Thumb down
Tonya Moore’s four-year old-house she lives in with her elderly mother on Persimmon Street apparently has numerous problems stemming from substandard construction. Moore blames the Pine Bluff Economic and Community Development Department for her problems.
The Interested Citizens for Voter Registration organization maintains workmanship on the Moore home was shoddy at best. Moore said she turned to ICVR when the municipal office failed to respond to her complaints.
“We looked at the house and saw shoddy construction,” charged ICVR board member and mayoral candidate Peter Daniels. “Promises were made and not kept. The plumbing is out of order. It’s just ridiculous the shape that this house is in.”
Daniels said ICVR has attempted to get officials with the federal Housing and Urban Development office in Little Rock to come to Pine Bluff to investigate the allegations, but that so far there has been no response.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
We would be surprised to see HUD respond in a timely manner about complaints about Pine Bluff’s housing programs. The agency, which has oversight responsibility for the federally-financed programs, has drug its heels in the past when questions were raised.
A $71,000 grant was given to build Moore’s home, but no warranties were provided, ICVR said. “We just want the house repaired how it should be,” Moore said. “I want my mother to have a safe place to live.”
Moore is not the only resident to have lodged complaints about the municipal department, headed up by Donald Sampson. The complaints have ranged from sloppy work to promises that were not kept.
When asked to respond to the allegations made against the city, Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. responded by saying he was not aware of any problems with the homes that the PBECD had a hand in constructing or repairing and that the concerns of city residents are addressed.
Perhaps the mayor forgot that he suspended Sampson for 10 days in February for missing the deadline for a housing grant that could have potentially brought about $955,000 to the city.
In February 2010, Sampson’s department missed the deadline for the same program, which had $19.6 million in HUD Neighborhood Stabilization funds to distribute.
We would be surprised if HUD responds to Moore’s complaints.
Call the IRS
Thumb down
Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr. is correct when he says there is nothing unlawful with Police Chief Brenda Davis-Jones being granted free rent for working as “courtesy officer” at the apartment complex in which she resides.
The Commercial obtained a copy of an Aug. 9 letter reportedly signed by Benita Clinard of Fountain Square Apartments at 3201 South Beech St.
“There’s no monetary exchange involved,” Redus said. “She’s just providing some security for her rent.” The letter stated that a $20 fee will be assessed to any residents who require Davis-Jones’ assistance entering their apartments “after hours.” The letter further advises, “Do not go to her (Davis-Jones’) door or call her without having the money first.”
An accountant we know suggested the mayor was in error when he stated that the exchange of rent for personal services is not a monetary transaction. The IRS considers it to be a taxable business transaction.
The apartment complex is required to issue a form 1099 MISC with the value of the rent reported as “Non-Employee Compensation” if the value is over $600.
Davis-Jones must then report this amount plus any additional cash receipts from the service as income, normally on a Schedule C “Sole Proprietor” form. The “compensation” is generally subject to self-employment tax.
The IRS views barter as no different than if money had changed hands.