Sticks, Stones, Gossip & Governance Part 2 of 2

Jerry Halberstadt Thu, 11/07/2024 - 19:34
“Oldtown” is a small city in the Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts. “Beatrice,” a Black, energetic middle-age woman who is a tenant in “Oldtown Housing Authority (OHA),” is the target of mobbing, including by tenants and staff calling her a bully (although there is no apparent basis for the allegation). She is the tenant commissioner of the OHA board, appointed by the mayor of Oldtown. The legal housing provider in public housing consists of five commissioners, one of whom is a tenant. In some housing authorities, the governance system is in turmoil. How can we remedy the breakdown in trust that affects everyone: tenants, the board, the executive director, the staff, and even the public? Can we find a way to create a more collaborative, transparent community and to value constructive input from everyone? This is Part 2; see Part 1 

Tags

bullying
harassment

Sticks, Stones, Gossip & Governance Part 1 of 2

Jerry Halberstadt Sat, 11/02/2024 - 17:44
Smiling woman looks at viewer

In some housing authorities, the governance system is in turmoil. How can we remedy the breakdown in trust that affects everyone: tenants, the board, the executive director, the staff, and even the public? Can we find a way to create a more collaborative, transparent community and to value constructive input from everyone? This is Part 1; See Part 2

Tags

bullying
harassment

Bullying & Democracy At Apple Village

Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 07/10/2023 - 21:22

 

Some tenants of Apple Village allege they are the targets of harassment, abuse, bullying, and deliberate actions to create stress. Members of each of the tenant associations accuse the other of bullying. Some blame the manager. The problems are pervasive. The situation may qualify as hostile environment harassment. Apple Village in Beverly has two HUD-subsidized apartment buildings for elderly and disabled.

 

Tags

bullying
legislation

Editorial: Reconciliation at Apple Village?

Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 07/10/2023 - 18:08

EDITORIAL: Reconciliation at Apple Village?

A cookout at Apple Village that was intended to bring people together for reconciliation instead revealed discord, stress, and pain.

Two opposed groups of tenants accuse each other of bullying and many interpret everything from a perspective of mistrust, fear, anger, and expectation of malice. One of the groups is trying to stop the conflict and invited all residents to a cookout. Neighbors do not trust neighbors and some do not trust the management. The situation demonstrates hostile environment harassment.

Tags

bullying

Bonny's New Links

Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 11/21/2022 - 18:19

By Bonny Zeh
October 11, 2022

I realized that people interested in bullying senior citizens/persons with disabilities needed information. Moreover, bully-victims need to know that they are not alone, even though bullies and mobbing groups try to make bully victims feel isolated. 

After over a year’s hiatus, I have gotten around to updating the general links list. I have found 22 new articles, blog posts, and other resources. I would like to highlight some of the more important links:

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bullying

Bullying Legislation To Address Public Housing Crisis

Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 11/08/2021 - 18:42
At last, a solid, well-researched, in depth article about major issues in public housing, including bullying, has been published by WickedLocal. The lead article by WickedLocal reporter, Willam J. Dowd, provides an excellent review of the issues around bullying, with interviews and quotes from some of the key players. Against this background, Dowd notes the work of the Stop Bullying Coalition to advance a strong ombuds bill to protect tenants of public and subsidized housing from bullying.

Tags

legislation
housing
bullying