* RPCAN Responds to Alderman Moore's PR Stunt

The email support effort was done on behalf of the Morse Senior Apartments Tenant Association. The MSATA is the chosen and legitimate representative of the tenants of the building, and they do not see things the same way you do. I'm not claiming they are all right and you are all wrong (I'm not in a position to know). But I did not expect that you would be offended that people would ask you to support the tenant association in its effort. That was not my intent in agreeing to set up the 'blast' email on behalf of the MSATA. For my part, I try to recognize the ways you've been helpful on issues I care about like the greenview-greenleaf condo conversion or agreeing to schedule a community meeting on the TIF (by the way, is that date confirmed?) or the Big Box ordinance. (It's one of the many weaknesses of ultra-grassroots groups that have so few resources that they tend to focus energy on areas of disagreement, and I will grant you that has been the case between you and RPCAN more than either of us would like. I would be happy to send out a 'thank you' email to the same lists when you help the Morse Senior ApartmentsTenant Association get a security guard.)

I also thought it was clear -- perhaps I am mistaken -- that the messages are not blaming you or RPCC for Jay's failure to deliver the promised "state of the art" security, and recognize that you share our concerns about safety. I think it's obvious that RPCC puts more resources into anti-crime work than RPCAN does, but people we represent at 1528 are far from satisfied in this instance, and the MSATA is asking all of us to support them. The references to past problems are to point out that there is a history of problems (that would be another reason to 'go public'). In the past, the tenants have gotten organized, Jay tries to go around the tenant association, a few minor changes get made and the fundamental demand for on-going security is not met.

The MSATA called an emergency tenant meeting and sent a letter to Jay. At their request, I followed up with a phone call. No official response to those communications that I know of, except Jay implying to tenants that they should not be "bringing in an organization" (such messages could be construed as illegal retaliation). I assume you recognize the right of tenants to form their own tenant association and that Mr. Johnson should recognize and work with that group.

I do not doubt that Mr. Johnson wants a meeting to focus on tenant behavior and the degree to which they contribute to the problems. I was not present at the latest assault on Mr. Davis, but the report I heard was that he was attacked as he was backing his wheelchair out of his apartment to get into the hallway. Another recent report was of a person shoving her way in past a tenant that was leaving the building. Had Johnson installed the security tenants have asked for over the years, these problems would not have happened. The National Equity Fund recently visited about 20 senior affordable housing developments around the country. Every one of the properties in an urban setting had 24 hour security at the door. The Morse Senior Building does not provide state of the art security and does not have regular on-site management, both promised when the building opened.

Again, I do not blame you for Johnson's failures. I'm sorry if that message was implied. I do not doubt that you care about the people in the building. But based on past experience, establishing a real, long-term solution to the safety concerns at 1528 Morse will take some pressure from all of us, supporting the Morse Senior Apartments Tenant Association.