The Antelope Valley Times

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Mayor: Proposed Section 8 settlement is outrageous!

by •

R. Rex Parris

LANCASTER – Reacting to the proposed settlement by the County Board of Supervisors that addresses Section 8 discrimination allegations, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris issued the following statement:

“The public should be outraged that the County entered into a backroom deal to settle litigation (litigation that the County isn’t even a party to) which will hurt hundreds of thousands of law-abiding families and seniors.

The meritless settlement by County Counsel will drive up costs for everyone and sends the wrong message to the public – that committing housing fraud is acceptable.  This proposed settlement is not warranted based on the facts of the case and lets criminals know that they can act with impunity.”

Filed Under: Lancaster

113 comments for "Mayor: Proposed Section 8 settlement is outrageous!"

  1. I am on Section 8 housing. I keep my house and my yard clean . I get comments often on how beautiful my flowers and yard are . I hate it that I get judged because of the actions of a few. Maybe more than a few. I know , I have seen it. This lady lived up the street and she was on section 8. The grass wasn’t mowed, there was junk in the front yard and her kids ran wild . Plus she had a bunch of people living there that wasn’t supposed to be. I just hate to see good section 8 tenants refused rentals because of others .

  2. I know that people need help and I am one of them. I am fighting SSI now for my bone tumor case along with other things happening. People tell me I won’t get it because I am WHITE and proud of it. I live in a building half is section 8 and the white half is not. A preacher owns this building and said that the blacks know how to work the system for them. But he gets kick back from the government to rent to section 8. Never could we get help always worked our asses off. They have alot more people in one apartment than they are suppose too. The landlord knows it. They get grants they get paid to go to school as well as their schooling paid for and SSI for being FAT. No one checks on these section 8 people EVER and I say TAX the Churches God did not intend for anyone to do all this hiding behing a church they have turned church into a business and not about GOD. The racist remarks we here right here is unforgivable. No I am not a racist I am Damned Angry All this free stuff has gotten out of hand WHITE people need help too!

    • I too am a Beautiful, educated, WHITE AND PROUD OF IT, single mother…who is currently trying 2 get HELP 4 my 9 yrold daughter and self, with Sec 8 and Can’t…I am given the run around and/or wrong info when I apply…and yet the same exact help is given 2 Every & any black person who asks…Male or Female! What a joke. I currently live below a Sec 8, or SSI, Black, Male.recipient who is 22 yrs old, has absolutely NOTHING WRONG W HIS HEALTH..PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, WHO REFUSES TO GET A JOB, SITS HOME ALL DAY AND NIGHT, HAS HIS MOTHER LIVING UP THERE…WHILE HE CONTINUES TO START BLARING HIS RAP GARBAGE AT THE EARLY MPRNING HOURS OF 8 OR EARLIER AND ALL DAY AND NIGHT! WE HAVE TRIED ASKING NICELY, IVER AND OVET

      • Over and over again for 2 yrs! He sits in our Hallway…everyday..with or without his baby’s…smoking weed and cigarettes! my other neighbor has already started looking for a new apartment …why the hell shud she??? the landlord tells us 2 call the cops…the co Its ps tell us 2 contact the landlord! What????

        • Why are ppl like this, bcuz 99 out of 100 do this…they’ve been allowed 2…that’s Why!
          Its sickening!!! Such Ignorance!
          Just as every morning, my daughter and I are woken up 2 this Garbage. Cussing Music! And its all done with their kids running around while having 2 listen! WHY THE HELL R PPL LIKE THIS REWARDED.WITH FREE LIVING? ANBD PPL LIKE ME, WHO HAVE RESPECT AND TRY 2 DO THE RIGHT THING, TURNED AWAY!? IF THEY WERE FORCED 2 GET AN ACTUAL J

        • My trashy white neighbors up the street do the EXACT SAME THING.. all that loud ass Satanic music blasting at UNGODLY HOURS while decent people are trying to sleep. Uggggggh!

      • OH BULL[removed] YOU WHINEY RACIST! EVERY BLACK PERSON WHO APPLIES FOR SECTION 8 DOES NOT GET IT.. and the nerve of you Entitlement prone Whites to sit up with this pissy whining and LYING about “black people knowing how to “work” the system and being “fat”… there are enough of you OBESE AND SLOBBISH pink females in the AV to put any black “fat” female to shame. Racism will make ANYONE BUTT UGLY..so I’ll pass on your assertion that you are “pretty”.

        THE MAJORITY OF ALL WELFARE RECIPIENTS ARE WHITE!! Your very position and BENEFITS as a White person (Racist Suspect) are based on the establishment, maintenance, expansion and REFINEMENT of the SYSTEM OF RACISM/WHITE SUPREMACY. The history of YOU WHITES in this land is based on FRAUD, DECEPTION, ROBBERY, GENOCIDE, VIOLENCE, TERRORISM, RACISM and perversion!! Your culture is one of entitlement and exploitation and mistreatment of all people whom you classify as “not white” FOR YOUR OWN BENEFITS!…YET DESPITE all of the resources afforded to Whites, you whine and blather on about black people who historically and currently are mistreated by Whites based on “color” and have FEWER RESOURCES and though needing the MOST help, get the LEAST help.

        If you are White and struggling and whining I feel no sympathy for you whatsoever, ESPECIALLY with your BS about black people! You have an ENTIRE GLOBAL SYSTEM that affords you benefits in ALL areas of people activity that black/non-White people do NOT have access to. If you don’t know how to utilize it and work with your fellow Racists it is your OWN STUPIDITY.

        • thank you so much for pointing that out,i,m from mich and i live here in phoenix az and when i saay i see it all, i mean i see it all, the ponits, you pointed out was so true, i get S.S.D.I and i work part time, it was a true insult when she said all black people get o it and do nothing and here in phoenix, i see a many different race all on it.. but she had some hate with her words

          • There is hate words in both. Why not let there be 1 crazy rather then 2? To sit there and get mad and point how whites are known for is the same as the one who pointed out what blacks are known for. Yes I agree it is stupid remark on her part but hey that in itself shows her ignorance, but to get mad and start cutting her down the same way only says you are as racist as she is whether you realize it or not. She is a angry ignorant person who has nothing better to do but show her ignorance. And you are a well spoken person, which obviously puts her to shame. And to the other person every race has children out the other parent there and it doesn’t mean that she was dump!!!!! I have 3 children I myself raised by myself, not because I was dumped or we separated bit because my husband passed away!!!!! So ot does no good to judge just like the girl who “thinks” only blacks are on assistance!!!!

      • SINGLE MOTHER?!!! So you were IRRESPONSIBLE enough to reproduce without being MARRIED and making sure you had a PROVIDER for yourself and your offspring? SMh.

    • Generation after generation from grandmother to great granddaughter. Since our not so great leader, LBJ, started this crap. The children these people have today with be on welfare tomorrow. I work with a woman who receives SECTION 8 and earns 80.000 a year.

