Sharpen the guillotine.Somebody’s head should roll.In fact, perhaps more than “somebody”.
The head might belong to a high official in Governor Blanco’s Office, HUD, or even Donald Powell’s office who has been charged with the oversight of the Gulf Coast Recovery after Katrina and Rita.
It is inconceivable that in March of 2007, approximately a year since the creation of a plan that would involve sending grants to homeowners damaged by Katrina or Rita or both, Louisiana now finds that it might be in violation of HUD rules which could have significant impact upon the entire process of the distribution of funds and the considerations families are making regarding whether to stay and rebuild, move to another location in Louisiana or remain outside of the state or move.
Somewhere along the line, somebody or more than one person and perhaps more than one governmental agency has been totally asleep at the wheel.
Yes, somewhere, there is no doubt that heads should roll and perhaps lawsuits filed against the law firms advising the state, HUD and the federal government over a very basic question as to whether the Road Home program qualified as a compensation program or a rebuilding program.The two programs have totally separate rules which could implicate unlawful consequences.
Yes, Katrina and Rita were major catastrophes the size and scope the United States has never witnessed.But, where was the knowledge base, the informed decision-makers, the communications over such an important matter that could actually impact tens of thousands in the future and even those who have gone to closings (which are very few in number—approximately 3000, but have been growing as of late).
This is such a blunder of communication by a government agency or agencies and the consequences so serious that a full investigation should be made immediately into who failed to do what and when and why.
The event also underscores the very reason that the public has had such little confidence in this process.It is reflective to the “hysterical” patting on the back of “Brownie” and the entire Katrina disaster days after the storm.This is government meltdown at its worse.After an immediate investigation, regardless whether the state and HUD works out their differences as intended by a statement of Commissioner Jerry Luke Leblanc, there must be firings and scrutiny into the attorneys giving legal advice concerning these matters.
The “HUD, Louisiana” dispute over the Road Home program is an insult to a people who deserve so much more and who have received since Katrina first started to hit—have received so much less.
GIVE ME A CALL THE FIRST OF NEXT WEEK ABOUT THE PENDLETON APARTMENTS ON YOUR WEB PAGE. THANKS, KHAALIIS PH: 318-455-0828
Written by khaaliis Khaaliis Cherry
on 10/19/2007
I find it appalling that a pediphile leads the community on such issues that are seen as immoral? Khalafa Khaaliis Cherry is the last person that should be viewed for his work in the community. Very articulate indeed; but when I think of him as a fixture of morale I am sicken and you should be as well
Written by A Concerned Reader
on 10/16/2007
Amen! NOW...before or after July 31, 2007, what is an action that the citizens of Louisiana and the country at large can take to bring forth justice, complete exposure and penalties against ALL persons and committees that have had any oversight, authority or involvement in the ICF, Road Home Authority, assignment and disbursement of HUD funds?
Concurrently, what are the solutions or remedies that can ensure that any release of additional funds does not involve HUD, the LRA, ICF or any state agency other than the Louisiana's Office of the Treasury, perhaps, and with involvement from the Dept. of Social Services, the Real Estate Board, an Inspector General, and a representative from THE FEW agencies that have actually helped the citizenry such as ACORN, Common Ground, the Gillis Long Povery Center/Loyola Law Clinic, Mercy Corps, The Salvation Army, UNITE!, college students, senior citizen volunteer groups and councils on aging, and the faith-based community? Note: Many of the faith-based help has come through small and medium-sized community-based churches and small local and national Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominational and inter-denominational collaboratives.
Think about it? Should additional monies be released, there can be no guarantees that the abandoned, displaced, frustrated and humiliated homeowners of all income levels will be served any better than before.
Why was there no cap on the amount of money that could be released to any agency, authority, contractor or project before FIRST meeting the needs of all citizens?
Why was there no performance incentive in place that tied the release of any payment to ICF or for any state board or project to the release of funds to the residents so that the ratio of close-outs and actual PAY OUTS was at all times 80% of any monies being spent?
Why are citizens being fingerprinted and asked to almost get naked with the extent and invasiveness of questions asked and documents or verifications needed beyond ICF or any basic title company or law clinic sending out an Inspector and an Appraiser, doing a title search, getting basic identification documents and then awarding homeowners with the MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOCATED for each household: $150,000?
Insurance? SBA loan? Family loan? Red Cross $1000? GIVE OUR CITIZENS THE MONEY AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, THE TAX BASE, THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE GROWING 'KATRINA DEATH TOLLS' FROM STRESS, REDUCE THE POVERTY AND RELATED CRIME AND VIOLENCE. PAY THE PEOPLE, NOT AGENCIES, AUTHORITIES, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES OR 6 FIGURE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES - STATE OR MUNICIPAL.
