President Bush to eliminate Hope

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Article published May 1, 2003Public housing, grant on agendaSARASOTA -- The City Commission and the Sarasota Housing Authority will meet this afternoon to discuss code enforcement in public housing and the Authority's application for a federal Hope VI Neighborhood Revitalization Grant.The Authority is applying for a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant to rebuild the city's four public housing complexes, which are plagued by mold, cockroach infestations and faulty electrical outlets.On Monday, the City Commission approved a rezoning of portions of public housing property to comply with application requirements for Hope VI.But President Bush has threatened to eliminate the Hope VI program, and City Commissioner Anne Servian said she wants the Authority to outline any plans it has to repair the properties if the grant falls through.Also at today's meeting, Servian said the Commission will discuss the city's plans for enforcing building codes in public housing complexes. In the past, neither city nor county officers enforced the codes, but Servian said city officers recently began external inspections.Last month, enforcement officers inspected several apartments in the Janie Poe apartment complex after children videotaped mold, leaking raw sewage and cockroaches around their apartment. Housing authority officials will present an update on their progress in cleaning up the mold at today's meeting, City Manager McNees said.The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall.