"Ahhhhh,Wait one minute! It's not 'free money', IT'S MY TAX MONEY their giving away! "
Posted on 03/14/2008 12:46:50 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
BOCA RATON — A crowd of more than 500 people waiting for hours this morning for housing voucher applications were dispersed by police in riot gear at the Boca Raton Housing Authority when the applications ran out sooner than expected.
The action prompted complaints that officers used excessive tactics and housing authority officials were incompetent in their planning.
Two people were arrested and six to eight people hospitalized for exhaustion during the ordeal.
Hundreds of people, mostly mothers who had spent more than eight hours in line, were forced to leave the property at 2333 W. Glades Road by 30 Boca Raton Police officers, including SWAT team members, who walked toward the crowd in unison holding their police shields up about 10:30 a.m.
"Leave or face arrest," police officers shouted at the crowd as they urged them out of the housing authority parking lot. People were made to leave the vicinity altogether, with officers forcing them to cross the street and move toward their cars.
The overwhelming turnout of people desperate for housing money came as little surprise to Suzanne Cabrera, president of the Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County.
"This is an indication that housing it's still a huge problem," Cabrera said this afternoon. "It's a reflection of people's concern for housing, their uncertainty. I got people today asking me: was this my last chance to get housing I can afford?"
Several other things, such as mortgage foreclosures and high gas prices, are contributing to that feeling of insecurity and desperation, she said.
So whenever word gets out that voucher applications are being handed out, which she said doesn't happen very often, people get full of hope.
Judith Aigen, executive director of the city's housing authority, said once applicants meet the economic and background requirements, those who get a voucher technically must live within Boca Raton for one year, but housing agencies in Palm Beach County have a "hand-shake agreement" allowing people with vouchers to live anywhere in the county during that year.
A study the council conducted Jan. 29 shows the number of people needing housing is still pretty high.
"Housing is still as valid a concern as it was when we lived in different times," Cabrera said.
Police had been at the housing authority since about midnight, a few hours after people started lining up outside for Section 8 housing voucher applications.
Some people lay down blankets and pillows to camp out until 9 a.m., when the housing authority had advertised they would hand out applications.
The line was already hundreds deep, so police asked Aigen to come to the property.
"There were traffic issues, disabled people who couldn't breathe well, children standing in line," she said.
The agency, worried about the size of the crowd, decided about 2 a..m. to hand out about 500 applications and reserve a few for later.
"We didn't expect so many to show up," Aigen said. "We thought we had enough area to accommodate all the people. It was not a good judgment call. The neighborhood wasn't equipped."
But handing out the applications early did nothing to stem the flow of potential applicants.
By 10 a.m. the crowd had swelled to more than 500 people, with most unaware that the bulk of applications had already been passed out.
The parking lot was a mass of women nursing crying babies, pushing strollers and waiting anxiously for officials to give them information.
People grew agitated. Several fights broke out. Police and firefighters said they were prepared if things were to turn violent on a large scale. Nearly 50 firefighters and paramedics from the city, county and Delray Beach set up across the street in the Town Center mall parking lot.
Then an official came out of the housing authority building and announced through a megaphone that disabled people should come forward.
Instead, the entire crowd surged forward. People fell down and were close to being trampled, witnesses said.
"That's when all hell broke loose," said Shannon Pierce, 26, of Lake Worth. Pierce, who is six months pregnant and had been waiting in line since 6 a.m. "We almost got trampled over."
Authorities decided to shut things down.
Police told the crowd they had to leave. Angry and disappointed, many of those waiting stalked off.
Those who remained were soon dispersed by police in riot gear, many shouting and complaining.
"Frustration builds after you have been in line for hours," said Robert Nelligan, Boca Raton Fire Rescue division chief. "Then you are told 'no.' Emotions can take over."
Angelica Rivera, a 28-year-old mother of five who had been pleading with officers to let her drop off her housing application, refused their orders to leave the property. She was handcuffed and dragged off to a police van, charged with disorderly conduct, disobeying a lawful order and resisting without violence. A second person was booked on similar charges.
In general, however, the crowd broke up peacefully. Many people remained on the scene, but off of authority property.
"We think we handled it with restraint," said police spokeswoman Sandra Boonenberg. "We had good communication with the people, the crowd cooperated, and we avoided any negative issues. We were very pleased with the way it was done and that nobody get hurt."