LET THE TRIALS BEGIN.
Written by The Peanut Gallery
on 7/17/2007
PLEASE FORWARD THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE PROPER AGENCY FOR IT PROPER DISPOSITON & CONCLUSION. I'M NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK LOCALLY.
SINCERELY,
KAHLAFA "KHAALIIS" CHERRY
PHONE: (318) 429-4997 294-4357
Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:43:13 -0700 (PDT)
kahlafa khaaliis" khaaliis1@yahoo.com
Fwd: Problems at the Pendleton Apartments
larep002@legis.state.la.us, "Earnest Baylor" <larep003@legis.state.la.us
Dear Earnest Baylor & Roy Burrell:
I need to meet with the two of you in the near future about things at the Pendleton Apartments. The attached e-mails will brief you on my previous efforts to date...the two of you can schedule a time & place then let me know "when & where"
Thanks in advance for you assistance.
later,
Khaaliis Cherry
Phone: (318) 294-4357
Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:06:56 -0800 (PST)
kahlafa khaaliis" <khaaliis1@yahoo.com>
Fwd: Problems at the Pendleton Apartments
Wed, 29 Nov 2006 01:32:45 -0800 (PST)
kahlafa khaaliis" <khaaliis1@yahoo.com
Fwd: Problems at the Pendleton Apartments
hotline@hudoig.gov
Dear Brian Sulivan:
Will you PLEASE forward these attached e-mails to the Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson and HUD's Inspector General Kenneth M. Donohue for me and please keep me in touch with your progress via e-mail.
Thanks Mr. Sulivan.
Dear Mr. Alphonso Jackson
Director of HUD
Will you please read the following e-mail attachments concerning the Pendleton Apartments in Shreveport, Louisiana and personally see that my allegations and concerns described with-in be addressed by your office once and for all.
Thanking you in advance.
Kahlafa K. Cherry
Dear HUD
Enclosed, you will find a series of complaints, newspaper articles, and a general plea for help from me about the Pendleton Apartments in Shreveport, Louisiana. Will you review them in their totality and govern yourself accordingly. It is my wish that this matter be addressed by your office once and for all. In addition, it is my prayer that you audit this complex for unqualified tenants, overall unsafe conditions due to insect infestation, high crime rate caused by tenants and their guest, and a total lack of managerial concern from the Owner, Jack Brown.
Thanks and Sincerely yours,
Kahlafa K. Cherry
HUD: Once again I am contacting you about the deplorable conditions at the Pendleton Apartment complex. Drug Dealers are constantly standing around the apartment complex selling drugs. When they are not selling drugs they are shooting dice, playing loud music, and generally creating an unsafe environment for the tenants. Female Drug Users stand in the middle of the street in front of the complex soliciting men for prostitution. The Dealers & Prostitute often use tenants apartments for their illegal activities. Additionally, the owner/manager(s) are aware of the conditions in this complex. Over half of the tenants don't have utilities and some have been turned off for months. Empty apartments are not secured thus often used by drug dealers to conceal their wares and used by prostitutes to sell their bodies. Repairs at the complex takes for ever to be accomplished. Example: Apartment 215 had a stove fire on July 11, 2003 and no repairs have been done to date (Nov. 6, 2003). Example: The F.B.I. kicked in the door at Apartment 217 over 3 months ago and arrested the tenant for selling drugs from his apartment and the door to that unit is still not repaired to date. For these and other reasons the Owner/Manager(s) can only be classified as "slum landlords" and need to be relied from their ownership/Management. For Additional information about this complex please contact me at my e-mail address: or call me at (318) 221-7295. Thanks in advance for you prompt attention to this above mentioned matter.
Jack Brown, Owner
P.O. Box 7523
Shreveport, LA 71137
Phone: (318) 688-2948
Manager(s): Wendell "Pen" Thigpen
3353 Margorie Street
Shreveport, LA 71107
Phone: (318)207-2264
Bob Festervan
6850 King Pines Road
Shreveport, LA 71129
Phone: (318) 688-2948
The Pendleton Apartments in Shreveport, Louisiana is a multifamily HUD assisted property that is constantly out of compliance with HUD rules & regulations. In the past I have complained locally but to no avail in the area of civil or administrative action. All of my previous e-mails were handled by with no effective results.
