Section 8 fraud topic of discussion
LNVC meets in exclusive location
Lancaster, Calif. -- Every first Tuesday of the month, the Lancaster Neighborhood Vitalization Commission meets to discuss the improvements of the city and how to make it a better place for residents.
Usually the meeting is held in the City Hall Council Chambers, but this past Tuesday, the meeting was held in the EOC, a room in the Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization department within the City Hall. Despite the meeting being a public gathering, those interested in attending were obligated to one, figure out where the meeting was being held (no redirection signs were posted at the former location), two, request access to the meeting. In order to get into the EOC, a secured door must be opened.
The purpose of the meeting was a public study session, according to department secretary Brenda Tate.
The presentation of Senior Investigator Clint Dragoo, of the Bureau of Investigation, was on public assistance fraud. In his presentation, he explained that public assistance fraud however small, and is a problem, it is significant enough to warrant attention.
Dragoo repeatedly emphasized that although everyone on Section 8 is not a criminal, many criminals take advantage of public services.
Also in the meeting, Elizabeth Brubaker, director of Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization mentioned the urgency to utilize the system more efficiently in order to minimize fraud within Lancaster.
“We need to have more meetings, not just Commission meetings, but meetings meetings,” Brubaker said during session.
When asked what she meant by that she said, “Sherry (Marquez) and I will be meeting with Norm (Hickling) and other county people about what could be more effective for running Section 8.”
The commission was particularly concerned with how the elderly Section 8 recipients would react to more aggressive Section 8 screening measures and possibly invasive home searches.
However, Brubaker reassured the commission that the elderly were in fact comfortable and supportive.
On the commission are reappointed members Tim Sturtevant, Bret Banks, and Larry Grooms.
New members include Steven Derryberry, Lisa Moulton, David Sinclair, and Lewis Stults.
The Antelope Valley has been battered by negative press regarding complaints of discrimination and abuse of power on part of authorities in Section 8 housing. A lawsuit was filed by a local organization, The Community Action League (TCAL) in conjunction with the local chapter of the NAACP brought the concerns to light.
Since the issue was made public, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors decided to suspend funding for Section 8 investigators for both Palmdale and Lancaster until a thorough investigation was completed.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors went behind closed doors today to discuss funding for investigations into Section 8 housing fraud in Lancaster and Palmdale amid allegations of racial discrimination.
The county stopped funding for the probes in June, instituting a 90-day moratorium when allegations of racism were raised.
More than $5 million has been awarded to public housing agencies in California to supply permanent housing and case management for the state’s 2 million veterans, said Eric K. Shinseki, secretary of veterans affairs. The announcement was made recently.
“This initiative will strengthen our ongoing efforts to eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015 and improve quality of life for veterans,” Shinseki said.
LANCASTER, Calif.—It’s official. The cities of Lancaster and Palmdale are being sued by community members and Section 8 residents for alleged discrimination against Blacks and Latinos in public housing.
According to the complaint filed Tuesday by the Community Action League and the NAACP, as well as two private members of the community, the cities named have discriminated against Section 8 families by implementing policies that directly affect the living quality of Blacks and Latinos.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—An Antelope Valley community group sued Lancaster and Palmdale officials today, alleging the cities engaged in practices meant to drive out Black and Latino residents.
The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of the Community Action League, the California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and two unidentified residents who allegedly faced racial discrimination.
