The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-12
Harris Denounces Critics Of Waterbury Housing Project
Points Out 10000
 Families Live Here
 In Inadequate Houses
Sending Out Unfavorable Propaganda in Today's Mail-3,5OO Letters in Circulation

ordinary modern equipment of a toilet. bath tub and hot water.
 Wage Farmer Concerned
 Well, I think that the wage earners of the city are concerned if he isn't and that they are go- ing to see that something is done about it. There are 10000 fami- lies in the city paying rent and every one of these families should place themselves on record as to what they think of this housing situation. They should contact their aldermen as our political friend advises and if they can get into Wilby High School next Friday evening, they should rise, give their names and express their opinions as to what they get for the hard earned money that they pay out in rent.
 Now what does the Waterbury House Authority propose to do for the low wage-earner. First it proposes to build 250 modern houses that will rent to families not earning over $75.00 per month at $500 per month. Second, it proposes that the City of Water bury set up Board of Condemns tion similar to the one appointed by the City Council of Bridgeport with certain powers by ordinance that will enable it to require that sub-standard dwellings (slums if you wish) be demolished or put in proper condition for people to live in with reasonable comfort. They might go so far as to require a license to rent and no license be issued unless the dwelling met all the ordinances passed by the Board of Aldermen.
 Sub Standard
 Much of this sub-standard prop erty is sixty to seventy years of age and poorly constructed. It should have been written off long ago as an investment; it is taking the place of property that should be bringing much more income to the city and it is unsafe or un- sanitary by reason of delapidation, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light and sanitation facilities.
 As a result of these proposals by the Housing Authority, the build- ing trades group who have been unemployed for ten years - car- penters, masons, bricklayers, paint CTS, plasterers, plumbers, electri- clans, etc. = will receive over one- half million dollars in wages dur ing the coming year, much of which will pour into the retail trade of the city; another half million will be spent in cement, lumber, paint, roofing, plumbing and electrical supplies which my political friend of all people knows must be reflected in local trade conditions.
 Furthermore, the work of the Board of Condemnation will result in the expenditures of thousands
 of dollars for labor and materials and will give the wage earnerS of this city honest rents in place of those which they are now forced to accept for want of decent accommodation
 Remember that the members of the Housing Authority have no interest than the desire to make Waterbury a better city in which to live. The low wage earn CTS has long been the target for those who own broken down, dilapidarea real estate. Privale interests-and that means those who are behind these thirty-five hundred letters-are unable to do about this situation and now they show themselves in a new light, that of deliberately trying to block action by others. The United States Housing Authority through a loan to the