The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-04-05
Claim of More Experts
Than Tenants Denied
FPFiA Has Made Mistakes in Building Program But
Indictment OF "Waste, Extravaganza" Unjustifed

Local housing authorities today
received a copy of a reply written
by Herbert Emmerich, commissioner
ority in answer to charges raised re-
of the Federal Public Housing Auth
Gently by the Massachusetts FEEDER
alton Of Taxpayers Associations
concerning waste" in the construc-
ton and administration of housing
projects in New England by federal
authorities.
The Federation had chared fed
eral authorities with "squandering
the taxpayers funds" and made
claims that idle and unfinished pro-
jects dotted the New England
landscape like fever RASH. In
addition the Federation charged
that three-fourths of the war
housing projects in Massachusetts,
and many elsewhere are vacant.
Refuting these charges Commits
Sioner Emmerich also states that he
has complete confidence in the in
tegrity and ability of John Dobbs,
regional representative of the MIA
and Sumner K. Wiley, regional di-
rector of the FILA of Boston, both
of whom have had jurisdiction over
Waterbury,s federal housing build
ing. It was the latter who became
involved In a Sarp dispute with
residents of the Bouley Manor Sec
ton of the city after he had &C
cused them Of being "unpatriotic"
when they fought the plan to erect
housing on the Porter site.
In answer to the federation's
charges Commissioner Emmerich
stated that recent statistics reveal
that as of January 81, 1914, total
Of 90.4 per cent of the war housing
units in Massachusetts, were occu-
pied while in New England as a
whole the occupancy rate was 844
per cent. In projects completed for
three months or more the occupancy
for family quarters for the New
England area was 1913 per cent
Changes in war manpower require
ments, of late, in certain areas has
been traced as the cause for the
majority of the vacancies.
Refuting charges Of excessive costs
as to construction and administra-
ton the commissioner denied the
charges of the Federation which as
serted that "extras in heating alone
III these projects are estimated to
run into $2,5O0,OOO in this area.
The denial states that the cost
actually has been below 100000.
Denying the charges of the Fed
Grafton that at is a slight exaggera-
ton to say that there are nearly
as many experts as there are ten
ants" Commissioner Emmerich
stated that current employment of
the Region New England area) is
200 inclusive of clerical personnel;
the number of occupants In the
FPHA war housing projects In New
England Is close to 10000.
Comsr. Emmerich stated that the
charges Of the Federation have been
and will continue to be proven to
be marked with inaccuracies, dis
tortions and exaggerations. In clos
ing he says that he does not con-
tend that the FPHA has been free
from mistakes in New England or
any other region. However, he
concludes, In recognition OF the diff
ficulty wartime problems. operating
conditions and requirements that
have been faced, I believe that the
FPHAS record can stand on its
merits"
The copy Of the letter although
directed to the Waterbury Hous-
ing Authority was forwarded to
City Controller Neil F. Maloney,
who Is chairman Of the Housing Adj
visory board and Is not connected
with the newly appointed Housing
Authority reported here Yesterday.
This latter board is made up Of
John j. DriScoll, CLIO executive sec
Rotary; Lester A. Young, realtor;
Richard w. GosS Of the Scovill
Mfg. Co.. Joseph DeLaurentis, Of
the Ready Mixed Concrete Co.;
MAAS Aan1A NAAUAtEA MssAaaSsl