Free Sidewalks for Low-Income Landlords? - CDBG Money in Bristol, CT

According to federal mandates, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) monies must be used to predominantly benefit low-income and moderate income families.  But do these federally allocated HUD monies earmarked for such use achieve the goals they are intended to produce? Or could it be that these taxpayer monies might possibly be benefiting less needy individuals?   This is the case made by more than one local resident.

This year, the City of Bristol has decided to once again amend it's Annual Action Plan, by reprogramming CDBG funds for sidewalk replacement.  $68,000 in federal funds are proposed to be used for sidewalk replacement in the Summer Street Target Area.   Upon inspection of the Summer Street vicinity, it appears that the area most in need of sidewalk repair happens to be in the area closest to the city's main library.    A short animation shows that the sidewalks are in a clear state of disrepair.



Some planners and state officials, including those from nonprofits such as the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), (whom is managing the State of Connecticut's Transit-Oriented Development Predevelopment Fund), seem to think that sidewalks improve the quality of life of low-income residents because physical mobility lowers the walker's Body Mass Index (BMI).   It seems like that's a bit of a stretch of legitimate use.  The question at hand is, do these funds best fit the bill for their intended use, or do they more greatly benefit those that the funds are NOT targeted for.   City resident and taxpayer Tom Doyle Jr. isn't the only resident whom thinks this is an issue.   He is one of the few whom has provided a public statement for the Bristol Development's public hearing for the funds' use.   It states in part,

" I'm a moderate-income taxpayer living in this neighborhood.  I know that most of these buildings are apartments owned by landlords that don't actually live there.  They're responsible for these properties and must pay for sidewalk replacement, by law.  You're not helping low- and moderate-income families with this proposal -- you're actually hurting them.  You're rewarding the absentee landlords who these poor families pay their rent to, the ones that use that money to do anything but repair and maintain their blighted buildings and properties. ....
...The fact is, it may not even be legal to use this money to redo the sidewalks.  The city ordinances specifically state that sidewalks must be maintained, repaired, replaced, and kept clear by the property owner and not at the expense of the taxpayers."

 I met him for a quick "On the Street" video a few weeks back.   


Among other residents opposed to the use of low-income funds for landlords was the former teacher and father of Tom Jr., Tom Doyle Sr.   His statement to the BDA (in part), is included below,

"The city has proposed that $68,000 be taken from community block grants to repair sidewalks on Summer St.  We citizens are getting a snow-job.  Sidewalks are the responsibility of owners - in this case some absentee landlords including one who has been called a scumbag by our Mayor....
...    The sidewalks wouldn't need to be repaired if dumpsters were kept off them, if cars did not park on them, if driveways were simply paved.  Otherwise landlords create problems and the taxpayers are forced to pay for them...."

Bristol's Historic District Commissioner and Federal Hill resident Steve Coan weighed in,

"This particular area of the city seems to be one of those areas where the city's code has not been properly enforced.   Summer Street has been a haven for slum lords for years and the idea that we are now going to reward this behavior by giving them new free sidewalks is absurd. "

One property owner at a popular downtown business found the practice unfair to long-time taxpaying residents.  He recently dished out more than $7,000 to replace the sidewalks in front of his vibrant new $15,000 awning.   The investment was privately funded.  Ineligible for the city's Enterprise Zone incentives, this business owner is paying more than his fair share for businesses investing just across the other side of the railroad tracks.

If the purpose of using taxpayer monies for sidewalks in downtown Bristol is to improve it's 'walkability', the money is not likely being best used to predominantly benefit low to moderate income families.   The Central Connecticut Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Plan for Central Connecticut -2040 illustrates that Bristol is 'very walkable'.  It seems that HUD funds are being directed to the same place that roadway monies are being diverted to in this manner.

The public hearing for the amendment has ended effectively on the 18th of January.   The Bristol Development Authority will address the public comments for the sidewalk allocation of federal Housing and Urban Development(HUD) monies at it's Monday January 25th meeting at 5:00 PM immediately after the public comment segment of the meeting.