"If we can control the situation by our presence, that is the best possible outcome."
Most of the crowd disagreed.
"We're all working people and we're all bitter right now," said Deborah Davis, 37. "To be turned away like this hurts."
People in the line said they came overnight, from as far away as Riviera Beach and Pahokee, to apply for the housing subsidy.
"I'm very angry," said Nora Jones, 55 from Lake Worth, who said she had been there since 5 a.m. "Very disappointed. It's so unorganized. They are asking everyone to leave."
Amanda Palmer, 23, waited in line for hours with her 3-month old daughter. Palmer is staying in a maternity home, from which she must move out by June.
"That's why I'm here. This is my first child," Palmer said. "We really need it."
Shayla Williams, 22, of West Palm Beach, was angered by the police tactics.
"This place is going to get shot up later," she yelled to officers. "They can't treat us like this."
Not, apparently, gratitude at being given something for nothing.
These people aren't homeless or needy- they just want free money.
At any rate, your folks have a never-ending source of entertainment with the local government.
Cheers and be safe this weekend. My buddies on the "American-Irish Olympic Drinking Team" are training for Beijing in NYC this weekend. Expect beer shortages...
“Angelica Rivera, a 28-year-old mother of five...”
Bet she’s single.
“We’re all working people...”
Bet not.
“That’s why I’m here. This is my first child,” Palmer said. “We really need it.”
What she NEEDS is a job (a husband wouldn’t hurt, either).
“This place is going to get shot up later,” she yelled to officers. “They can’t treat us like this.”
Treat her like WHAT, exactly? Like a self-entitled, demanding POS? Was this idiot arrested for making terrorist threats? Why not? How much longer must ordinary people and the police be treated to such behavior by these people before the public starts making demands on THEM?
When are we going to stand up to these people and start making them responsible for their own life choices and behaviors?
>>”This place is going to get shot up later,” she yelled to officers. “They can’t treat us like this.”<<
Kind of sounds like a terroristic threat
“this is my first child”
No doubt, the first of a dozen which she will demand that the taxpayers take care of.
Bet not.
If so, how do they have the time to stand in line 8 hrs to apply for free money?
People grew agitated. Several fights broke out.
Instant gratification, Democrat voters expect to get ‘change’ but will end up with many more ‘hand outs’. Low tax rates for the rich would offer more opportunity for these poor to work and meet their own housing needs.
A public notice said the housing agency would give out applications starting 9 a.m. Wednesday. But hundreds of people started camping out the night before at the office on Glades Road . Boca Raton police called Judith Aigen, authority executive director, to the office around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday as the crowd grew, and she decided to give out the applications then.
Honestly, I get upset when I get lied to. Apart from the larger issue of giving away free money confiscated from taxpayers, I can understand their frustration when they're told to be there at 9am and the ones who cooperate get shafted.
I'll bet we'll hear this later today: The obvious solution to this dilemma is MORE government intervention in our lives. Please, mister politician, bend us over again! Take even more of our money and give it to everyone who shows up! yay, socialism!
They should not have given any out prior to the appointed time.
I stopped by a real estate office yesterday. I saw half a dozen condos listed at $100,000. These were in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Lake Worth. One in Delray Beach was $42,500 and it did not say that it was a 55+ community. I didn’t even look at the listings in West Palm or Riviera Beach.
"Ahhhhh,Wait one minute! It's not 'free money', IT'S MY TAX MONEY their giving away! "
The overwhelming turnout of people desperate for housing money came as little surprise to Suzanne Cabrera, president of the Housing Leadership Council of Palm Beach County
Let’s see, the housing market is in the toilet, the stock market is down, the economy is losing jobs, we are in a pre-recession and this women did not realize that people might turn out in droves????? What is up with her????
Disgusting. It looked almost like the New Orleans Superdome crowd. Wait, they are interchangable? Of course, free is free, no matter where you give it out. Especially when we “owe” it to certain groups. In this case, you had to be a sow, have had one or more litters with multiple last names, have no husband around, and be willing to be loud and demanding. The result: Instant success with both the federal and state government.
Welcome to life in the Worker's Paradise, Deborah.
wow....intersing!
desperate for housing money, but apparently NOT desperate enough to get a job and earn it.
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