My allegations are as follows:
Tenants do not keep utilities turned on in their apartments. There are cases that I have reported on before and the problem continues to exist over & over. Please check the local utility service against the occupancy log and you will discover that some may date over a year for lack of compliance.
Tenants use electrical cords to run from apartment to apartment to share electric service. In the past I complained about tenants using the lights in the common areas to provide electricity to their units which creates a very dangerous situation.
All the down stairs apartments have burglar bars with locks on them but the tenants don't have any keys to them. This is nothing but a fire trap for the residents.
The back gates are locked at night and prevent any egress in case of fire or other emergencies.
Maintenance is very slow to none existence for the tenants who report problems. Example: Ingrid A. Smith, Apartment 215, had a grease fire on her stove on July 11, 2003, which damaged her walls & kitchen window. There has been no repairs to date.
There is no way of contacting the owner or managers after hours...The owner refuses to give out his phone number or address to the tenants and the managers only appear on the first of the month to collect rent. Of course this is a typical pattern of a "SLUM LANDLORD."
Tenants use & sell drugs openly in front of owner/managers with no consequences such as eviction, etc.
Drug dealers sell Crack Cocaine & Marijuana on the property both day & night with full knowledge of the owner/managers. The complex is constantly on the news from anything from hostage taking to murder.
The Shreveport City Fire Department has made over 300 calls to this apartment complex in the last few years, most drug related responses.
Empty Apartment units are never locked and are freely used for all types of illegal & immoral acts by the general public.
People come in off the streets with loud music, vulgar language, fighting, and generally being vagrants...often late at night between midnight and 5:00a.m.
May I again remind you that in the past my complaints have fallen on deaf ears locally via the HUD office. The owner/managers have never been punished financially for their obviously exploits of the HUD rules & regulations. My prayer is that HUD investigate the management of this complex because they lack accountability both physical and financially. Please allow this correspondence to serve as my written request for your office to take effective and aggressive civil and/or administrative enforcement against the owner/managers of this property for violating & abusing HUD's requirements. There are many other reasons not mentioned that your office need to start debarment proceeding against the owner of this HUD assisted Property.
Please contact me at my e-mail address with the results of your efforts. Thanks in advance for your assistance in this pending matter.
Prostitutes use empty apartments to sell their bodies seven days a week. Pest (Roaches, scorpions, etc) are everywhere in the units and there has been no pest control maintenance for years. Some tenants apartments are fitly and unhealthy for the tenants and for their neighbors.
Raw sewerage has been running from the apartment complex into the streets for months and has never been properly corrected.
Chief Mike Campbell
Shreveport City Police Department
1234 Texas Street
Shreveport, LA 71101
Dear Chief Campbell:
Things has gotten out of control at the Pendleton Apartments with the Drug Dealers, Drug Users & Prostitutes. Most of these people are nonresident but some are also residents of the complex. All of their actions are illegal and against local, state and federal statutes not to mention HUD rules & regulations.
My prayer to you, Chief Campbell is to have your officers of District 3 to deliberately stop by the Pendleton Apartments constantly and engage the many people that are standing in front of the complex selling drugs, public drunkenness, loitering, prostituting, playing loud music and generally creating an unsafe & unacceptable environment for the tenants. They can easily enforce some common laws that these people are violating such as the following:
Louisiana laws concerning vagrancy (R.S. 14:107 VAGRANCY), I strongly suggest your officers start with enforcing that statute because it covers many of the surface problems. The trespass policy can also be enforced to help eliminate some of these issues.
The owner/manager can assist by applying the HUD regulations against drug use in a property that receive government assistance. The Supreme Court has ruled recently against any type of drug selling or use by any tenant(s) or tenant guess. The Court created a "zero tolerance" in this area. The owner can assist your office with eviction of any tenants that deals with illegal drugs or drug users.
Please communicate with the owner/manager(s) to see what you and your department can work out to eliminate this menace from the Pendleton. Thanks in advance for your cooperation in this deplorable matter. Please e-mail or call me if you have any need to communicate with me in the future.
Sincerely yours,
Kahlafa Khaaliis
The Pendleton Apartments
1034 Sprague Street
Shreveport, LA 71101
Phone: (318) 425-2720
Owner: Jack Brown
818 Unadilla Street
Shreveport, LA 71106
Phone: (318) 861-1813
Manager: Bobby Festervand
6850 King Pines Road
Shreveport, LA 71129
Phone: (318) 688-2948
Manager/Maintenance
Wendell "Pen" Thigpen
3353 Margorie Street
Shreveport, LA 71107
Phone: (318) 207-2264
Happy Veteran's Day:
What about the regulations on uniform standards for the design, construction and alteration of buildings so that physically handicapped persons will have ready access to and use of them in accordance with the Architectural Barriers Act, 42 U. S. C. 4151-4157. These standards are established for facilities accessibility by physically handicapped persons for Federal and federally funded facilities (Multifamily properties,etc).
