What are they thinking in Smithtown?

[Jrprofess]

Originally Posted by opelske

Is it only the white neighborhoods that are "ridiculous" and "very homogenous?" Do you think the same of black neighborhoods or towns? Or other towns with a majority hispanic? It's like going to a fishing village and complaining about too many fishermen. People should chose where they want to live and no one should dictate or attack them, white or black or anything in between.

Not sure why you went on the attack buddy. I live in Smithtown. Who's complaining? I believe my reply from months ago was in response to one of the posters discussing a flood of diversity coming into the area. I do not think that is the case. Just an OBSERVATION, not an opinion on whether that would be good or bad. I said "ridiculously" meaning "very high"...nobody else took this as a negative connotation on the white race. Just a reference to it being a very high percentage. My opinion has always been that if Smithtown wants the federal funding they need to follow the rules/laws. If they do not like how the program works, stop participating. Pretty straightforward. As for "very homogenous" that is called an adjective, referring to all the same. Again, an observation in response to another posters diversity reference. I am white, and Smithtown is 90%+ white. I would describe the community as fairly homogenous. Meaning all the same...other than my support of the program benefiting people like the elderly I have no opinion on the racial bias this issue brought up. Relax and try reading all of my postings.

[sean sean sean sean]

You know....for as much as folks on here fret about their kids going to the right schools or whatever, a lot of the parents who post on here seem to have a glaring reading comprehension problem. No offense opelske, it's just something I've noticed over the last year!!

[totheclosedminded]

I happened upon this thread while searching for information for a grant I am writing to provide services under a program called Family Self Sufficiency. Ironic that so many people with so little information and misconceptions posted such hateful and negative comments dating back to 12/07.

To those that state "I did it myself and live in "whatever" town," it must be difficult to be so knowledgeable about what it takes to succeed and to have the ability to see into a persons life or be able to put yourself in to each mind and pair of shoes to know what each person encountered in their life.

I am not arguing for either side, but the facts are not one person posting knows what the other person has encountered, why they made the choices they did, why they felt compelled to make choices, why they made what appear to be simple stupid choices, who knows why? Some b/c of immaturity, some selfish, some probably what was thought to be a rational thought at the moment......

The Section 8 subsidy program provides rent subsidies to low income families. Each family is sibject to a criminal background check. The program is designed to allow owners of rental properties to lease a unit to a subsidized family. The Housing Agency does not "place" the family anywhere, the family selects the unit and the agency then determines whether the unit meets the housing quality standards.

I read that "all participants" do not take care of the unit and you would know where a S8 unit is just by looking. You would not in most cases. If the families are forced to select a unit in a poor area, subsidized and unsibsidized units end up being of the same quality. I see racism and stereotuypes re alive and well on LI.

The families are mostly disabled or working families, not people lying on their couches and collecting from the government. Do those families exist? sure, but like anything else in this world, the negatives get the headlines. Sensationalism gets you fired up and "I pay for those units in my taxes" comes out of your mouth. Has anyone ever been the beneficiary of a particular piece of funding "pork" secured by their local elected offical? I am certain the families that need housing find the need for those little league kick backs as useless as some people seem to find the housing crisis.

The property owners in a bad situation are equally to blame for any property that appears in poor condition. The owner can be an active owner an check on the property. The Agency inspects minimally once a year and on request. Well run agencies push the participants and owners to a higher standard. Ask that owner if the Agency makes a difference depending on the administration. The answer is yes.

To hatefully and ignorantly make comments that suggest all people in need of assistance must be lazy good for nothing criminals that will deflate my property values is so closed minded that I do not even know how to resond.

If you are so high and mighty then continue on your "boot strap" high and mighty path and purchase a home in an area where there is little rental housing that is affordable and you will not have to be "infected" by the poor peple.....oh wait, there are so few places that are affordable, so you can live anywhere and be safe..........I personnaly hope that none of the elitists lose their jobs or become disabled unexpectedly, I cherish my job and what I have earned each day but never do I feel compelled to profess the all knowing high and mighty persona, because "except for the grace of god there go I(p.s. I have not set foot in a religious establishment for 15 years to pray so I am not some extremeist).

learn the facts, not what you "know to be true" oh by the way to the real estate agent families on the S8 program use agents and do pay for the services themselves, some seek assistance, treat the family as you would any customer, the fees are the same.

The agency does not select homes nor sirect people where to live, the program is a portable program good any where in the US and PR.

Whether subsidized or not the families will live somewhere.

A family living on the edge is better off on S8 and for the areas with rental housing, you may wish to recondiser, with S8 you do have an agency to force the family and the owner to maintain the unit, if it were a rental without s8, same family, who would you call? code enforcement?

nothing in this world is perfect, none of us are perfect, I niether argue for supportof or detestation of the the subsidy programs, but I do support that the agencies owners and families should be accountable, if they are not seek out the boards responsible for the oversight and make them be accountable by speaking at a public meeting instead of ranting on some posting board. This is my first post to any such board and my last but the level of hatred and self rightousness compelled me to post............p.s. I am fortunately not a person in need of housing nor housing assistance, I am the person standing behind you at the 7-eleven shaking my head because you are on the cell phone and bad mouthing all those not as "smart" as you

[nancy thereader]

Thank you for your astute and caring post.

[TANaples]

I had to leave Smithtown one month and a year ago. I can still remember all aspects of that day as I packed up, went into that truck, and drove away. It tore my heart out. I did not want to leave, but had to because of my husband's job was now in Florida.

I live every day of my life here hoping someday to return to the place I lived for 20 years, raised my kids, and never intended to leave, until the day I died.

Yeah, it has changed in 20 years, but it still HOME to me, no matter where I have to hang my hat.

[OhBeeHave]

I read that "all participants" do not take care of the unit and you would know where a S8 unit is just by looking. You would not in most cases. If the families are forced to select a unit in a poor area, subsidized and unsibsidized units end up being of the same quality. I see racism and stereotuypes re alive and well on LI.

It's all over; LI is merely the tip of the iceberg.

There was a thread about section 8 housing within a planned development with an HOA on the Jacksonville, FL thread. Many of the same things you wrote about which you read on the LI site are repeated there, almost verbatim.