      • I hear ya Nicole. Since so many of these young guys (and girls) have Med Marijuana cards, they sit out in the open and smoke it all day long. They are just daring someone to do something about it. They have no desire nor intention of getting jobs. It is sad and will only get worse. I hope you get your surgery and I hope you get the housing you need. Can you move to another city and apply for emergency housing? I have heard of girls doing that. (example) girl with 3 kids came to Lancaster from Vegas. Staying with lady who runs a inhome daycare. Pretends she is looking for work so daycare lady gets paid for taking care of her 3 kids by CCRC. girl applies for emergency housing because she needs $$$ to pay room and board. Gets more than $1000 and is on the housing list. all the while, living at house where “daycare” is and is NOT looking for a job or apartment. Can ou say SCAM? I do understand the situation you are describing, more than you know.

        • What a shame.. I mean “they don’t want jobs and aren’t trying to find them”…what a shame in this illustrious Antelope Valley, the JOB CAPITAL OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY!! I mean WHO COULDN’T FIND A JOB HERE? of all places? And this is the BEST ECONOMY EVER.. it’s the glorious Regan years.

          • That’s right, they don’t want jobs and they are not looking and would not work if your took them to the job…all most of these kids want is a handout. Free housing, free food, free medical, free school and free anything they can take. Sounds like you’ve been working your racist mind your whole life. Think the white man owes you something. There are terrible things that have happened to non-blacks too…and at the hands of blacks. I am glad most of the gang killing is black on black. Sad that innocent people sometimes get caught in the crossfire.
            I do have a problem with people who do nothing honest to make their lives better or the lives of their children. Instead they teach them the same hatred,resentment and entitlement.
            I hope I never meet you.

  3. I know that people need help and I am one of them. I am fighting SSI now for my bone tumor case along with other things happening. People tell me I won’t get it because I am WHITE and proud of it. I live in a building half is section 8 and the white half is not. A preacher owens this building and said that the blacks know how to work the system for them. But he gets kick back from the government to rent to section 8. Never could we get help always worked our asses off. They have alot more people in one apartment than they are suppose too. The landlord knows it. They bget grants they get paid to go to school as well as their schooling paid for and SSI for being FAT. No one checks on these section 8 people EVER and I say TAX the Churches God did not intend for anyone to do all this hiding behing a church they have turned church into a business and not about GOD. The racist remarks we here right here is unforgivable. No I am not a racist I am Damned Angry All this free stuff has gotten out of hand WHITE people need help too!

  4. I am disgusted by the negative comments. I have section 8 and one child. We stay to ourselves and are not loud, rude and obnoxious to our neighbors. None of my neighbors even know that I have section 8. Some of you widely exaggerated your stories to try to prove a point about a program you know nothing about. They have an inspector come out atleast once a year. You can NOT have a criminal background. They run credit checks. They check to make sure you don’t have any outstanding balance in rent. You have to have enough money to pay your portion of the rent as well as utilities. Your home has to be clean. I receive ssdi and do NOT get food stamps. I was working when I qualified to receive a section 8 voucher due to my income meeting the guidelines. I already had a car and then became disabled and even with ssdi I don’t qualify for food stamps but that is ok. I manage. You people will one day know what it is like to fall on hard times. You are standing in judgement of ALL section 8 renters as if we are the same. Not all of us behave the way you have stated these section 8 renters from hell do. May god have mercy on your souls when you will one day need help. Unbelievable!!

    • I understand that people fall on hard times, and need “assistance” or “section 8” to get back on the wagon. What is very very unfortunate is when 9 times out of 10 the people that are receiving “assistance” are plain and simply just LAZY and are confusing the word “assistance” with “income”. I’ve work for a complex that excepted section 8. I can’t tell you how many people lived their that drove nicer cars than mine (of course because they dont pay rent and can afford the car payment). Have nicer phones than I do (again because they dont pay rent). Walk around and smoke cigarettes all day and lay by the pool with a beer (how nice it must be to not have a job and relax by a pool every day). Nice clothes…nails done..hair done…jack in the box everyday.. Kids carrying their EBT cards to buy candy and soda!! REALLY! I make 40k-50k a year. I pay 1400.00 a month mortgage. I pay 400.00 a month in gas to go to and from work. I pay for groceries which are about 400.00-450.00 a month (cause I dont qualify for food stamps :-) and the list goes on and on and on! Guess what I am a single mom of two children, no support from dad or the government, I work, I pay my taxes, I contribute, and I’m struggling too!! Elderly and “actually” disabled people deserve section 8. Not 20 year old lazy Sally who doesnt receive any income but 400.00 a month in child support so section 8 hands Lazy Sally a 1000 square foot apartment, guess what, now Lazy Sally doesnt have to get a F#@ckin job now. Why? Well because section 8 and welfare pay all of her dues to society. When was the last time section 8 checked on Sally ….I wonder. My 80 year old grandma needs section 8 not you people!!!! Get a JOB, I’m tired of paying your bills!!!

      • Thank you well said! There will always be people down on their luck and need some assistance but, there will always be the POS’s who commit fraud and get away with it stealing from moms like you! What goes around comes around, so it will come when the POS’s least expect it. Lazy Suzy will answer to the piper!

      • I have had property in the section 8 program for over 10 years now. Thank goodness for section 8. Section 8 tenants have been generally better than non sec 8 tenants and here is why.

        1) County/city pays rent every month, on – time.
        2) Section 8 renters can be kicked out of the program if they leave your property damaged.
        3) Most of my renters have stayed 2 years or more. I have had 3 renters in 10 years.
        4) Any criminal activity can also disqualify them.

        In the neighborhood where my rental is, you would not be able to distinguish a sec 8 renter from any other renter.

        I would not call the sec 8 tenants I have had lazy. The last lady I had as a renter had 4 kids. She may have made some mistakes in here life, but I would not call her lazy.

        Lastly, if you had to work your ass off every week, pay for day care so you could work and support your kids, hopefully have some money left over for a little entertainment, or you could collect a check, which would you do? Work you ass off to just get by, or have the gov cover it? If you would choose to work despite the benefit, your a fool. It is the government that makes this possible, not section 8 renters or landlords.

          • His comment makes perfect sense. His point was that THE GOVERNMENT makes is POSSIBLE – so if your gonna rage online how about addressing it to the proper party you [removed] TOOL. 1984=1776

      • well said, I couldn’t agree more! Lazy, Ignorant, Excuse my French ….[removed]!
        I CANNOT STAND IT! AND EVEN AS I SIT HERE WRITING…THOSE EXACT, RECIPIENTS R OUT IN OUR HALLWAY, CAUSING RUCKUS! NO PROB..REALLY..SIT THERE ALL DAY LIKE EVERYDAY AND BLOCK OFF THE STAIRWAY SO NO ONE CAN GET BY…BCUZ “UR A 22 YR OLD, GROWN MAN!” HAHAHA A MAN, U WILL NEVER BE…BUT START BY TAKING UR 18 MONTH OLD OUT SOMEWHERE, SHE DOSEN’T NEED 2 GET HIGH WITH YOU, ASSHOLE!!! THEN, GET A JO!

        • Next time you see him with the baby out there getting high, call the cops and report the child endangerment. Don’t give your name for obvious reasons.

