Again”)

- Require police action to the address twice in one night.
(SeeClickFix “Once again there were problems at 17 Nash Street, this time with the 2 families that live on the 1st Flr”)

or

- Require police action “again”.
(SeeClickFix “Noise/fighting at 17 Nash Street”).

posted by: ngh on January 24, 2012  8:52am

Did anyone check to see if these folks were in the USA legally?????

posted by: NeededToBeSaid on January 24, 2012  8:56am

To:  Tim Wrightington and Streever

To give another “theory” to Tim’s first question as to “Why did these people move 3 times in 2 years?”  I would imagine they were asked to leave their previous East Rock residences due to behavior similar to what you, Streever reported in your SeelickFix post to “Unfit for Occupancy Notice Removed on December 8, 2011 http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/149312-unfit-for-occupancy-notice-removed where you write

“... I was actually threatened by people hanging out at this house over the summer… and then repeated his warning that I should “act smart” and get off that street before there were “problems… “

you also write

“... Two friends of mine who lives on this street later told me that they had some serious run-ins with the occupants of that house…”

To give a theory to Streever’s question to tim “Why do you wonder?”; Perhaps it is because no one seems to want to admit the tenants had alot to do with this downward spiral as well.  The owners of this property may be the slumlords people are saying.  However, I am quite sure they did not drive from Branford each time to:

- Put decaying food in the yard.
(SeeClickFix “Decaying food, broken windows, glass, tires, etc”)http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/139411-decaying-food-broken-windows-glass-tires-etc

- Dump harmful detergents and chemicals into the soil.
(SeeClickFix “Contaminated soil”) http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/139411-decaying-food-broken-windows-glass-tires-etc

- Become argumentative when asked to be quiet at 12:45.
(SeeClickFix “Noisy Neighbors at it Again”)http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/120382-noisy-neighbors-at-it-again

- Require police action to the address twice in one night.
(SeeClickFix “Once again there were problems at 17 Nash Street, this time with the 2 families that live on the 1st Flr”) http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/126387-once-again-there-were-problems-at-17-nash-street-this-time-with-the-2-families-that-live-on-the-1st-flr

or

- Require police action “again”.
(SeeClickFix “Noise/fighting at 17 Nash Street”)http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/128464-noise-fighting-at-17-nash-street

posted by: TIM WRIGHTINGTON on January 24, 2012  9:19am

Thanks “Needed to be said”. That’s the answer I thought I’d get.
My Great Grandparents came to America from Italy through Ellis Island. They lived on Rosette St. for many, many years. They respected the property they lived in and most of all they respected America. It was a privilege to live here.
Question number 2: Why aren’t they deported for their activities!

posted by: HhE on January 24, 2012  9:48am

ngh, they are refuges, so they were thoroughly vetted and documented by the federal government, albeit by the State Department which does have a commitment to mediocrity.

Well said, robn.  In Connecticut, the cities are the colonies of the ‘burbs, to be exploited and dumped into. 

Curious, the employment challenges you mentioned are certainly true, but New Haven does have many advantages for settling refuges.  The city is very walkable and has mass transit.  There are neighborhoods that are fairly safe, and IRIS (unlike some other groups) goes to great lengths to settle people in those areas.  Also, our city is already very diverse.

Well argued and researched, NeededToBeSaid.  This family clearly is an exception that proves the rule.  Most refugees make a wonderful addition to our country, and I opine that it is our sacred duty to help, especially since America as World Police has done so much to destabilize the world and we have been given so much.  That said, some people cannot “Americanize” well.  I think of people from China that continue to set their trash out in a plastic bag by their door, to be taken to a dumpster or trash can in the morning because that is how it is done in China. 

It is a sad truth, there is one thing nearly any woman can sell if she is sufficiently desperate.

