Scott’s Blog Experience

Ever notice the devil is in the details? PHA announces that crime has gone down nearly 24-percent in “reported crime on property owned” by the Peoria Housing Authority. Notice the word “owned”.

“We’ve definitely had vacancy problems in the past,” Coats said.

Ok, but what about all the property PHA doesn’t own but PHA residents occupy? Are the PHA property at 100 % occupancy? NO, in fact, some of the buildings PHA “owns” hold a very high vacancy. PHA subsides rental property that is not owned by PHA but by companies, corps, and individuals. Also, what about CHA (Chicago Housing Authority) and the Residents it is subsidising and transfering to Peoria? How can you boast about crime, when nobody is living in your property?

The data covers Harrison Homes, Taft Homes, and RiverWest and RiverWest South.

The article in the Journal Star then goes on to say:

And though crime is down, so is the number of people living in Peoria’s public housing. Overall, occupancy among PHA property is just shy of 660 residents - a near 15 percent decline from the year before, Coates said. Ok, that’s like boasting crime is down on vaccant piece of land.

“We’ve definitely had vacancy problems in the past,” she said.

Also attributing to the lower occupancy number, the PHA has demolished 300 units at Harrison and has plans to raze about 160 more.

“It is great news for us,” PHA executive director Brenda Coates said Tuesday. “We are not the housing of last resort.”

Brenda, Brenda, Brenda, that’s not saying much if nobody who qualifies for PHA living wants to live in your housing that YOU own. They are bypassing you, and living in a rental property. However, PHA is still paying their rent.

Yea, like I said, the devil is in the details. I hardly think boasting about the decline in crime around the PHA homes is hardly great for Peoria, when crime in our neighborhoods that PHA residents are living in, could be up.