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| Freddie Gray's housing complex still plagued by poor conditions and abuse | Freddie Gray's housing complex still plagued by poor conditions and abuse |
| (4 months later) | |
| After video footage went viral of Freddie Gray being arrested at the public housing complex known as Gilmor Homes – in what proved to be a fatal encounter – national attention turned to the deplorable economic and housing conditions that underlie Baltimore’s criminal justice problems. Harold Perry, a blind man who lives in a home across the street from the public housing development, says tour buses often stop there. | After video footage went viral of Freddie Gray being arrested at the public housing complex known as Gilmor Homes – in what proved to be a fatal encounter – national attention turned to the deplorable economic and housing conditions that underlie Baltimore’s criminal justice problems. Harold Perry, a blind man who lives in a home across the street from the public housing development, says tour buses often stop there. |
| But most people didn’t see the conditions inside the Gilmor Homes apartments. | But most people didn’t see the conditions inside the Gilmor Homes apartments. |
| Tyesha Harrell has lived at Gilmor Homes for what she describes as “five miserable years”. | Tyesha Harrell has lived at Gilmor Homes for what she describes as “five miserable years”. |
| For a long time, Harrell’s apartment didn’t have heat and she and her five children all slept in the same bed together to stay warm. There was black mold and a rat hole in the bathroom. According to Harrell, Baltimore housing blamed the tenants and did the most makeshift of repairs. A fire started in her apartment, she said, because her kitchen ceiling leaked above her ungrounded socket. | For a long time, Harrell’s apartment didn’t have heat and she and her five children all slept in the same bed together to stay warm. There was black mold and a rat hole in the bathroom. According to Harrell, Baltimore housing blamed the tenants and did the most makeshift of repairs. A fire started in her apartment, she said, because her kitchen ceiling leaked above her ungrounded socket. |
| In May of last year, Perry Hopkins, an organizer with Communities United, began to document the conditions inside the Homes for himself, taking dozens of photographs of the makeshift repairs such as plastic bags affixed to ceilings, left there for years at a time while the tenants waited on maintenance to perform repairs. No one seemed to listen to the complaints. | In May of last year, Perry Hopkins, an organizer with Communities United, began to document the conditions inside the Homes for himself, taking dozens of photographs of the makeshift repairs such as plastic bags affixed to ceilings, left there for years at a time while the tenants waited on maintenance to perform repairs. No one seemed to listen to the complaints. |
| “Communities United went to Nick Mosby with pictures of deplorable conditions and he was told of deplorable conditions in May and he never did anything about it,” Hopkins said of the city councilman, and former candidate for mayor, who represents the neighborhood. | “Communities United went to Nick Mosby with pictures of deplorable conditions and he was told of deplorable conditions in May and he never did anything about it,” Hopkins said of the city councilman, and former candidate for mayor, who represents the neighborhood. |
| Lucky Crosby, who worked for housing, also began to complain to his supervisors about the conditions inside Gilmor, which he has lived near all of his life, and was soon suspended – he said because of whistleblowing. | Lucky Crosby, who worked for housing, also began to complain to his supervisors about the conditions inside Gilmor, which he has lived near all of his life, and was soon suspended – he said because of whistleblowing. |
| “I was suspended for not even an altercation for me telling the supervisor what I’m going to start doing to a member as far as reporting him,” Crosby said. “I cursed. I said ‘I’m going to start reporting him and fucking him up because he’s doing this unsafe work that puts these residents at risk.’” | “I was suspended for not even an altercation for me telling the supervisor what I’m going to start doing to a member as far as reporting him,” Crosby said. “I cursed. I said ‘I’m going to start reporting him and fucking him up because he’s doing this unsafe work that puts these residents at risk.’” |
| Crosby says that when he showed up for a disciplinary hearing “they had armed guards to escort me out the building”. | Crosby says that when he showed up for a disciplinary hearing “they had armed guards to escort me out the building”. |
| Tania Baker, the deputy director of communications for Baltimore Housing, said it is “absolutely untrue” that Crosby was suspended for “bringing conditions inside Gilmor Homes to the attention of supervisors”. | Tania Baker, the deputy director of communications for Baltimore Housing, said it is “absolutely untrue” that Crosby was suspended for “bringing conditions inside Gilmor Homes to the attention of supervisors”. |
