High Level Coverup of Public Corruption Continues in NYC
One year ago I had achieved my 30th anniversary on the job at a salary of $84,000/yr. I was fired in October 2009 due my disability that was caused, in large part, because I was dropped from payroll the same day I was to have had reconstructive ankle surgery in April 2009. Without income after November 2009, I was homeless by April 2010.
After applying for welfare, I was provided with assistance but am being forced to pay 65% of my monthly cash assistance grant ($134.00) towards my rent even though the state will pay up to the $1052/month fair market price for rent and my rent is less than the fair market price.
After finally getting a fair hearing scheduled, on June 16, 2010, Administrative Law Office Judge Kimberley Moss explained that her hands were tied and that she must affirm the agency decision that I pay 65% of my $210/month towards rent despite the fact that I presented evidence demonstrating that my Housing Cost Burden was far above the average family’s Housing Cost Burden as described on page 1 ABCDNJ.org’s Housing Terms and Facts.
A family’s Housing Cost Burden is considered average when the household pays up to 30% of its income on housing AND UTILITIES. 31% to 50% of the household’s income is considered moderate and over 50% is considered severe with regard to the payment of RENT AND UTILITIES. I am being forced to pay 65% of my cash assistance grant towards RENT ONLY. $74.00/month isn’t even enough to pay utilities, let alone phone or any other essentials, laundry, clothes, soap, toilet paper, deodorant, etc.
After explaining that her hands were tied, Judge Moss stepped down off the bench and handed me a form to sign withdrawing my fair hearing request. When I asked her what would happen if I refused to sign the withdrawal form, she stated that we would have to have a hearing. When I asked her wasn’t that a fair hearing that we had just had, Judge Moss advised that we would now have to go “on the record.” even though she never advised that we were “off the record.”
For those who continue to doubt, this is but more evidence that political partnerships run deep and the mighty Hudson River is not a barrier to corruption.
The intention is that I not live through this. Silence is consent…