      • You people are so narrow minded and ignorant. I am a single mother of there n yes i receive section 8 and guess what else? I work and go to school!!! I have been on my job for four years now. That’s right not all section 8 tenants are lazy and looking for hand outs. I pray you people never experience hard times and need a little help but if you ever do, just remember how shallow you are. Good bless you.

      • Whoaaa Jack in the Box everyday.. NOW THAT’S HIGH BROW.. I MEAN DAAAAAYUM that must be living high! I have to be BROKE to go to Jack in the Box and desperate. Oh by the way if the place you worked for “Excepts” section 8 it would most likely mean that they DON’T ALLOW IT… Word of the day ACCEPT. If your grandmother qualifies for section 8 SHE SHOULD APPLY FOR IT when the list is open! You act like it’s something YOU THINK YOU should decide who is or is not ENTITLED TO. You are not paying ANYONE’S bill on $40-$50k a year while you whine and blather about a mortgage you CHOSE and QUALIFIED for based on your INCOME. You are bitching and moaning about a gas bill to go to work yet you CHOSE to live such a distance from your job. StFU you big cry baby! You want to save money on gas, GET A LOCAL JOB or sell your house and MOVE closer to your job. You’ve got a home so you can even plant a garden. Stop snotting and sniveling and be grateful for your job, your income and your health and your ability to qualify to buy a home. Should you get what you CRY about not being “Entitled” to or getting, you would obviously not be in a position to have ANYTHING that you have right now.

      • You ned to quick lying math don’t add up you would have to be getting help from some were. Your bills are exceeding your income

    • it sounds like I* could have wrote that note.no body knows me.I* am a RN
      scince 1982.I have done CPR on so many people and children,that are a live to day because of me. they hear the wor4d sec. 8,and they will not give me the time of day.I know because I have asked.who is the winner here?no one.sharon

  5. If the Lord Mayor of sheep thinks the proposal is “outrages” let us see what he returns from DC with. Let’s hope its not hat in hand. His taxation for purposes of experimentation have already cost us enough.

    • Agreed! Besides that, we all know that Parris and his new traveling buddy, Sandra, went to DC in close company to try to ‘convince’ HUD to lay off from their requirements to provide due diligence documentation that Parris and his cronies don’t have. Parris is suddenly feeling the heat and is gonna try his hand at forestalling the inevitable perp walk when he is arrested and sent to prison for gross corruption.

      We are now in the time of the “tick, tick, tick” of the clock before Parris feels the “click, click, click” of the handcuffs on his wrists…

      • YOU CAN KEEP HAVING YOUR FANTASIES ABOUT HANDCUFFS BUT THAT WASNT WHY A DELEGATION WENT TO D.C. I KNOW WHY. YOU DONT.

        • Well, if it isn’t ‘Don’tKnow’ again. How you doing, Ronnie boy? So tell us, ‘Don’tKnow,’ what is the ‘official’ reason why your lord and master went to DC? Or is it another of those, “the public doesn’t need to know why their ‘elected/appointed’ officials are doing something” situations?

          • Why thank you very much! An attack of that level coming from you is very high praise, indeed! ;-)

            I noticed that you still didn’t answer the question, though…

          • Now is this anyway for a member of our esteemed local government to act? Remeber how much trouble it got you in the last time. Behave yourself Ronnie!

          • I know why they went. Ckay has it right. They afraid of that federal dollar audit. Rex can run his mouth about Section 8 criminals all he wants. But the real criminal has been taking the REAL money, the money that makes Section 8 dollars look like pocket change.

            He s gone to Washington to beg them to drop the investigation. I can hear him now. “I rex, i love dem black folk. I do whatever you ask. Please please don’t look at our books. Please!”

  6. SEC 8 SHOULD BE RE-FORM LIKE AFDC WHERE YOUR ALLOWED TO GET AIDE FOR 5 YEARS I AM A SINGLE PARENT WITH 3 CHILDREN ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND CHILD SUPPORT I HAVE WORK ALL MY LIFE TILL I GOT HURT ON THE JOB . I PAY 1000 A MONTH FOR MY MORTGAGE PAYMENT SEC 8 SHOULD BE FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS OR FOR FAMILIES WHERE THEY COULD BE ON IT FOR 5 YEARS THATS ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO SAVE MONEY TO BUY THERE OWN HOME BUT ITS SAD THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM EVEN SEC 8 EMPLOYEES THEY GIVE THERE FAMILIES VOUCHERS I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE SEC 8 AND I SEE THAT THEY ALL HAVE BRAND NEW CARS, THEY RENT ROOMS OUT, ALSO TAKE DRUGS BUT WHO CARES RIGHT THE PEOPLE THAT REPLY IS BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF THOSE WHO BEEN ON SEC 8 FOR YEARS AND DONT HAVE A POT TO PISS IN BUT THIS IS HOW THE SYTEM WORKS THEY NEED TO BUILD APTS AND PUT THE PEOPLE IN THERE SO WE CAN SAVE ARE TAX MONEY SO SEC 8 CAN PATROL THERE OWN GROUNDS WE NEED TO HAVE IT LIKE BEFORE WHEN THE SOCIAL WORKERS CAME OUT WITH OUT NOTICE AND YOU WILL ALL SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE CHEATING THE SYSTEM

  7. Ace is absolutely correct on this assessment. Section 8 is a FEDERAL program that is administered by the COUNTY. The cities of Palmdale and Lancaster were providing additional funding for inspectors to ensure compliance. The cities have no control on the funding or administration of the program. Period. Yet, if you read letters to the various papers/blogs, people seem to think that the cities are to “blame” and they’re doing “nothing.” What they are doing is enforcing their ordinances for all properties, including, but not exclusive to Section 8 properties. If people are not happy (or if they are happy) with the Section 8 program, they should be making their cases known to the Federal and County levels. But please be fair to the cities—it’s not their program, they don’t control the funding or adminstration.

    • The Section 8 program needs to be reformed, top to bottom to address many of the problems we see here in the AV and probably other places.

      -subsidizing landlords renting new, large, upscale homes w/pools. Really?

      -S-8 renters should be placed in apartments, condos, etc. so that they don’t have the higher utilities and yard maintenance of a house, large or small. An apartment is more appropriate. Too bad if a S-8 renter prefers the above upscale home in the AV instead of an apartment where they currently live. Houses should be not be allowed to rent to S-8 unless there is a special need like a large family or a certain disability. Isn’t is a shelter program and not a lifestyle upgrade?

      -several families could be housed in apartments for what it takes to subsidize 1 family in an $1,600 a month house in the AV.

      -I’ve heard there are long waits for long time residents of the AV some of whom might be elderly or disabled, while LA basin residents ahead in the waiting list are allowed to move here first. Not right.

      -I suspect there is corruption in the program itself in how the waiting lists are managed. I wouldn’t be surprised.

      -as stated elsewhere, the S-8 program in the AV probably keeps rentals higher for non-S-8 renters because landlords can get more $$$s from the government than renting on the open market. No fair. Not right. To knowingly cause higher rents for non-S-8 renters who might also be working and paying taxes to support a S-8 renter in an upscale home is an appropriate reason for resentment and complaints.

