Springfield Forward Interview

email address: springfieldforward@yahoo.com
website: http://www.springfieldforward.com/


1. What are your backgrounds and occupation?

George D. Pappas, Esq. - Attorney and businessman. Education: Honors Degree in Economics (London School of Economics); LL.B (first law degree, University of London); LL.M (Masters of Law, Widener College School of Law); working on Ph.D in Law (Birkbeck College, University of London). Owner of law practice and co-owner of ICLS - The International Center for Legal Studies (http://www.legaltutors.com/)

Ellen P. Pappas - businesswoman. Education: Long Island University (bachelors); Camden County Community College (computers and technology); holds active real estate license. Co-owner of ICLS - The International Center for Legal Studies (http://www.legaltutors.com/)

Richard Carpenter - businessman. Education: I believe he attended college in Worcester, although I will have to ask him which one. Computer technology professional.

Nikki Manion - businesswoman. Education: New England College. Licensed elder aide. Founder and owner of Elder Aide company.

We have about 30 core members and several hundred who work with us on an as-needed basis.



2. How did we get involved in this?

We got involved because we heard rumors about something being built in our neighborhood that was being put together through back room deals. We did some digging and were appalled to discover that deal were being made for a low-income only project to be built in our neighborhood without any input from residents. We thought that was improper and that the neighborhood should be involved in any decision about what happens in the neighborhood. We demanded public meetings. When the developer and the "connected" people who were "in on the deal" kept manuvering to insure no public meeting would ever be held, we knew we had to organize and do something.



3. How is the battle going.

While we have been able to delay the project for almost a year, our so-called Mayor just signed over monies for the project. Winn has too many connections on Beacon Hill and in HUD. Winn has spent decades building up a network within the Massachusetts political system and HUD and Winn pulls strings all over the place. In our City Hall the Mayor is more concerned with appeasing Boston than in being the Mayor of Springfield. He is more concerned with Winn than with his own constituents. Money talks. Our Mayor just signed off on releasing funds to Winn for the project, despite OVERWHELMING opposition from the residents of the City and from City Council. Also, we have had a Finance Control Board here for several years, all of whom are from Boston and ... what a huge surprise ... They support Winn and his project!



4. Are you aware Winn has come to Worcester?

We know about Chevalier Furniture but are unaware of the Old Voke School. All we can say is "Watch out Worcester, you will be turned into another Springfield." Worcester has worked hard and turned things around this past decade, but these Winn projects can undo all that hard work. In 2008 Forbes Magazine named Springfield as one of the "top 10 dying cities" in America. Concentrated low-income housing is the cause. Because of the high influx and high concentration of low-income housing, businesses have left, middle income families have left, investors will not invest here and our schools are a mess. If Worcester is already above the recommended 10% threshhold, you need to stop any further subsidized housing from being built. It will kill Worcester. Just come to Springfield and look at what it has done to this City. Our Main street and intersecting streets have hundreds of boarded up buildings, both commercial and residential. Most existing businesses are social service providers. This used to be the City of Homes. We are now known as the City of Social Services and Crime. Very, very sad.



5. Are we making efforts to combine with other cities?

We are trying to connect with ANYONE, ANYWHERE who is fighting the same fight.

There is a need for subsidized housing throughout this country, no doubt about it. However, there is a way to build it and a way to NOT build it. Warehousing and concentration of low-income housing is the way NOT to do it. It has never worked and it never will - it only perpetuates poverty and crime. This past year Atlanta knocked down their last low-income development. They are now building mixed income with a 10% cap on subsidized housing to be MIXED IN with market rate - a 10% Cap of low income housing mixed in among market rate. Atlanta is now changing the way they do things by concentrating on affordable home OWNERSHIP - a totally different animal and a model that works. People take pride in what they own.

Warehousing the poor perpetuates poverty, a lifetime of dependency, breeds crime and blight, causes business and middle-income family flight, and drains a City of resources. A bad idea all the way around. There are better ways to take care of those who need a hand-up.

So, we keep on fighting for better solutions and better options with anyone who cares to join us.

Is there anything else you would like to know?

Ellen Pappas