| But, according to Crosby, there was more to it than that. Baltimore’s housing authority, the fifth largest in the country, was in the middle of a big program to privatize its public housing. | But, according to Crosby, there was more to it than that. Baltimore’s housing authority, the fifth largest in the country, was in the middle of a big program to privatize its public housing. |
| Though repairs were left undone, a study by the Baltimore City Paper and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability found that the Housing Authority “has used money earmarked for housing the city’s most vulnerable residents to build up reserves that at their peak topped $150m, or roughly half the agency’s annual operating budget”. | Though repairs were left undone, a study by the Baltimore City Paper and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability found that the Housing Authority “has used money earmarked for housing the city’s most vulnerable residents to build up reserves that at their peak topped $150m, or roughly half the agency’s annual operating budget”. |
| “In Gilmor Homes there is a median income around $12k a family, you know,” Crosby said. “We live in a America. This is supposed to be a part of America and you can see the infrastructure is crumbling.” | “In Gilmor Homes there is a median income around $12k a family, you know,” Crosby said. “We live in a America. This is supposed to be a part of America and you can see the infrastructure is crumbling.” |
| As Crosby and Communities United continued to individually investigate the conditions at Gilmor Homes they uncovered something far worse than even the rat holes and black mold. Numerous women – who did not know one another – told them that the maintenance men were demanding sex in exchange for labor. When they were refused, the women alleged, the work didn’t get done. | As Crosby and Communities United continued to individually investigate the conditions at Gilmor Homes they uncovered something far worse than even the rat holes and black mold. Numerous women – who did not know one another – told them that the maintenance men were demanding sex in exchange for labor. When they were refused, the women alleged, the work didn’t get done. |
| Crosby alleges that, though he was suspended, he repeatedly brought these allegations to upper management of the housing department and pleaded with them to go talk to the women making the complaints. | Crosby alleges that, though he was suspended, he repeatedly brought these allegations to upper management of the housing department and pleaded with them to go talk to the women making the complaints. |
| He says he asked the chief human resources officer “about 25 times for us to go together and do this investigation because I felt a woman would be more apt to speak to another woman”. Crosby said she refused. | He says he asked the chief human resources officer “about 25 times for us to go together and do this investigation because I felt a woman would be more apt to speak to another woman”. Crosby said she refused. |
| “What hurts is at housing you got the chief of staff that are African American females,” Crosby said. “You got the access managers that are African American female, but yet still they show no compassion for the women here. None whatsoever.” | “What hurts is at housing you got the chief of staff that are African American females,” Crosby said. “You got the access managers that are African American female, but yet still they show no compassion for the women here. None whatsoever.” |
| Crosby was fired. He says they taped the notice of termination to the door of his home across the street from Gilmor Homes. His disciplinary hearing has been postponed indefinitely. | Crosby was fired. He says they taped the notice of termination to the door of his home across the street from Gilmor Homes. His disciplinary hearing has been postponed indefinitely. |
| Baker, the Housing Authority spokesperson, said Crosby was not fired for reporting the allegations. | Baker, the Housing Authority spokesperson, said Crosby was not fired for reporting the allegations. |
| “The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) learned of the allegations about sexual harassment at Gilmor Homes as a result of the AFRO-American article published on July 30, 2015 without any prior communication from Mr Crosby,” she said. “As a result of that information, HABC initiated its own investigation concerning the allegations and took appropriate personnel action. HABC is unable to discuss confidential personnel matters.” | “The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) learned of the allegations about sexual harassment at Gilmor Homes as a result of the AFRO-American article published on July 30, 2015 without any prior communication from Mr Crosby,” she said. “As a result of that information, HABC initiated its own investigation concerning the allegations and took appropriate personnel action. HABC is unable to discuss confidential personnel matters.” |