      -an effective way to manage the program to prevent fraud. I promise you, that the 2% number of convictions is way low to the actual amount of fraud. People wouldn’t be complaining so much if S-8 renters were an invisible group in the AV who were abiding by the rules. That’s like saying “Only 2% of the driver’s on the SR-14 are cited for speeding”. Please. I guess that means the rest aren’t.

      So, how do we address this problem, to reform the program so that the cities aren’t simply powerless? I can write McKeon. Will that do it? There has to be a concerted effort by, say, all or nearly all cities in California and elsewhere where people think it needs it.

      As it seems now, the federal government is totally unresponsive to the problems of the cities and residents of places like the AV. So, Los Angeles fixes its S-8 problems by sending them here. Or, the program only responds to complaints from S-8 renters.

      I have a 66 year friend in Modesto, living on $900/month who had been on workman’s comp for a back injury and now very little Social Security who can’t get on S-8 because the program was closed there but someone in LA can rent, you know what I’m about to say, a new, large, upscale home w/pool in Lancaster.

      I’ve called Palmdale code enforcement frequently over the years for lawn maintenance, improper additions (a carport rood attached to the block between the 2 houses, a car that had been totaled parked in the driveway, etc.) Eventually, the guy put a car cover on it.

      I’ve never known who was in an S-8 house, however. There probably are in my neighborhood but how would anyone know that 3 of the people living in an S-8 house were unauthorized? It’s an invitation to fraud. I think most of the complaints are of bad behavior by S-8 neighbors and out of frustration the cities get blamed and they can’t do much and the federal government apparently is insulated from the local problems.

      If I had some of the problems commented on here with a bad S-8 neighbor, I don’t know what I’d do. I’d probably be calling everyone and everywhere or move.

      • Newsflash! the only way that someone from L.A. can rent a house on Section 8 is IF THEY ALREADY APPLIED FOR, QUALIFIED FOR AND GOT a voucher. None of that has ANYTHING to do with your friend who gets $900 a month, which is more than MANY people get a month these days.

        Your friend’s disability does not entitle them to be moved up on the list for Section 8 applicants past people who have been waiting for NINE YEARS for the application list to even OPEN.

        So much of the “anti-(OBVIOUSLY ANTI-NON-WHITE PEOPLE GETTING) section 8 ranting is based on complete and utter IGNORANCE fueled by what I suspected is Racism (White Supremacy).

        There are people in Los Angeles and all over the country who need housing, probably DO or WOULD qualify for section 8 IF THE LIST WAS OPEN and there were ENOUGH VOUCHERS and funding from the govt. This is not Gadaffi era LIBYA. The govt. does not fund housing for all the people, nor does the Federal Housing dept. have enough funds to cover vouchers for ALL PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING ASSISTANCE. Vouchers are a precious commodity because they are limited in numbers as the funding is limited.

        The housing authorities funds are also REDUCED by the Federal govt. which can make it harder to find decent housing with the amount on the voucher. Let’s say you qualify for a one bedroom voucher on HACOLA’s section 8 program. Or a 2 bedroom. That will allow you $900 for the total cost of the place you find under the program. You search their site and craigslist for places and everything you see in safe and decent areas is in the $1000 a month -$1500 a month price range OR you can get a $900 apt. in a crime ridden dangerous neighborhood with poor schools. roaches, etc. drug activity, prostitution etc.

        FOr the IDIOTS talking about single mothers being “better off” in apartments etc. Simple PHUCKERY AND FOOLISHNESS! NO parent and no children are better off in dangerous neighborhoods with poor schooling just because housing utilities MIGHT BE higher in a house than an apt. Just because you live in an apt. does not mean that someone ELSE pays your utilities any more than it means that you would pay ALL the utilities living in a house. The Section 8 landlords decide what utilities they will or will not pay and the tenant agrees.

        I doubt that that anus who made that comment about them being “better off” in apartments is concerned at ALL about what is “best” for them. I suspect that this degenerate dead-hearted creature is most concerned that IT be able to live in isolation from the non-white “hordes” he imagines make up the majority of Section 8 recipients.

        The Greatest business in the line of business is minding YOUR business and leaving OTHER PEOPLE’S BUSINESS ALONE. If a female can do the hardest and most important job on the planet- MOTHER, she can decide WITHOUT YOUR WORTHLESS opinion what would be better for herself and her children. If she can raise them in a better, safer, cleaner though more remote and hot place like Lancaster for the same $900 a month voucher that would leave her and her children to suffer in parts of L.A. county with the worst poverty and crime rates and the most deficient schools then MORE POWER TO HER AND MAY THE CREATOR BLESS THEM!

        I will never wish that “God” would bless all the evil and vicious trolls spewing venom in these comments against people who need and qualify for assistance. NEVER.

  8. Kabuki theater comes to Lancaster. Mayor Sheppard now wants to go to D.C. to cut a deal with HUD so the documents HUD is demanding (which incidently will expose his corruption) can be become an issue averted. Who wants to guess the outcome? In the meantime his 4 sheep on the council split the vote on rescinding the local e-verify law brings. What drama!

    The dynamic duo running for election or their lives, it’s difficult to tell, strike a blow for justice as Johnson and Mann are against the Lancaster rule which makes sense since they are running for election and don’t want to lose the Hespanic vote while Christ and Smtih are for it which also makes sense since they have nothing to lose. Mayor Sheppard who was conveniently absent for the vote on Feb. 14 hightens the drama by refusing to reveal what he will do until he returns one day. Lancaster once again provides comic relief for Palmdale.

    What’s in your wallet?

  9. Sheppard Rex and his flock of council sheep keep everyone at each others throats while fanning the flames over section 8 housing while they quitely approve failed boulevards projects, waste treament plants with questionable benefits, a 1.3 million dollar “eyes in the sky” as well as a host of other profitable scams that benefit everyone except the tax payers. This guy is good!

    What’s in your wallet?

    • Say what you want to divert attention from the real issue at hand, but you cant dispute the facts that Lynn laid out below….

      • Can’t dispute what? An antidote? In today’s AV Press, Rex AGAIN quoted the percentage of those on the Section 8 program. And THOSE FACTS? Less than 2% (yes LESS than 2%) have been found guilty of criminal activity.

        It doesn’t matter how much YOUR house cost you. You don’t want Section 8 in your neighborhood, tell Rex and Jim to STOP over building. You would think they would get a clue. We over built in the 80’s, 90’s and now 00’s. How do you think those big houses come up for renting by Section 8? LANDLORDS! They come in after the market drops, which happens EVERY decade, and buy for pennies on the dollar. And then a single mother with children decides to take that voucher that would get her a 2 bedroom apartment in LA, and instead move into a beautiful home in a good school district. Oh the horror.

        And why doesn’t Lynn talk about the GOOD Section 8 neighbors? Because there is no way to tell who they are. Why? Because they are good people who just go about their business.

        Sorry you all over paid for your homes. But stop blaming those with the lest for what those with the most have caused.

        • How does that young mother who needs a voucher to live in a big, upscale house in the AV afford to heat and cool it, water the lawn, etc., etc. It’s expensive to live in a house even you your rent is cheap. She’d be better off in an apartment in LA with fewer expenses, wouldn’t you agree?

