Well just when you thought that the Housing Authority saga couldn’t get any worse it just did.
So what has Authority Board Chairman Dennis Brunelle and his chief henchman Ed Spychalski done now? Hire an exterminator maybe? How about inviting me to meet with them to discuss the illegal trespass notice they served me with?
No they hired at great taxpayer expense the Crisis management firm of
Crisis Gramercy Communications.
This is from their website
Nothing is more important than your reputation and credibility. Gramercy Communications specializes in preparing clients for crisis situations and partnering with them in crisis situations to produce successful outcomes.
In charge of the Housing Authority case, they have brought in Eric Wohlleber a public relation spinmeisterHe claims to bring more than a dozen years of experience crafting and delivering compelling messages to the right audience.
So just so everyone understands
First Brunelle pays Ed Spychalski $152,000 a year along with a couple top of the line 4x4’s to tool around in, an expense account for gas and gourmet meals. Then Brunelle gives any member of Spychalsk's family with a pulse a job
The residents of the Housing Authority are told HUD has cut the budget so their rent will be going up $50 a month and by the way we don’t have any money for exterminators.
But they do have a enough money to hire Gramercy Communications and Eric Wohlleber to explain to us just why Brunelle and Ed Spychalski are great guys. Remember you the taxpayer is picking up the tab for this
I’m going to fucking vomit
33 comments:
Check out Brunelle's Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council on Foundation.org look for the ten years of 990 reporting. He earned 50,000. in 2003 and finished at 68,000.++ in 2007.
It will being interesting to see if the PR firm sat in on the Saratogian interview with Spychalski.
Anyone submit questions ?
Oh stop it JT. You must be making all of this up.
Spychalski and Brunelle can't be THAT stupid, blind, insensitive, incompetent, and egotistical. I'm sure they would hire a fumigator to take care of Jefferson Terrace, Allen Drive and the Stonequist Tower before they would even consider wasting taxpayer money on an utterly useless PR firm or raising the tenant's rent. Now please pass the Cool Aid.
Wow. Just wow. If the man had any fucking decency he would cut his own salary to PAY for the exterminators. $200,000K package.... ARE you SHITTING me?
There has been an abuse of power occurring for years at SSHA. Tenants are afraid to speak up because it's easy to find reasons to evict people ever since HUD gave individual housing authorities broad latitude in making their own rules in an effort to combat crime. HUD does nothing about issues brought to their attention by tenants unless someone files a lawsuit. Unfortunately, tenants don't have the resources to pursue legal action so most of them remain silent.
If I remember correctly, a couple of years ago there was another issue that was swept under the rug when the housing authority found money to set up a business run by a resident sex offender -- they purchased many thousands of dollars worth of gym equipment and had it installed at Stonequist where the staff had easy access to it whenever they wanted, and this sex offender was the personal trainer. Meanwhile, I heard that some tenants at the Terraces had stoves with only one operable burner, and refrigerators that were barely working, and there was no money for those kinds of repairs or improvements. I believe a few tenants raised questions to the board or to city officials but they were ignored by city officials and the board told them to stay out of it or "there could be repercussions."
I don't know how much of this is accurate but it would be nice if someone could look into this as well. Maybe that's also part of the reason why SSHA hasn't submitted a budget to the city council in several years.
Note to Dennis Brunelle: You're crazier than a bedbug. Why else would you put your reputation on the line to cover up Spychalski's fuck-ups?
Because something is "organic" does not mean it is without hazard. At the board meeting of the Authority Gerald Hawthorne announced that the powder they were using was "completely" safe.
Here is a link to the warnings associated with the use of diatomaceous earth.
http://www.ehow.com/list_6298568_diatomaceous-earth-warnings.html
You can't make this shit up!!!
Totally Amazing!
Where are you Mayor Johnson????
Can't find money to fix the huge bedbug problem for the people, not hard to find money to try to cover this shit up w/some honey.
All I can guess is Dennis Brunelle is as far into this problem as Ed, and I always had respect for him. Can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all of the time!
Keep on them John, like flies on shit :)
I have never heard of such a thing. IS this legal? Can HUD or this city support this kind of expenditure? Where is the Mayor?
According to the last meeting the BEDBUGS have not been addressed professionally. Maintenance is using on the job training.
A full investigation must be done in all areas related to TO THIS MESS. Now.
