By William Tauro
I believe you ran on the platform of how affordable, American Disabilities Act (ADA) units are so vital for those with Mobility Needs and you were able to get one for you and your family including your grandmother (who with her mobility needs provided you access to get on the waitlist/lottery for the ADA unit)
This is an excerpt from http://www.kristenstrezo.com-your website, “However, Kristen found that it was near-impossible to find housing in Somerville that was both affordable and handicap-accessible for her grandmother. Kristen chose to move into affordable housing to help stabilize the diverse needs of her family— a move that changed her life for the better.”
Excerpt from another campaign quote publicly, “Caring for two small children and my elderly grandmother, I learned that finding an affordable first floor apartment or an apartment with elevator access was virtually impossible to accommodate my Grandmother’s ADA needs. My Grandmother relied on a walker. My family had to literally win an affordable housing lottery to get a unit that was affordable, large enough for a family, and ADA accessible.”
I am so sorry for the loss of your Grandmother who passed away in 2021 the one that you were able to get the ADA Affordable priority at Assembly Row due to her mobility impairments. But now why are you not residing in a non-ADA unit to give others the chance to have the mobility needs that are so limited? Instead you are taking away the opportunity for those that have so few units available and yet you consider yourself a City Council person who puts the community first. Did you notify your apartments to tell them that the ADA member of the household no longer resides there? Did you tell your constituents that you are taking away a low income ADA unit away from the people affected the most right now? Nope..you sat idly by while taking advantage of the system at the expense of a disabled family that could not afford housing otherwise. You are still milking off the situation and exploiting the system in which you have been entrusted to legislate. Do you not claim to fight for Fair Housing all while pulling a scheme on the people?
You were granted this opportunity due to ADA Needs of your Grandmother, but now that you do not have a need for ADA housing, YOU are in fact taking it away from the population that has the most limited options.
Just to let you know Councilor-at-Large Strezo, and as you are aware that I live a floor or two below you in the same building, but I am paying top dollar to be there. Is that fair as well?
QUESTION: Will you in fact go back on the non ADA waitlist and move out of your residence at Assembly Row or will you continue to take away from those with mobility issues?
You have failed to assist your community on the very issues you were put in office to assist with all while laughing all the way to your affordable ADA apartment.