          Landlords renting to Section 8 probably keep the rental rates high for non-Section 8 renters. If those landlords couldn’t rent those big house without a Section 8 voucher/subsidy, they’d have rent on the open market.

          I think the whole program needs an overhall. In the AV with the rentals of houses, it’s probably costing more than if the Section 8 renters could only rent apartments, mobile homes or condos. More people could be served, if that’s a priority.

          • William,

            You hit the nail on the head! I would love to be able to rent a modest house and have a lawn and an area for a garden. I have lawn maintnance equipment and garden equipment and I live in an apartment complex where such things don’t exist.

            However, for the time being, I cannot find a house to rent in my price range because Section 8 has driven the price up.

            I have witnessed the same things as you apparently have with many Section 8 renters letting their yards go. Their shortsightedness and materialistic desire to have a suburban McMansion came without the proper planning as to what sort of maintnance such a home would require.

          • William;

            Now you’re on the right track. This BS about crime is just that – BS meant to divide the community. The REAL problem is the rental rates. Since Section 8 requires that the landlord only charge the “normal rental rate,” the landlords DO increase the rent rates on EVERYBODY to support their ability to get as much as possible from the program. This hurts everybody who is NOT on Section 8 by artificially driving up local rental rates.

  10. First I’d like to say that I understand people down on their luck and going into the program and working their way out in a few years when they get back on their feet. These people are ideal. Having said that a lot of sect 8 individuals aren’t interested in getting out. Example I live in a private neighborhood where everyone paid 350k and up to buy their home & private deeded beach rights. When my husband and I purchased our home in 2003 their was one rental across the street that was being rented by a great family. After they moved out the landlord decided to take a sect 8 voucher. So a young family moved in with a little boy 1 year younger than my son. They played just fine so I thought I’d befriend the mother. (I give everyone a fair shot) well she ended up being a total nightmare. She barges into my home as though it’s hers. Unloads all her drama on me…which consists of spending her entire pay check on lottery tickets, wanting to be a ‘high end escort’, trying to figure out where she can ‘dump her kid’ so she can go out and party, telling me she has 2 under the table jobs so she won’t loose unemployment or have her rent go up, how she opened yet another credit card that she clearly states she wont pay back, and how her illegal new roommate is late on his rent. I’ve tried hard as hell to incourage her to go to college – it’s free for her bc of our taxpaying dollars. She tried and dropped out within a month. She literally does NOTHING to improve herself. She has zero gratitude for the fact she’s in such a nice neighborhood. She dumps her garbage in her side yard which is visible to the entire neighborhood. She has point blank stated she ‘knows the system inside and out & knows how to get around the rules’ eg. New roommate uses his parents address as his. Neighbors have called about the extra person, dumping in the side yard, partying, & NOTHING is done. She’s been in the program for over 8 years and LOVES it. And it’s no surprise – she owns 2 iPhone, 5 TVs, cable in every room, ipads, 3 laptops…pretty much every high end technology in existence. She’s always shopping and her kid is spoiled rotten. I can tell you for a fact this woman lives way better than most hard working Americans! It utterly disgusts me that she is just given what the rest of us had to work our tails off for…and it further infuriates me that she feels entitled to all the aid she gets & is constantly scamming/commited fraud & gets away with all of it. At the end of the day she is a criminal (yes she spent time in jail too), a soon to be professional horror, an absentee mother, a complete liar, and so much more. She’s a sect 8 lifer & thrilled about it. Personally I’ve given up on teaching her BASIC manners and respecting the neighbors and encouring her to better her life. If you only take 2 things from what I’ve written I plead to the masses that these people aren’t civilized and DO NOT have any interest in being productive members of society and in regards to the housing authority – they will NOT enforce their rules. Sect 8 is a disaster and my neighbor is a prime example as to how it’s failing on multiple levels. Wake up America – they do not want to acclimate to better surroundings & their extremely content with their many forms of handouts. And they ALL no how to successfully commit fraud within all the programs their in.

  11. The Mayor just made it harder to get the crooks out of section 8, he really could not care less, he creates division and distractions from the big picture, all they had to do was to enforced the laws we already had not send in the swats, if you see someone commiting fraud on sections 8 all you have to do is report it, now because of the circus he has created it will be harder to weed out the fraudulent ones. The bad aples ruin it for the the good people that en real need of section 8. Please remenber that we are human beings with families.

  12. Well. well, Dear Mayor has everyone talking about section 8 pros and cons, while we see Re-development monies go to the 1% ask him where he lives and how much did he paid for that Mahaman’s building, I would like to hear his explanation as to why he and his new appointed City Council person Sandra Johnson could not be on the now defunked Re-development Council, I bet he is not going to touch that one with a 10 foot pole. Section 8 issues are a distraction to the millions of dollars that are going into some unsavory crooks pocket.

  13. I didn’t realize this was an “I Hate Section 8” page… What is with you people?! Where is your COMPASSION??? Your callous comments are making me feel bad for the Section 8 families. It’s bad enough they have to feel the shame of taking a government handout, but then they move into neighborhoods filled with mean, hateful, elitist people like you who obviously don’t want them around. How would you feel if your entire neighborhood was looking down its nose at you? I have never lived next to a so called Section 8 family (or none that I know of anyway), but how the hell bad can it be?? It’s simple, if you treat people with respect, you get it back. And from your comments here, I can imagine how you treat your Section 8 neighbors… You all ought to be VERY ASHAMED!!!

    • key words: “I have never lived next to a so called Section 8 family”

      OF COURSE YOU HAVENT. THATS WHY YOURE SO NAIVE! GO PREACH YOUR SANCTIMONIOUS B.S. AT SOMEONE WHO CARES!

      “if you treat people with respect, you get it back.”

      YEAH SURE. “RESPECT” LIKE THE SECTION 8 PEOPLE WHO MOVE IN AND “RESPECT” EVERYONE ELSE? GROW UP!

    • People are complaining about Section 8 renters who are BAD NEIGHBORS having loud parties, unauthorized occupants, drugs, litter, unkept yards, etc. What’s your problem with that? I’d love to hear it.

      People wouldn’t know someone was on Section 8 if they kept up the place, didn’t cause problems and attract attention to themselves by annoying their neighbors with their antics.

      • Simple William. All they have to do is call code enforcement if the trash is piling up, and call the cops on parties. See how easy that is? Again, there is NOTHING in this settlement that keeps criminals from being ID’d, investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Anyone saying anything else is lying.

        • Aren’t there certain rules that violate Section 8 agreements that wouldn’t apply to a non-Section 8 renter or owner of the same home, such as the number of people authorized to live there, drugs, etc.?

          If a person gets caught with some drugs, they don’t get kicked out of the house they own but would get a Section 8 tenant kicked out.

          • You are correct. And those kind of issues CAN STILL get someone kicked out off the program.
            One of the things that has been said over and over by the community group TCAL is that they are not against those abusing Section 8 from being held accountable.

            All that HUD needs to do is cross reference with the local police authorities to make sure tenants haven’t committed any crimes that can get them kicked off the program. If they have, they lose the benefit.