I wish LCI were more aggressive.  I am sure IRIS will learn from this experience, and do a better job in the future.  Maybe we can all learn from this too.

posted by: Chris George on January 24, 2012  10:03am

In response to “curious” who asks why I say New Haven is one of the best places to resettle refugees in light of the high cost of living, scarcity of housing,  high unemployment, and relatively high crime rate.  All of the factors mentioned are important, and we struggle to find affordable apartments and jobs. But refugees also need to feel welcomed.  This is a diverse and hospitable city.  They need friends and volunteers to help them. We are fortunate to have hundreds of volunteers from universities, congregations, civic groups, and schools pitch in to help refugees.  Refugees need to feel respected.  New Haven is just big enough to have the services new Americans need, but not too big to intimidate them.

posted by: Urban Professional on January 24, 2012  10:28am

I’ve observed this building and #28 and #30 which are owned by the same slumlord for years. At first, clean, decent refugees who were devoted to their children and who now contribute to our community lived in Helen and Koko’s houses. When the refugees made reasonable requests to remedy thing such as; clean up the vomit from an aggressive and occasionally violent substance abusing man from the Sudan, fix a leaky roof, remove infestations of vermin, stopped up drains, etc the decent refugees were repeatedly and rudely brushed off both by the slumlord and by IRIS.  No wonder these good neighbors moved along.
I can only echo the praise that others are voicing for LCI and NHPD. We are fortunate to have them.

Over time the quality of tenants continued to deteriorate and so did the buildings. To make matters worse, when#30 was foreclosed on, the slumlord moved the Sudanese man from their house at 30 Nash to 17 Nash and now, maybe to 28 Nash. Finally 11 people some of who were suffering from PTSD were crowded into the first floor and 4-8 unmarried men, some decent, some seeming to be criminals were living on the 2nd floor.

IRIS’s behavior was only a bit more civic minded or effective than the slumlord’s. Based on what I saw I went from being very much for IRIS to questioning what is really happening with the leadership of IRIS.

In sum, the slumlord was by far the chief offender, the tenants were desperate but less than blameless and although IRIS seems like a good idea that is missing its mark.

posted by: streever on January 24, 2012  10:59am

NeededToBeSaid
It also “needs to be said” that this was a three family house with squatters (i.e. illegal tenants). The person who threatened me claimed not to live there, and was most likely a squatter.

The people who I had a nasty run in with where absolutely not the refugees with children who became ill and moved 3 times. I’m not sure why you are smearing them, along with the bad behavior of someone else who lived here.

There is a pretty clear bias in these comments—a need to blame or attack immigrants. Witness, the comment of, “are they illegal”. No, by definition, they are not—they are “refugees”.

I am glad that my country wasn’t this xenophobic, racist, and hateful when my ancestors came here fleeing the war in Europe.

posted by: anon on January 24, 2012  4:01pm

Shame works.  A generous soul would print this article out, and plaster it in the Branford neighborhood where these landlords live. They would also drop it in local mailboxes with a note.

posted by: aharpe on January 24, 2012  9:11pm

Tim Wrightington
Italians coming here then were likely not subject to the same trauma that refugees coming from the Congo today are. Congo is suffering from a horrendous, drawn out war, with extreme violence, unbelievable poverty, and terrible health conditions, such that most of the millions that have died have died from disease.  Part of the problem is Congo’s enormous resource wealth; foreign powers, including the US among others, are more interested in securing access to that wealth than in preventing suffering.  We should also be deeply ashamed of our historical role in the death of the popular leader Lumumba and the rise of the dictator Mobutu.  The trauma that these refugees may have experienced may well at least partly explain their inability to ‘make it work’ in this country.  In addition, they may have experienced some hostility in the US.  It can be a dispiriting experience to be a poor black person in a relatively wealthy neighborhood like East rock, given the racist stereotypes that persist even among the so-called liberal elite.  It doesn’t mean that we just smile and say it’s okay when we see the type of behavior exhibited, but at the very least we should try to understand where it might be coming from

posted by: Don't Judge on January 24, 2012  9:19pm

The medical costs the state has to pay for, to treat so many sick individuals due to mold is outrageous.  Which can easily be avoided by doing regular inspections.  Seems like LCI needs to do their JOB. The same applies with the housing complexes in NH.