OF course the PR man sat in on the interview; I left a polite message for Mr. McCarty telling him Ed was NOT "on top of this from Day One", because I sat outside consoling a fellow 6th floor tenant who had a jar of bugs in her hand & told me Kathy Peterson Receptionist told her "get that away from me"...and neither Ed nor Maintenance ever contacted her; I brought MY jar down to Kathy (because NO ONE gets past Kathy to Ed!!) and she said "Ohhhh, so THAT'S what they look like"~I was crying so hysterically that someone had thought the unthinkable had happened to me - or someone passed away (God forbid)...and neither Ed nor Maintenance contacted me, yet Ed told us at meetings to let the Office know; never really specifying whether they'd actually DO anything...I guess they were just taking a "head count"? But then,after David Wright did the petitions...WE got the ONLY head count in the building! I wonder if the Public understands that David & I are just lowly tenants like everyone else, yet we did a head count that Management should have done!! I bet they STILL don't know the exact amount of the names I have who signed their petitions...that's because Ed has not said one word to me since I went to Council~and his "posse" is doing the same ; WHY IS IT that SO many tenants handed us their signed petitions...WHY couldn't Ed have done things OUR way:Individual pages that you signed either yes I have bedbugs, or No I don't have bedbugs.why did WE do this? I guess the gods were smiling on us, the tenants...because it was THIS catalyst that led us to City Council! But, citizens, understand (Ohhhh the Saratogian softened this story SO MUCH) Saratoga Housing Authority had NO MONEY?? NO FUNDS for the important things like a new boiler or new elevators (our ancient non-Otis elevators keep leaking oil from the ceilings!!)HOWEVER there IS enough money to pay for PR people to spin us? I don't care what religion you are, but there IS a God...and He is watching.
You hire a PR firm when your OWN personality is SO volatile & horrendous you need a STRANGER to fix your image to the Public!! Am I wrong? I believe HUD should be demanding the books NOW...not at the end of the month...get them IMMEDIATELY so they can't do any MORE hanky panky...and demand the hard drives to all the computers
I can tell you about this sex offender/ excercise guy: I had my own personal story that I reported to Mary Bonner from Catholic Charities, who once had an office in our building: He was giving a free 1/2 hr session for people to see if they could do the excercises. While my session was going fine,suddenly he gets up...turns round (however there was a wall length mirror & I saw it ALL) and let's say he was in "full bloom" at the crotch!! I had NO IDEA at that time that he was a sex offender; the reason I got PTSD the first time was because of a "physical" attack by 2 guys; HOW DARE they allow this guy to WORK here! Also, there was a tenant moved in August 2011 & not 3 weeks after he moves in, a Colin something, I'm calling the cops to report my neighbor whose arm he broke after trying to rape her! Turns out this guy had attacked a woman on the outside, then went back & burned down her house!When the Maintenance Mgr heard this, he was TOTALLY ticked off, because a family member had once been attacked by Colin also!! He couldn't believe the guy was in here...well, not for long because he wasa arreested & moved out. WE are a LOT of women living alone in this building & this THUG got to move n here...we have questioned the screening process many times at meetings with Ed, but are always told the "ACLU SAYS" we have to give housing to anyone who qualifies. We'd heard this Colin guy had a letter~possibly computer-generated, I was told~from Kirsten Gillibrand's office...and I guess no one followed up...or even bothered to see his list of crimes against women...THIS PLACE is full of many many stories...I'm just scratching the surface...and anyway...a LOT of people who live herfe read your blog, JT, and every time I write something, then visit with some friends in the Great Room downstairs,ollie westcoot or myrtle clapp are loud-talking about how "people only know how to get on the internet to say things"...DUH! WELL what they think is like family, we should NOT be telling "our stuff" to the outside world...that posse goes down to the community living roopm every night from 6-7 & squawks my name about every night, I've been told...and no one else gets to use the sofas or chairs because they sit there and bash me, Teresa; I consider the source & stay away from the venomous vibes.People come to visit their family here, come over to talk to me & give me hugs and words of support; people in Stonequist who don't even HAVE the bugs to their knowledge, come up to me & thank me for what I did...over & over...THAT makes me feel great; And Ollie YOU are running for the board of Director seat??? YOU CANNOT REPRESENT ME WITH YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD ME...THE MEMBERS ARE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT US ALL...and neither YOU, nor Johanna Dushelek are doing that!!!I CONTINUE TO HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGH Teresa Grocki (yes Ollie, & company, I am NOT afraid to sign my name.