            Personally, I believe a better way to police possible fraud in Section 8 would be to take the money given to Palmdale and Lancaster and hire more investigators in LA. I agree that 3 in LA is not close to being enough investigators.

            But more importantly, if hired and and administrated out of LA, Rex can no longer use HUD investigators for his own personal agenda. From what has been discovered through the lawsuit is that the local investigators had ties to both Rex and the sheriffs. His personal pitt bull Lee D’errico was being paid top dollar to be one.
            And he’s still being paid thousands a month for various other “positions” in Lancaster. Public safety officer, AVUHS board, Justice commission board etc., etc. Not sure if he gets paid to stand in the back of city council meetings, looking scary, but wouldn’t doubt it. Probably at OT rates.

            Rex has stated time and again that he wants to open up the vouchers for the “more worthy”.
            Yet he has also said time and again that he wants to “cut the Section 8 vouchers in Lancaster in half.” So which is it? Does he want the needy to get housing, or does he want to cut housing for the needy in 1/2? Can’t have both.

            As I said before, any and all rules that apply to the general public are the same (and then some) that are applied to Section 8. But they are also held to rules that are at the federal level. I personally know of a gentleman on Section 8 who is dying of cancer. Because Section 8 is a federal program, he is unable to use marijuana to help him keep up his appetite. But what are his choices? Fighting the various side effects of his treatments without California approved marijuana or having cancer while living on the street? Tough choices.

            But what this settlement really does is protect the law abiding Section 8 tenants from over zealous Rex appointed storm troopers from harassing them and terrifying them to the point that they willingly move. Which has been Rex’s agenda all along. He still talks like EVERY Section 8 tenant is a criminal. And judging all of one group by those who are the worst in that group is the definition of bigotry. Which is what Rex is fighting for the right to be. A bigot. Every word he says concerning Section 8 is to make the whole group guilty for the few.

            It’s one thing to not approve of a social program. It’s a whole other thing to treat people on that program as criminals because they benefit from a 100% legal program. They are still Americans.

    • Lancaster and Palmdale are trying to weed out the fraudulent families on section 8, not get rid of it altogether. It also needs to be controlled, there is way too much of it in the Antelope Valley and it’s crippling the community and has been for years. Get off your “let’s love and take care of all” soap box and try to focus on the facts please.

      • What’s wrong with taking care of all? Isn’t that what the good lord preaches? Therefore, shouldn’t this “Christian” city take heed? You can weed out the fraudulent families on Section 8, but you must follow the laws to do so. That’s means you must NOT kick in people’s doors with a swat team in an effort to conduct warrant-less searches. You must treat these people like HUMAN BEINGS. I ask for compassion and instead I’m called ‘naive’ and accused of being on a ‘soap box.’ If wanting others different from myself to feel welcome is being ‘naive’ then I will gladly take that title… Many of these people come from different communities and might not be used to the etiquette here in the Antelope Valley. TEACH them, don’t SCORN them. Somebody in these comments had the nerve to call Sec 8 families ghetto monkeys and then justify the racial slur by claiming to be a proud African American women. There is nothing proud about that… You all need to take a step back and think about how you would feel if you were in their (Sec 8 families) position, and then adjust your mindset. After all, aren’t we all three paychecks away from being destitute? Again, I plead for you people to have some COMPASSION!!!

          • Planet ‘Stinger’ = where they give Section 8 & foodstamps to everyone for life! Kill someone? that’s OK….a slap on the wrist will suffice!

          • Where in God’s green earth did you get all that stupidity from, Tamara? Nowhere did I say anything even close to what you posted.

            Apparently, Tamara is just another Parrisite koolaid drinker that doesn’t actually read what people post and just makes up everything as she goes along… Or gets her posting orders from the Parris campaign headquarters…

          • That’s funny… I didn’t say anything about Tamara getting paid by Parris and suddenly, a new name pops up to ridicule the idea that I didn’t state. What a coincidence… ;-)

        • @ Kaydee. It would appear that these people would prefer to feel “superior to” rather then “compassion for”. Which says more about them than anyone on Section 8. But well said anyway. And your statement about us all being just a tragedy away from needing help is correct. Hopefully they well never feel the scorn they judge others with.

          • Thank you Jo and William! I’m so happy to know that others share my views. I was beginning to feel hopeless and ridiculed…

          • Hello I worked in nursing because I loved taking care of people. My husband worked most of his life. Recently he had a heart attack. He’s only 38yrs old. I have an artistic daughter and he is too eel to care for anyone. I was in school trying to better myself when this trouble struck my family. Ofcorse I have to now care for my family. Yes there are many who take advantage. It hurts to come across this site to hear this at the hospital when I took care of the sick and elderly I was and angel. Now to many. I’m a low life. I promise I didn’t ask for this, I don’t like using and enter card..I miss my masters card.and if this is a pay check please offer me another job so I can pay taxes like before. A job that pays enough so I can pay a baby sitter and take care of my family. I don’t do drugs and I am desperate to be successful. I will work hard at making that possible. I have 4 children. We use to have enough to provide. Now I’m so greatful you all pay to help my family. From my heart. Me and my family thanks you. I’m so so sorry and ashamed more people don’t realize nor care to care about the terrible stigma that follows. Just please try to know some good people in need exist

          • Jo, I’m replying to your earlier reply to me.

            If 6 people are living in a house across the street, that might be a violation of their Section 8 voucher but fine for an actual homeowner or non-Section 8 renter, why would anyone know to call Section 8. You can’t call code enforcement or the police for that.

            So, how do I know they are violating the number of people in that house and who do I call? The program now after the suit is ripe for fraud if it’s difficult to report or know about who’s who.

            There might be other violations that I don’t know about in their voucher but is it up to the neighbors to ‘police’ their own neighborhood? That was one of the complaints – a hostile environment.

            Sure, I can report a lawn ordinance violation to code enforcement or drug dealing to the police but how am I to determine who and what is allowed if I don’t know it’s a Section 8 house? I’ve called and they won’t tell me and got nasty on the phone. I concluded that the people running the program are probably not doing their job or don’t care. And, this is speculation but I wouldn’t be surprised if people from the same minority group as a voucher recipient that work at the program might be turning a blind eye, so to speak.

            There seem to be enough problems with Section 8 in the AV from the quantity of complaints of homeowners with problem neighbors, so don’t tell me that Section 8 renters all blend in invisibly in the area. If so, we wouldn’t hear so much complaining.

            You don’t hear complaining about antelope in people’s yards in the AV because there aren’t any.

          • @William. If you don’t mind, I’d like to comment. I was raised here in the AV. Except for 15yrs, I’ve been here for 40. I lived in a high crime area “per Rex” for all of them. I have walked my dogs at midnight during the summer months, alone, as my mother did before me. Funny, when I run into those kids Rex says we should fear, they ALWAYS say Hi and nice night.

            I have had horrific neighbors. (yes I bought in that same area, and even though I don’t have the high ceilings or granite counter tops, I do have something better. Equity)

            I have had horrific neighbors next door to me for at least 15yrs. White suprimist murderers, Black gang members, white heroin addicts, and a Hispanic family whose mother was so bad, the neighborhood swore we would hold a block party after she moved. And always the tweekers!