The Pendleton Apartments did not meet even the minimum standards according to the existing requirement by Federal Statutes. There was not a single wheelchair ramp to a single apartment, nor was there any egress ramp out back suitable for wheelchair confined individuals to leave the property in an emergency. The entire Pendleton Apartments needs to be evaluated for uniform standards of accessibility for multifamily properties that serve the elderly and/or persons with disabilities.
Terry, will you please check into this complex's accessibility standards if this falls into your area of responsibility. If not, I will forward this e-mail to the HUD Department for them to respond accordingly.
Again, thanks for your professional assistant in this matter. Terry, because of concerned people like yourself, I honestly believe that things will become safe for the tenants very soon.
Later,
Kahlafa Khaaliis
PS "HUD, if the subject of the above e-mail fall within your area of responsibility, will you please investigate my allegations A.S.A.P."
Chief,
I'd like to meet with you regarding this email.
Calvin
Calvin Ben Lester Jr.
City Councilman District A
228 Spring Street Suite 220
Shreveport, La. 71101
(318) 425-4102
>>> kahlafa khaaliis 09/27/06 11:35 AM >>>
Dear Chief Campbell: Enclosed, you will find an
e-mail that I forwarded to you dated "Mon, 10 Nov 2003
13:44:16 EST" ...Chief, the message in this note to
you is self explanatory. The conditions at the
Pendleton Apartments have only gotten worst since I
communicated with your office. Once again, my prayer
to you is for HELP in getting the conditions at the
Pendleton back into civilized status.
Chief, give me a call to discuss again what we can do
to correct the many problems at this complex starting
with the murder that occurred just two days ago on
this property. thanks in advance, khaaliis cherry
673-9859
Monty: Congratulations on your new position on the Council, I know you will do a great job. As I promised you at your inauguration ceremony today we need to have a follow-up meeting about the Pendleton Apartments with the following principles present:
Chief Of Police 673-6900
Captain Wayne Smith 673-7383 cell: 455-2029 - (Community Policing, director)
Captain Tredris Smith 673-7040 Cell 455-3634
Patrol - Days 673-7239 - (Day Supervisor of area 1)
Patrol - Evening 673-7232 (Evening Supervisor of area 1)
Patrol - Midnights 673-7237 (Midnight Supervisor of area 1)
Corporal Mary j. Coburn CLO Area I 673-7236
State Representative Earnest Baylor
Resident 861-6993 Cell 518-6913 Office 635-1850
Councilman Calvin Lester
City Councilman District A
228 Spring Street Suite 220
Shreveport, La. 71101 Phone: 425-4102
Donzetta Kimble, Housing Director
Maronda Markhan and/or Sarah Roberts
Pendleton Development Corporation
533 Jordan Street
Phone: (318) 227-0906
Jack Brown, Owner
818 Unadilla Street
Shreveport, LA 71106
Phone: 318-861-1813
This forum will concentrate on law enforcement issues primarily because the gang members and drug users are still frequenting the complex. Please use your influence immediately with the Shreveport Police Department in having officers to increase their patrol(s) at the apartment via all three shifts to address this problem.
Thanks for your attention to this matter and Captain Wayne Smith will coordinate this pending future meeting with all the principles.
Wed, 18 Apr 2007 08:10:00 -0700 (PDT)
"kahlafa khaaliis" khaaliis1@yahoo.com
Re: Fwd: 2nd Notice: Pendleton Apartments
"kahlafa khaaliis" <khaaliis1@yahoo.com>, "Duane Huddleston"
<duane.huddleston@ci.shreveport.la.us>, "Tedris Smith"
tedris.smith@ci.shreveport.la.us
1034 Sprague
Shreveport, LA 71101
April 18, 2007
Re: Pendleton Tenant’s List
Shreveport Police Department
1234 Texas Avenue
Shreveport , LA 71101
Dear Assistant Chief Huddleston:
Thanks for your officer’s immediate response to the problems at the Pendleton Apartments. Enclosed, you will find the current tenant’s of the complex that your department requested. This list needs to be shared with the commanders of Area 1, alone with Corporal Mary J. Coburn, CLO of Area 1. Once again, thanks for your prompt attention to this pending matter.
