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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. – A Peekskill public housing resident has served Peekskill officials with a notice of claim over what she says is a pattern of illegal treatment by the city's Housing Authority.
Sharon "Sandy" Allen has been fighting the city since 2009 over what she says is a pattern of harassment and retaliation by city officials, including termination of employment and efforts to evict her from her home. She is the claimant in the case along with her daughter Michelle and Darrell Davis, a Westchester civil rights activist and talk radio host.
The notice of claim is directed at the management of the Peekskill Housing Authority, the Peekskill Police Department and the City of Peekskill.
Allen is a resident of the the Dunbar Heights housing complex and a former Peekskill Housing Authority employee. She said she has withstood a pattern of abuse that started when she was let go from her housing job in January 2012. As she fought the dismissal in court she began receiving what she claims were illegal eviction notices from Harold Phipps, executive director of the Housing Authority.
At Monday's Common Council meeting, Allen told council members that she had been trying to get help since 2009.
"I have been served seven illegal evictions and nobody is helping me, except Mr. Smith [her lawyer] and Mr. Davis," Allen said. I ask the mayor and council members for help and I cry and I get the same look, a blank look."
Allen claims that her car was vandalized several times since her employment was terminated, and that police did not adequately investigate the matter. The claim also alleges that the city government did not adequately work to make sure the Housing Authority had a functioning board of commissioners and that the board itself did not follow its bylaws. Commissioners are appointed by the city manager, and Mayor Mary Foster has insisted that she and the Common Council have no control over such appointments.
The claim was served by attorney Geoffrey Smith of Hyatt Smith Associates in White Plains. Smith said the eviction appeal process has not been handled correctly by the Housing Authority, since it did not offer Allen the right to an appeal proceeding through the Housing Authority. The evictions were dismissed this month in City Court.
"The judge said that since they didn't tell her she had that alternative, he wouldn't let them come to that court," Smith said. "And that's not only a big victory for Sandy, but it sets up the proper procedure for when the Housing Authority wants evictions. They can't get a warrant of eviction without going to the City Court, and they can't get that without going through that first step."
City spokesman Bob Knight said he was unable to comment on pending litigation.
Comments (6)
When you let people rent this much space in your head by recommending it to sites like facebook. You do nothing more than promote more stupidity. Everyone has the right to ask for whatever it is they feel they are entitled to. That is why there is a process called "investigation". When this process is completed it will reveal the truth. Like the age old cliche says "you can't have your cake and eat it too". Better yet double dipping!! Freedom of speech! Enough said!!
We in housing have had it with Daryl and his friends coming here,and starting all this trouble.we have had to live with miss allen,and all the turmoil she has created throughout the years.we have complained to thomas for years and nothing has ever been done,now that someone is trying to rid us of her,and her daughters nuisance behavior,she wants to cry foul,well what about us residents can we sue her?! we hope that the lawyers will call some of us that have made complaints,and they will find out who the real harasser is.Daryl does not speak for many of us and all he has done is create more mess,and he has brought more trouble than we wish,we can't go to our own housing meetings because he has brought these strangers here,and we can't discuss our issues,we don't feel comfortable talking about in front of these strangers and reporters.somebody needs to help us to get rid of all of them,we really don't want them here enough is enough,leave us alone.
@sickandtired..at the end of the day there are some things you just can't help but talk about.Some things we just don't want to hear,and some things we say because we can't be silent any longer.Some things are more than what we say,they're what you do.Some things you say cause there's no other choice.Some things you keep to yourself,and not very often,but every now and then some things simply speak for themselves.When someone is nasty or treats you poorly.don't take it personally.It says nothing about you but a lot about them....HATE..it has caused a lot of problems in the community,but it has not solved one yet....#Godhasaplan...
Very well written Mr. Cusano! Ms. Sharon Allen deserves it ALL!!! Especially after the years of unfair treatment from the city. Its so sad that it has taken so long before changes are finally being made!! Shes a wonderful woman. Good luck!
First off Ms Allen was never an employee of the Housing Authority(she gets a disability check) she like many others were allowed to help with leaf and snow removal.,and they got paid for it.
As far as appealing any action against tenants by the authority it is in their lease that they have a right to grieve.
Her daughter who sought advise from a tenant removed herself from her mothers lease,citing that she(her mother) kept up "to much mess"..
As far as the by-laws the only binding by-laws are the ones from 1989 that is registered with the State/HUD,now since 2004 they have been changed several times for whatever reason,from 2008 I can't attest to how many times they have been changed.
Finally, as far as this being "Professional" journalism..lol..when I saw Cusano kiss Ms Allen up on City Hall steps this past January I knew he was all in..so professional I don't know,partisan yes.....
Once again:If you ever want to stop being miserable, you have to change your thinking. Everyone has the capability to change the way they are thinking, but not everyone is able to decide to stop thinking this way. Many of us don't realize that change requires some form of motivation or some sort of leverage.
We all need something to hold us accountable for the changes that we need to make in our lives, and once we can feel excited about not letting down who or what is holding us accountable, we will be able to live in the world of change that we truly want in our lives. Stop being miserable, there are too many opportunities in life to be happy. There are too many alternatives to depression, and to unhappiness, but you have to choose not to be! Quit allowing stress into your life, and start allowing what you really want in your life to take over your thoughts.
Nice piece of professional journalism, Mr. Cusano! It is refreshing to see-
Thanks.