            But not one of them was on Section 8.

            You ask “but is it up to the neighbors to ‘police’ their own neighborhood?”

            No.

            But the neighborhood seems to do much better when those in mine do. We are highly integrated, and represent different levels on the economic ladder. Some rent. Some own.

            And we have had numerous occasions to call the sheriffs over the years. The only time they showed up in a timely fashion was when we whispered “race war” into the receiver.
            The instigators? The white supremacists. Not Section 8’ers.

            Even when I was burglarized, and gave the sheriffs the name of the criminal, and where she could be found, no investigation was carried out. And when I went into the station to pick up the report for my insurance, I found out that they not only never wrote the name down, they had lost the inventory I had spent a week compiling. (The thief was an in-law with a bad addiction. Both white and female. But not on Section 8) And was told “what do you care!!??!”

            One of our biggest problems in my “hood”, as they say? The shopping mall behind our block, that insisted on running their parking lot sweeper, that sounded like a helicopter in my kids room, between the hours of 11pm to 3am. After numerous calls to the sheriffs, we got one that actually cared enough to inform us who and how to call.
            There are some good ones. But we didn’t see them for a long time.

            We, the neighbors and I that spent long days commuting and working and coming home to our children and parents and homes and all that entails, got together and put a stop to most of the nonsense.

            My point? No, you shouldn’t have to get involved. But a “free” world is what we have, and I, like Jefferson, “would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.”

            I wouldn’t trade my neighborhood for any of those shiny new ones.

            You got attitude when calling the Section 8 hotline? Welcome to my world. Section 8, Code enforcement, animal control, sheriffs?
            Doesn’t matter anymore than calling Edison, Verizon, the gas co etc. Lot of asses out there that could care less. I worked with more than one of them in my career. It’s an American problem.

            At the same time I’ve personally been involved with the Section 8 lawsuit. And it has been another horrific experience. What I’ve seen. The people I’ve meet. The disgusting behavior of those with power against those without is mind numbing. I truly have to believe that people just don’t get it. Otherwise ……..?

            The lawsuit was not, as we have all been told, brought to make someone rich. Nor to make a name for someone. In fact, names being floated around NOW that the county, sheriffs and Palmdale settled, as being those who have put their name on the line, didn’t want anything to do with those who at first came together. Some people only want to ride a game that’s winning, and could care less about any victims involved.

            There was true and disgusting abuses against not just parents on Section 8, BUT CHILDREN! And the many renters, poor and criminal that have had their run through our neighborhood? “They” just aren’t as easy to label. Never mind that “they” are the real problems the majority of issues stem from. So what has my city done? Gone after a group that have been responsible for less then 2% of the neighborhood problems we blame them for. That IS NOT my opinion. It is the actual statistics.

            So I’m sorry that you got attitude on the phone of the complaint line. Or that there are 6 people living in a house I’m going to assume you know for fact is Section 8.

            If it means that the abuses these families have suffered will stop, then so be it. I don’t say that lightly. But when we got kids being threatened by authorities that they will be removed from family’s because those same authorities are frustrated, not finding what they were fishing for……or having piss thrown from a car at children that were ID’d as Section 8, (and who Id’d them you ask?) or having racial slurs written on homes, I’ve got to say so be it.

            There is nothing in the settlement that keeps authorities from going after lawbreakers. There is nothing in the settlement that keeps investigators from investigating. The cities are trying to make this sound like we are against people investigating problems. Those who stood up for these people will tell you that if you see a problem, report it. There is nothing stopping LA County from hiring investigators as needed. The complaints of the cities are there are only 3 investigators for all of LA County. Take the money from the cities and hire more. But stop hiring “friends” locally that have been given orders to “cut Section 8 in half”. Stop terrorizing families who have done nothing wrong. Stop handing out addresses of people on section 8. Stop blaming all of society’s ills on a group of people that total LESS then 3,500 families in a valley that has over 500,000 people in it. Stop demonizing a group of people that, for better or worse, thought they could do better with their vouchers here.

            There is a very real reason the County, Sheriffs and Palmdale settled. Was everyone representing these entity’s guilty? Not at all. But there were those using the same entities as cover, doing some very bad things. They too were living on the tax payers dime. And just like Section 8 recipients, they must also be held responsible for their actions.

        • Why do I need to spend time “TEACHING” anyone?

          You mean to tell me that these grown-ass men and women have to be taught NOT TO BE LOUD????

          They need to be “taught” to not let their kids act like little hoodlums????

          They need to be “taught” to be courteous????

          You say that you want us to pretend that we need Section 8 and you want us to imagine how we would feel if we were on the program????

          Well, let me tell you, I was on the program for two years in 1996 and 97 and it is hella embarassing to admit!!!! Why???? Because I look around and see the people who are using it now and it is shocking the way they behave!!!!

          When I was on the program, I borrowed my neighbors lawnmower and cut the grass, I had one small dog for my kids and we kept her litter picked up. I never had parties, never did drugs, never parked my car on the grass, never let my kids run up and down the street and act like lil’ hood rats!!!!

          I would say 80% of the people using Section 8 today are the opposite of what I was.

          So dont ask me to “imagine” anything. I was there!!!! i used it!!!! I had manners while using it!!!! did my time on it and got off of it when I reached stability!!!!

          Most of these people using it now would never dream of doing what I did.

      • Which facts are those Jamie? I have seen all kinds of emotions here. But very few facts. Please list them.

  14. People are aware if the Sec 8 tenant is bad, but do not know who may be a Sec 8 and good people just down on their luck. Where are these people to go, to live, with 18% unemployment in the AV? It is going to get worse in 2013, as they shut down our economy even more, to destroy our nation, so we surrender to the bankers New World Order government. Where do you expect these people to find jobs? IF you have a business, any offer of employment to these people might help. They are not all trash, just poor and at the moment helpless. We have 47 Million citizens on Food Stamps, Why? Millions begging for food from the Food Banks, Why? Help your neighbor, and maybe they’ll change. Be a Christian.

      • A rather myopic view of Christian principles, I’d say, Jaime. Keep in mind that people on Section 8 do not get “free” housing, but reduced housing. This means that they still have to go out and get their own money to pay their portion of the rent or be evicted like anybody else. Therefore, your statement is irrelevant.

        • Really Stinger. Agreed. These people are the source for the term “Jesus wept”. Out of all his teachings and directions to us to help and love our neighbor, the only teachings these folks find are the ones that hurt others. WOW! Christian town my a$$! Satan rules supreme here.

  15. Rex Parris should be eased that there is a settlement before it continues on into the city government further. It is the city’s public safety manager that was the main fraud investigator for the housing authority that this whole problem was created. Lee D’Errico always was hanging out with the Lan Cap sheriff deputies which were doing his work for him on compliance checks. Then when things started heating up he went to the city of Lancaster and convinced Rex about making the public safety position. My opinion is that the city needs a public safety manager that does not have a record of what Mr. D’Errico has caused. His ex sheriff attitude and personality will just bring future problems for the city’s legal department to handle.

  16. I have to agree with King Rex on this issue. If the county wasn’t involved–why are they making a settlement. This is crazy.