I have an audio recording of me talking to the front office of stonequist on oct 3rd 2011. The recording clearly states that this is my 3rd time in the past month in addressing the bedbug problem. My first two meetings with the office, I asked if Ed would call catseye pest control and give them permission to come into my apartment and spray (catseye needed permission from the landlord/manager of stonequist to spray in apartment)...Ed said "he does not trust catseye"...i even asked if he could recommend another pest control company, I again was denied....I even offered to pay but again was denied....all the above information is quite clear in my audio recording with Kathy that works in the front office of stonequist......now this is a direct violation of New York state tenant laws (warranty of habitibility)...why is Ed still working here, why has'nt the police or mayor brought charges against him....lets ask katie Sicko's saratoga cop husband...or ed's best friend the mayor.....I am really surprised that someone has not beat up Ed yet or try to run him off the side of the road.....he is making enemies quick
my refrigerator pops and bangs...when the motor goes on, I've timed it 53 minutes at a time - it runs SO LOUD that I have to turn my TV up at least 4 columes...it's SO full of mildew and rust around the doors, I know for a fact Ed said they got 180 new refrigerators over the summer...I have said I need one and never got contacted so they could inspect mine...the condensation around the doors? I'm constantly trying to dry it with towels..lI'm SURE I'll be blamed for the mildew stains...and duly charged;I know you're reading this: yes, #612 Stonequist needs a new fridge please!
just to let Ed know...there is an audio recording of someone talking to kathy (Ed's guard dog of stonequist) asking for permission to get their apartment sprayed....the person was denied even when they said they would pay for it, they even asked if ed could recommend a pest control company. (talking with this person, they wanted catseye to come in and spray but catseye needed permission from the manager/landlord aka Ed to come in to stonequist and spray)....this audio recording is in fact dated oct 3rd 2011 and is the persons 3rd attempt to get ed to give permission.....so in fact ed has lied over and over again.....why is this asshole still in charge why is he not in jail......lets see, katie sicko's saratoga cop husband (katie sicko works in the office and may be ed's long lost sister) Ed also has in hands in the mayors pocket and vise versa......I am really surprised someone has not tried to run Ed off the road or at least beat him up.....Ed is making enemies quick, his places to hide are going away, his so called friends are turning their backs on him.....put this clown in jail and save the taxpayers some money
You can't make it up. Please, someone, get these guys out!
the only problem with this: if they fire Ed, we could end up with Gerard in charge!
How did they find money to hire a PR, but not find money to hire a professional exterminator? I demand you answer this question Ed Spychalski.
Last night someone posted a comment in the saratogian about the sex offender and gym equipment, and how the board told the tenants to stay out of it or there could be repercussions, and this morning the comment was removed by the saratogian. If the saratogian is so committed to getting to the bottom of this shit, why did they remove a comment that could invite scrutiny of other questionable decisions this board has made during the past few years?
I tried to register to comment in the Saratogian, (even though I am POSITIVE I already have done that since I've posted there before) and it would NOT even accept a sign in OR a new registration from me! Odd...must be those storms on the Sun messing with MY intents...so I left a phone message to McCarty this morning saying that they were too soft on Ed, and correcting some of the (let's call them) "errors" in his answers to questioning.
Keep it up John...Again, it seems as your the only one willing to tell the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me god....
This is insanity. How did this facility go from Senior Housing to 'having' to take anyone including convicted sex offenders. Before long NO ONE is going to want to live there unless they have no other options. Once all the poor seniors move out, the community will be left with a unregulated mental health facility and dumping ground for registered sex offenders.
WHERE IS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ON THIS!!!!!!!
How far down does this City have to go before something is done.
Since JT and this blog seems to be the only active source of REAL information, it would be good if ALL of the stories lurking out there could be made public. The nightmare that this is turning into shows a REAL breakdown in the oversight of this facility.
Maybe the PR firm is not just to address the current fiasco, but the one that is coming once the books are open, the FED steps in, the FOILS are actually answered, the nepotism is exposed and all of the other things that we have yet to learn about.
Thank GOD, Hank Kuczinski and the crew did not get to build the 37 low income apartments behind the Stonequist building several years back. Can you imagine what a clusterfuck that would have turned into. Unbelievable.
How about a community petition to get HUD (the hell with the SS Housing Authority) to turn the Stonequist Tower BACK into senior housing the way it was originally CHARTERED.