posted by: LCIisthere24/7 on January 25, 2012  9:12am

To: Don’t Judge on January 24, 2012 8:19pm
Like the ,
Fire Department and Police Department.
LCI is there 24/7.
At your sevice:
between 9am -5pm call 203 946-7090
After hours 203 946-6237

posted by: robn on January 25, 2012  11:54pm

Nash Street and Goatville in general is a great place. I’m sure residents are upset about the bad stewardship of this house (which should be brought to end asap) but I can tell you that one house isn’t gonna bring this neighborhood down because its strong.

posted by: NeededToBeSaid on January 27, 2012  12:32am

Streever

I have not “smeared” refugees.  I am identifying causes of the problem in an area which has been for years, a very clean, diverse and pleasant neighborhood to live with very little need for police presence.  My response would be the same for any individuals that were being identified as the reason these things have changed, be they illegal, legal or U.S. citizens.  I don’t think giving more credibility to the multiple posts written by the neighbors who live on Nash Street year round can be construed as “xenophobic, racist and hateful”.

These SeeClickFix posts were written by them.

“... Once again there were problems at 17 Nash Street, this time with the 2 families that live on the 1st floor.  Police were present around 10:30 and again at 12:30… “
- posted by a Nash Street neighbor http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/126387-once-again-there-were-problems-at-17-nash-street-this-time-with-the-2-families-that-live-on-the-1st-flr

“... About nine months ago, the family of 11 moved into the first-floor apartment, and the complaints began… “
-THIS ARTICLE

“... The police are here again.  3 Africans from IRIS gathered on the porch, shouting.  This is not a matter of people who need a little help.  These people have failed to adjust, they have been there many months.”
-posted by a Nash Street neighbor http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/128464-noise-fighting-at-17-nash-street

“... This whole situation is really unfortunate.  From what I’ve been told, there are 2 houses on Nash St. that house families and/or individuals placed by IRIS.  The people are from different countries and/or regions of Africa and are feuding over cultural differences.  I know IRIS is trying to help by placing these folks in apartments, but something is not working… “
- posted by a Nash Street neighbor http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/128464-noise-fighting-at-17-nash-street

I think it is reasonable to accept the truthfulness of posts written by people who actually reside on Nash Street without being labeled a “racist”.  People on all sides are trying to deal with this issue.  Such accusations of hatred, racism and xenophobia carelessly thrown around during a disagreement makes people shy away from the discussion and stay silent rather than contribute information.  It also lessens the chances of justice being served when true cases of racism arise.

posted by: streever on January 27, 2012  10:17am

NeededToBeSaid
...

I’ve never labelled the SCF posters “racists” or “xenophobes”. The behavior which I directly call out is Tim’s. Perhaps you missed his follow-up comment, in which he states that he assumed that the family was bad, and then compares them to his italian ancestors and says that his italian ancestors came here the right way, were good people, and asks why we can’t deport the refugees.

Wanting to deport a family of 11—with small-children—to the violence they’ve escaped because of complaints about 3 men who aren’t part of that family seems more than ridiculous to me.

The SCF posts you reference make it clear that there are 3 men who are squatters living in the house. Perhaps the 3 men I encountered were the squatters, and not the refugees?

This is what makes the whole discussion xenophobic—Tim assumed that the 3 squatters I interacted with where the family.

I didn’t even feel the need to say this, but it “needs” to be said now—the 3 men I interacted with WERE NOT immigrants. They were American as apple pie. Like I said, I don’t know who they are, or what they were doing there, but I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that they were unrelated to the family of 11 refugees, and probably more likely to be the squatters you mention.

As I said on SCF:
This is not an issue about refugees or immigration.
It is an issue about a slum lord—a terrible landlord who knowingly lets humans live in sub-humane conditions.

Could the family of 11 do more? Perhaps—but they may also be experiencing severe trauma due to the circumstances that led to them fleeing their home land.

There is a real issue here that needs to be addressed, and I don’t think that Tim’s subtle suggestions are appropriate or helpful. In what way does Tim’s comment help the neighborhood or move the street forward to a safer place?

He is merely expressing a certain xenophobic sentiment, that some immigrants (his ancestors) are good, and some are bad.