    I think the issue should be resolved via the lawsuit that involves Lancaster and Palmdale.

  17. The LA County Board of Supervisors are not party to the mess Mr. Parris has created in the AV and they don’t want to be party to it either, they are sending a very clear massage to Mr. Parris and his Goons, (Mr. D’rrico). Now what are going to do about that Eye In The Sky? $90,000.00 a month, $1,300,000. million for a used airplane mess?

    • What “mess” did Parris create?

      The “mess” is the Section 8 program and being able to live on it for life and ruin the lives of others in the process.

      A lot of us came to the Antelope Valley to own a home. We sacraficed and knew we would have long commutes to work and back home every night, but we did it because we wanted to own homes and land and live the American dream and we wanted a place of our own to take pride in. We wanted safe neighborhoods for our kids and good schools too.

      All of that has been jeopardized by Section 8 and the trouble it brings with it. Now when someone like myself does his best to be a good neighbor and home owner and pays my taxes, I have to deal with the lady 2 houses down who doesnt own her home but rents it through Section 8. I have her kids riding their bikes up into my drive way and scratching my vehicles, then her kids pick up rocks out of the neighbors garden and throw them in the street leaving a bunch of cracked rocks all over for us to drive over. Her kids use the F Word in front of my 4 yr old and my 3 yr old all of the time. I cannot even let my own kids play in our front yard and they must play in the back yard now because I do not want them around these violent, rude kids. How fair is that? I bought my house and pay payments on it, I pay property taxes on it and now I cannot even enjoy it and let my kids enjoy because of badly behaved kids and their mom brought here by Section 8 in a house they never had to save for or sacrafice for. Its just given to them! It really makes me sick to the point of being angry!

      • The problem that Mr. Parris created is that he send his Goons with guns, (D’arrico) had they stuck to enforcing the laws and not treated every person in section 8 as criminal even the children, we would not be in this position, he keeps refering to familes in section 8 criminals and that is not the case, by going around terrorizing families in the program like they did, he streched the rubberband so far that it pulled back and these are the consecuenses. As far as bad neighbors are concern, they are not exclusive to section 8 they came in all sizes, colors and walks of life. There is more to the story than what Mr. Parris puts out in the news papers.

      • agree with you Mike and so sorry you have to live like that.. it will eventually destroy this area because people like you will start moving elsewhere..
        @stinger… ‘paid bloggers’ rofl..

      • I agree with you Mike. I bought a home July 2010. NOT knowing I have (5) section 8 families as neighbors. One in particular was unbelievable. They moved in as Husband/Wife and 2 children and a month later, there were 17 children playing in the front yard. I firmly believe people that need Section 8 should have it. But I get very disgusted with families like the ones that lived next door that take total advantage of the Section 8 system and our Welfare system. Overhearing (couldn’t help hearing as loud as THEY talk) one woman saying she gets $2,000 a month on her food debit card and someone had used $1,000 of it so she’ll have to go downtown now to buy her weed! These people partied EVERY day and EVERY night with their loud obnoxious and lewd music. I’m glad the owner went into short sale. AND he’s not happy now that the Fat Famly that lived there destroyed the place. Thanks for listening.

        • Paul, your story gave me my best laugh of the day. Sorry for the perverse sense of humor, but sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying…

        • So true, so true. Moved up here from the South Bay 2 years ago and was shocked at the low-life Section 8 renters down the street. There is a perpetual revolving door of these types of people. One family moves in, another moves out, but it’s all the same. Women fighting out in the middle of street, hordes of teenaged boys hanging around, screams, cursing, broken glass and trash in front of the house most every weekend . . . and don’t you dare call me racist. I am a proud African-American woman and I have never seen such ghetto [removed]. These folks make the people in Watts and Compton seem almost genteel! Good ole’ Rex . . . the good people of this community support you totally.

        • Paul: “Overhearing (couldn’t help hearing as loud as THEY talk) one woman saying she gets $2,000 a month on her food debit card and someone had used $1,000 of it so she’ll have to go downtown now to buy her weed!”

          Right! And how many times have we been told by Section 8 advocates that these are “upstanding members of the community” and that they are “model citizens” because they have to “jump through hoops to be in the program”?

          Anyone who has lived near a typical Section 8 house for any length of time knows this to be a flat out lie!

        • NOW THAT WAS FUNNY!! Especially the part about having to go downtown to buy weed and them talking loud enough for you to hear it. I can laugh cause they aren’t MY neighbors and they sound like sitcom characters. 17 children? You sure. I doubt that those are all HERS! But you can’t buy WEED with food benefits. Perhaps that was from her cash amount. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were SELLING weed! smh. I was so glad to get away from loud lewd music.

          I have or had neighbors two homes up who used to throw loud parties with LOUD live music at night. I have no idea if the lyrics were lewd. It all sounded like “Satan! Satan! Die! Skate! Diiiiie!” to me. Thankfully it stopped.

      • I’d like to know why the government is subsidizing the owners of Section 8 homes so they don’t have to rent on the open market thus driving up rental rates for non-Section 8 renters.

          • That’s what really bugs me aside from those Section 8 tenants who are committing fraud or being bad neighbors.

            Look in the AV Press classifieds at house rentals. There is usually a bunch with 4-5 bedrooms with POOL. The vouchers should only be for apartments or condos unless there is some need for handicap accessabiltiy or other exceptions. But, a pool? Come on now.

            The whole program needs an overhaul. A pool? How can they afford the upkeep and utilities in such a large home if they are on Section 8?

            Two families could be put in apartments for the subsidy of one large upscale home w/pool. What’s next-tennis courts?

          • William, two good points. I’ve wondered why section 8 is available in these big, beautiful homes (with or without pools) too. It should be strictly apartment living in specific areas. That way, there will be no doubt what areas have section 8 and you can choose not to buy a home in the vicinity if you would like. But as usual, the ones that contribute least to the community takes the rights away from those that do.

        • Now that is a true and fair question, William! I am in agreement that Section 8 is a huge problem for the rental rates for the rest of the community that is NOT on Section 8. THIS is the real problem with Section 8 – not that political tripe that the Parrisites are trying to divide the community over.

      • Very well said and I know there are many more (including myself and my family and friends) that agree with you completely. This is a beautiful area with so much potential if we can just get our neighbors to take pride in their community. I’m all for short-term help for those who need it. Not for the ones that sign up on the 10 year wait list at 18 years old to get a section 8 voucher, with no plans to better themselves, only a hand out. I’m sick of seeing “we now accept EBT” everywhere I go, too. Either work like the rest of us and earn the American dream, or get out.

    • I agree with Ryan its a complete mess that R. Rex Parris is doing its about time someone put a stop to him and his GOONS!

      • Nothing in the settlement will keep those committing fraud from being found or prosecuted. It will stop law abiding men, women and children from being treated as second class citizens and criminals. Rex is just throwing a tantrum because he hates being told NO!

    • I agree also with TRex.

      So the county does not want to enforce the law, then let the city using building codes, city codes and other local ordinances shine some sunlight on section 8 problems.

      Owners of property in Lancaster and Palmdale who are have problem renters which result in excessive police service calls might just find doing business in the AV is just worth the trouble.