Our retired citizens deserve better. This is a disgrace.
I live in stonequist and am neither a sex offender or elderly, I am 10% disabled vet and unemployed.....that is the only reason I moved in here....now as far as who else is in this building.....well yeah there is some really crazy people that need 24hr care........but the point is....here it is Jan 25th 2012, my apartment and floor was treated by Ed's crew weeks ago (twice) and the bugs are still around. Ed does not care how he spends the tax payer dollar.
Lets ask Jonathan, Ed's son how he and his friends enjoyed the fireworks from ontop of the stonequist building on the 4th 2011.....im sure that it's breaking some fire code and saratoga's fire marshall would love to know that.....but then again, Ed may have some odd exuse why is son and his friends were on top of the roof that night
meeting with the mayor on the 31st......heard that he would answer our questions (I doubt that) and of course heard that it will be in the stonequist building......(of course, so John cant be heard....yet it's a public meeting)
Hopefully someone will go to the meeting to and get some video or audio for John. Although, I think John should ask Ed again if he can come to this meeting, that way Ed will have his lackies with badges there and the board will see he's wasting taxpayer dollars. I'm sure Franck will ask "WTF do you need six police officers for?". Although John could be invited by resident, and could have the HUD rules/policy printed out in his hand. :)
Speaking of the exercise/sex offender guy, didn't Pastor John object to him. And then I believe Big Ed saw to it that Pstor John got kicked out of the Terrace. Does anyone remember this story and know what happened to Pastor John?
Im a resident and will be recording (video and audio) the meeting.....and john if u want an invite, say the word.....u know who I am....the pissed off marine
I don't know why Pastor John was kicked out of Stonequist & Jefferson but he helped MANY MANY people with food,spiritual comfort and many other things. Like my great old dad would say he got f**ked but didn't get the kiss that went with it...how sad that this good-hearted Christian man was sent packing and made to look a fool by Master of Ceremonies Ed Spychalski, rumors were rampant, but we all knew in the end it was ES "running him off"; I believe HE is another good man who isn't allowed to step foot on SSHA property!!I'm HOPING that many of our good Saratoga private citizens and the people who didn't get to speak out at the "Bored" of Directors' fiasco will be in attendance on Jan 31 at 2 pm! Be there or be square, as they say!
This is interesting. About Spychalski's son the security guard, the original newsletter (April 2011) given to all tenants had his picture on it and under the name Johnathon S.B. Spychalski it said "Head of Security." But if you go to their website and read the online version of the April 2011 newsletter, the words "Head of Security" have mysteriously disappeared from beneath his name and picture.
Guess maybe someone doesn't want the public to know he was hired as "Head of Security" long before the bedbugs arrived.
So, 31 January,7 pm, City Hall, Commissioner John Franck is holding a Workshop/meeting for the public and calling on the entire Board of Directors to attend; IF you read Dennis Brunelle's statement in today's Saratogian, he says he's sorry (Ohhhh so sorry, because he's in FLORIDA ON YOUR MONEY!!) but he won't be able to attend...and then he goes on to state that every board member should be there!! (?!?!?!?!?) this is a PERFECT EXAMPLE of how this building has been run, for, if I recall correctly...Dennis Brunelle IS a member of that Board of Directors...Mayor Scott Johnson will be at Stonequist to speak with residents that very afternoon at 2 pm, so this is going to be one very busy day for everyone.oh, by the by...Eric Weller, Board Member went to New Orleans once & brought back a bunch of those cheesy plastic necklaces for people in attendance at one of the Board Meetings last year. (doesn't it seem they always seem to go to places where there's gambling????) Eric likes to bring back trinkets to gift the Board members & those in attendance at monthly Board meetings...he likes to travel a LOT, because I notice his seat is usually empty-(let's go to the videotape!) I guess he's learning about how to proficiently run a Housing Authority on these junkets?? NOT! It's YOUR MONEY, citizens of Saratoga Springs..SHOW UP at City Hall 7pm, Jan 31.
All online versions of the 2011 newsletters identifying Johnathon Spychalski as either "Head of Security" or "Security Guard" have been edited so that they no longer include his name or title. The headers for his little columns have also been edited -- on the original paper newsletters which were distributed to tenants they say "Security's Two Cents" but online they've now been changed to "SSHA's Two Cents."
Looks like they're desperately trying to remove the evidence that Spychalski promoted his son in violation of Civil Service regulations. How stupid do they think people are?
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