I don’t get why you are defending him. I haven’t attacked or criticized the SCF posts (in fact I defended them) but Tim’s comment on this site is certainly inappropriate.

I not only support Nash street on this issue, I’ve even helped residents of Nash street do outreach to see this issue ameliorated. However, that doesn’t mean that I think Tim is making appropriate remarks—he is not.

Please, re-read his comments, and ask yourself if you really agree with him. He has never met the family of 11—he doesn’t know who they are—he doesn’t know anything but what he inferred from reading a few comments on a web site. Why defend him?

posted by: NeededToBeSaid on January 27, 2012  1:41pm

Streever

To my knowledge the squatters were a recent addition to the existing problems at 17 Nash Street.  I would like to thank alder Katie Holmes for addressing that problem and taking immediate action to solve that issue by making sure the windows and doors remained boarded up by LCI and keeping her residents updated on the situation (action within 2 days seemed pretty good to me) .  Hopefully that has been solved since the problem was reported, recognized and appropriate action taken.  http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/149312-unfit-for-occupancy-notice-removed 

Also upon the clarification of your experience of being threatened, I have not mentioned it further.  However all the examples included in my last post written by Nash Street neighbors specifically identify the cause of the problems reported as IRIS clients or graduates.  According to the many posted descriptions of 17 Nash Street, of the three floors, the first and second floors have been inhabited by current or former IRIS clients for months.  The three examples I posted were directly linked to the tenants on the “first” floor.  Prostitute activity was suspected by the tenants on the “second”  floor.  The blight of junk in the backyard and clothes hanging in the backyard was going on for over four months in spite of calls being made to IRIS and talking to the tenants.  http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/96322-contaminating-soil    My thanks goes out to housing inspector Rafael Ramos for putting an end to that activity.

I did not consider my response to Tim a defense but another answer to his question.  People should be able to ask questions without the immediate insinuation of being a racist.  I personally did not perceive his comparison of his immigrant ancestors anymore insulting or wrong than the comparison you gave of your own ancestors.  I will admit that the situation of the Congolese in their native country is worse due to the killings in addition to the poverty.  However I do feel the IRIS clients mentioned in the above problems have squandered the opportunities given to them upon their arrival here. There have been many ethnic groups that have come to this country having to overcome the difficult challenges of different appearance and language.  Very few though had the advantages of having free placement,  rent, food, furniture, medical care, education and legal representation for upwards of six months as did these clients.  Where were the two previous Nash Street addresses IRIS placed this family and why did they move?  I was told one of the locations was 55 Nash Street and they were asked to leave due to disruptive activity and behavior.
 
... The IRIS tenants on the first and second floor had quite a bit to do with this “downward spiral” as well as the irresponsible landlord and the addition of squatters.  I have no desire to see the children who have no control of this situation to suffer and I hope DCYS will be able to help.  But there is no doubt there are some very blatant, harmful and serious flaws in the IRIS program.  Obviously the background checks have been unable to filter out clients with a tendency towards criminal behavior or possible dangerous psychological conditions.  I see how unbelievably difficult it could be to do a thorough background check in an underdeveloped country with areas of no electricity much less any type of municipal database.  However, the residents of the area have reason to be cautious/concerned about future IRIS clients after these experiences.

Where does this leave the people of Nash Street, Goatville and East Rock when these gambles turn out wrong?  Granted the example of 17 Nash Street is complicated by the fact the owners appear to have been slumlords, but what if that was a regular property owner?  Does anyone know if the lease (if one existed) said eleven people?  What if it was for four and an additional five arrive?  The loss of income due to the time and costs of legal procedures and damage to the area would be staggering to a landlord that is just making ends meet.  As you brought up, IRIS cannot send anyone back.  So what recourse would you have if you took this chance and lost?  There lies the crux of the problem with the IRIS program in East Rock.

posted by: streever on January 27, 2012  2:40pm

NeededToBeSaid
I think you misunderstood my comments—the tone of Tim’s comment is certainly an assumptive and biased one. I understand you don’t share his perspective, but his comment is loaded with bias and assumptions which aren’t validated by this article.