Very truly yours,
Kahlafa “Khaaliis” Cherry
PENDLETON APARTMENT TENTANT LIST
100 FRANK TAYLOR
101 CARRIE COLEMAN
102 VIOLLA COOPER
103 WILLIAM ELLIS
104 JOHN DENNIS
105 BESSIE STEPHENS
106 JAMES CARTER / TYRONE CARTER
107 ROBERT HORTON
108 MARSHALL BOONE
109 FORDIE GIPSON, JR
110 ISABEL SMITH
111 ROY HORTON
112 JAMES JENKINS, JR
113 CHARLES CARROLL
114 IVORY YOUNGBLOOD
115 RENI POWELL
116 JOHN JETER
117 JOHN FORD, JR
200 JOE DANIEL
201 CHARLES ANDERSON
202 CHARLES TAYLOR
203 LANCE EDWARDS / FERN JAMISON
204 LAYONNE LAOAN
205 IRMA JAMISON
206 CURTIS WALKER
207 WILLIE NASH
208 RICHARD BROWN
209 BEBRA ELLIS
210 TAMMY WALKER
211 COYDRE JAMISON
212 THOMAS AUTRY, JR.
213 WILLIE NELSON
214 ANTHONY MAZEN
215 INGRID SMITH
216 JIMMY JOHNSON
To Whom It May Concern:
THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ARE BARRED FROM THE PENDLETON APARTMENTS. YOU WILL BE ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSIG BY THE SHREVEPORT POLICE DERARTMENT/POBATION & PAROLE OFFICE
ROBERT L. WAHINGTON CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON
DIONNE WASHINGTON BALDDIE
CHARLOTTE "BEANNA" ANDERSON PERRY (WHEEL CHAIR)
CARLOS JOHNSON BLACK (BLUE'S SON)
PRECIOUS GRIFFIN REVA MORRISON
ACTION JACKSON ANN JACKSON
ARCHIE RAY WHITEHURST CHICO WHITEHURST
KELVIN WHITEHURST "LITTLE MOE"
BARBRA "B.T." THOMAS LOIS WILLIAMS
LAVONE "VERN" SALON BEATRICE PEA
BIG MISSY PATRICA RHODES
DENO WASHINGTON DORA
EDNA FAYE DAVIS FREEMAN PALMER
GLORIA PERKINS HOLLYWOOD
JOHNNY K. KAPERTON RAMOND GODDREY
ROSE CAMPBELL STACY FUGENT
STICK & TRACY CARTER TASHA
TRUNELL GUIDEN DUSTY
ANGELA "MOOKEE" WILSON
FRANK WILSON
THIS LIST WILL BE UPDATED REGULARLY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:58:14 -0800 (PST)
jacksonl@legis.state.la.us
Senator Lydia P. Jackson:
Enclosed, you will find some articles taken directly from the Shreveport Times Since I have been trying to get things straight at The Pendleton Apartments. Many autrosities never make it to the news media so the attached information is only the tip of the ice burg. The major problems that exist at the complex are the gang members that seem to run things at via drug distribution and prostitution.
The tenants have no security guards, no mail service (for over a year), no on-site management, no pest control service, and no background checks on some residents...some of which have drug convictions which are against housing rules & regulations. Will you please review these articles and respond via e-mail to me about your suggestions and/or assistance. I will keep you posted concerning any efforts that are pending in the near future with the new Mayor and his administration.
Written by KHAALIIS CHERRY
on 7/13/2007
The problem that I see is that the process of collecting fedaral grant money has been bogged down in so much red-tape that people who really love New Orleans, and Louisiana are almost being forced to leave. They way the Road Home was originally set-up was to cater to their friends in Louisiana in the constuction industry. You might say that this is the reason why we are receiving the grant money so that we could re-build. What has not been addressed is that not only has Katrina destroyed people's home, some jobs were also destroyed and left floating down the streets. Everyone should have been given at least fifty-thousand dollars, and then who-ever need additional funds could apply for additional funds to rebuild. In case some are not aware The "Shaw group" in in Baton Rouge. When the Governor realized that her cronnies would not be getting all of the Road Home money--she came-out and decided that she was not going to run for re-election. Right before HUD changed to rules to give the howmowner a lump-sum payment, she was all for running for re-election. The affordable forgivable loan program is another fiasco. This money was touted as a God-send to low-income homeowners. What actually transpires is that not only is it income-based, it is also damage-based, just like the grant. To qualify your damage had to exceed the pre-storm value of your home ;which means that your insurance company would have already you. The affordable loan was never intended to help low-income Katrina victims. We have been dealing with a "Con" from the beginning.
Sharpen the guillotine.
To
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