Evening star., 1943-05-27
Greenbe|t Votes
To Fight Raise
In Rent Rates
Residents Agree
To Ask Injunction
Against Increase
BY J. B. ZATMAN.

A court fight against rent increases
scheduled to become effective Tues
day at Greenbelt, Md. was in pros
pect today after approximately 100
residents of the town last night
authorized a Rent Protest Com
mittee to employ Baltimore legal
firm in an effort to obtain an injunc-
ton against the rent boosts.
The action was taken after Martin
Miller. chairman Of the committee,
read letter from Lee F. johnson.
an official Of the Federal Public
Housing Authority, stating that the
new rent schedule set up by the
FPHA cannot be postponed.
William S. Hennessey, a member
OF the committee, then told the
residents assembled on the recrea-
ton field near the Greenbelt
Elementary School that since the
FPHA does not care to heed our
plea, there is only one alternative
obtain an injunction against the rent
increases which we can do if we
all do our part"
S4O0 Raised in Is Minutes.
Mr.. Miller explained that the
Baltimore law firm of Curran e.
Higginbottom had agreed to take
the case for tentative fee of $500
and said that if this met with the
residents approval, collection
would be taken immediately.
Within Is minutes more than S4OO
was collected in cash and pledges
and Mr.. Miller called the law firm
to tell them of the residents deci-
sion. The remaining 700 residents of
the town were being canvassed TODAY
for additional contributions.
In his letter, MI. Johnson. who is
assistant commissioner for project
management, recalled that Green
belt was built originally to provide
good housing for families with mod
crate incomes at rates which they
could afford to pay.
The policy in effect at Greenbelt
at that time permitted families to
continue living there. providing their
incomes did not exceed the maxi
mu limitation for families of their
size by more than 25 per cent.
Shortage Prompted Increase.
In November, l94l. however
Greenbelt residents were notified
that all over-income families would
be required to move from the project
before March 81, 1912. This an
nouncement, Mr.. johnson added.
brought petitions. resolutions and
delegations of Greenbelt residents
requesting that they be allowed to
continue living there by paying more
rent.
This was done and after the prof.
ect was taken over by the FPHA,
it was decided to raise the rents be-
cause Of the housing shortage in the
Washington Metropolitan Area.
The income received from Green
belt Mr.. johnson wrote, has eX-
ceeded the current cost of operating
and maintaining the project, but has
not been sufficient to set reserves for
requirements of equipment and de-
ferred maintenance. Thus. it has
been operating on the basis of
Government subsidy to the extent of
the entire capital costs"
While assuring residents of the
town that the FPHA is "wholeheart-
edly' interested in the project, Mr..
johnson said:
We are responsible for protecting
the interests of the Government as
we'll as the people who are receiving
the benefits of the Government
program.
although every resident of
Greenbelt has the right to object to
any changes that affect the amount
he pays for rent and other services.
the final responsibility for establish
ing rental rates for the homes at
Greenbelt rests with the Govern
ment"