I’m just uncomfortable with labeling the family of eleven with such a broad brush.

Where does this leave the neighborhood? So far, it seems to leave the neighborhood stronger than ever—it sounds like neighbors have really rallied around this cause and gotten involved & organized, which is great!

I just think that the productive work the neighborhood is doing—and even the productive conversations about IRIS, refugees, resettlement, etc taking place—are hurt by comments like Tim’s, which makes assumptions about the legal status of the refugees and their personal behavior.

Even someone like myself gets distracted by biased commentary like his, although I am very sympathetic to the problems being faced on Nash Street, and am happy with what the neighborhood has done to improve the situation.

I just don’t think that—after the fact—we need to go after the family on a personal level, but that is what Tim is doing, and why I criticized him.

I’m sorry if you felt criticized, because that wasn’t my intention. I was directly questioning Tim.

Ultimately, we need to promote systems that will prevent problems like these from happening. I think we can do that—and have real conversations about the quality and consistency of IRIS outreach—without personally attacking the family.

posted by: aharpe on January 27, 2012  3:02pm

agreeing with you streever… but as you use the word ‘ultimately’, perhaps we should realise that ‘ultimately’ we need to look beyond Nash street, beyond New Haven, and indeed beyond the US, and realise that as US citizens, voters and consumers we have a degree of responsibility for our nation’s foreign policy, which tragically plays a part in creating conditions such as in the Congo all over the world.  It is wonderful to welcome refugees and to do what we can to bring their lives back to a semblance of normality, but how more wonderful it would be to try to reduce the need for refugees to come here in the first place. I know some might react to this negatively, ‘oh typical blaming the US for the world’s problems’, but the fact remains that as citizens of the world’s most powerful and globally ACTIVE nation, we MUST seek to educate ourselves about foreign policy mistakes made in the past and the present, so that they will no longer be made in the future.

posted by: HhE on January 27, 2012  4:27pm

TIM WRIGHTINGTON, as a 16th generation American WASP, I find it easy to think that “The Sopranos” is a documentary.  Shall we cater to my prejudices, and ban all Irish and Italian immigrants since they are Papists, terrorists and gangsters?

Returning refuges is at best a life time in a refuge camp, and at worse, a death sentence.  Is that a measured response? 

Well said, aharpe.  Unfortunately, in-spite of our global presence, our sense of history and word view is very local.  In my world travels, I have learned that we are most admired for our freedom and liberties, and the opportunities our country offers.  I opine the best world play for our country is to be that beacon of freedom.  Unfortunately our political leaders are doing their very best to knock that on the head.

posted by: TIM WRIGHTINGTON on January 27, 2012  4:43pm

Hhe: No support systems in 1917, my Great Grandparents made out just fine!

posted by: TIM WRIGHTINGTON on January 27, 2012  7:04pm

Streever, I don’t believe my comments were either racial or xenophobic. I never said my Great Grandparents were “good” (even though they were). I said they knew it was a privilege to be in this country. My opinions are based on the pictures of the filth in the backyard and the see click fix reports.
Don’t try to scare me off with the race card. My minority friends will tell you it doesn’t fly.

posted by: HhE on January 27, 2012  11:00pm

TIM WRIGHTINGTON, I kind of doubt they had no support system.  Support systems pre New Deal were based upon Church, civic groups, and professional/trade organizations.  The Knights of Columbus are an example of such a group that exists to this day. 

I am thinking that as they arrived off the boat, they would have been greeted in Italian by someone that would have helped find them a place to live and a job.  The Italian American communities in cities like New Haven would have made living here comparatively easy. 

Unless they were originally from the the war ravaged North, they would be coming from a country that was poor, and not very stable politically, but nothing like the Congo with endemic civil war, famine, and all that. 

That one family of refuges fell through the cracks, speaks volumes for IRIS.  Think of how many families they have help settle here, and after about a half a year of support, these families are expected to be standing on their own two feet. 

If these refugees are a gamble, then IRIS must be The House, because the odds are about 499 to 1. 

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