| It was Hopkins and Communities United who helped bring the allegations of sexual harassment to the AFRO-American newspaper, which publicized the sex extortion and hazardous living conditions. Ultimately, the offending employees were fired and are under investigation. Marilyn Mosby – the wife of Nick Mosby and the Baltimore City state’s attorney who is also prosecuting the police involved in the Freddie Gray case – subpoenaed the notes of reporter Roberto Alejandro as part of the investigation. | It was Hopkins and Communities United who helped bring the allegations of sexual harassment to the AFRO-American newspaper, which publicized the sex extortion and hazardous living conditions. Ultimately, the offending employees were fired and are under investigation. Marilyn Mosby – the wife of Nick Mosby and the Baltimore City state’s attorney who is also prosecuting the police involved in the Freddie Gray case – subpoenaed the notes of reporter Roberto Alejandro as part of the investigation. |
| In January, the housing authority announced it had settled the class action suit brought by 19 women who had been pressured to have sex and would split $8m. The two maintenance employees who were fired later sued the woman for defamation, seeking a million dollars from each. | In January, the housing authority announced it had settled the class action suit brought by 19 women who had been pressured to have sex and would split $8m. The two maintenance employees who were fired later sued the woman for defamation, seeking a million dollars from each. |
| Following the settlement, more than 30,000 people have signed feminist group UltraViolet’s petition urging Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to fire Graziano. | Following the settlement, more than 30,000 people have signed feminist group UltraViolet’s petition urging Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to fire Graziano. |
| “This is a horrifying story and what’s worse is that commissioner Paul Graziano knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it,” Shaunna Thomas, a founder of UltraViolet said in a statement. “This city turned their backs on its most vulnerable women who were forced to choose between getting life-saving and overdue repairs or giving into the demands of sexual predators. Women living in Baltimore public housing won’t be safe until there is someone else in charge. It is time that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stop the rape, abuse, and harassment in the city’s housing authority and fire commissioner Paul Graziano.” | “This is a horrifying story and what’s worse is that commissioner Paul Graziano knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it,” Shaunna Thomas, a founder of UltraViolet said in a statement. “This city turned their backs on its most vulnerable women who were forced to choose between getting life-saving and overdue repairs or giving into the demands of sexual predators. Women living in Baltimore public housing won’t be safe until there is someone else in charge. It is time that Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stop the rape, abuse, and harassment in the city’s housing authority and fire commissioner Paul Graziano.” |
| Current lame-duck mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has not heeded the call. But the recent mayoral primary in which Gilmor and Sandtown residents voted in record numbers, will likely prove the undoing of Paul Graziano, the long-time director of Baltimore Housing and the city’s most highly paid official. | Current lame-duck mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has not heeded the call. But the recent mayoral primary in which Gilmor and Sandtown residents voted in record numbers, will likely prove the undoing of Paul Graziano, the long-time director of Baltimore Housing and the city’s most highly paid official. |
| Almost all of the candidates pledged to fire Graziano, who makes $200,000, including Catherine Pugh, who won the Democratic nomination and is expected to be the next mayor. She reaffirmed that pledge this week. | Almost all of the candidates pledged to fire Graziano, who makes $200,000, including Catherine Pugh, who won the Democratic nomination and is expected to be the next mayor. She reaffirmed that pledge this week. |
| The residents of Gilmor agree. | The residents of Gilmor agree. |
| “He doesn’t know what it is to live in the hood,” said Shewan Owens, who lives in Gilmor. “He doesn’t know the fear of sending the kids to the corner store or of you having to travel back and forth to work five or six o’clock in the morning or the fear of walking to the bus stop from one corner to the next corner that you’re going to be shot,” she said. | “He doesn’t know what it is to live in the hood,” said Shewan Owens, who lives in Gilmor. “He doesn’t know the fear of sending the kids to the corner store or of you having to travel back and forth to work five or six o’clock in the morning or the fear of walking to the bus stop from one corner to the next corner that you’re going to be shot,” she said. |