Slumlords Stiff Banks — & Rake In Sec. 8 Bucks | New Haven Independent

Poverty landlords Janet Dawson and Michael Steinbach found a way to make money in the recession—stop paying the bank, let properties deteriorate, but continue collecting tens of thousands of dollars a month in checks from New Haven’s housing authority.

The Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH) is sending Section 8 federal rent subsidy checks to Dawson’s and Steinbach’s various corporate entities for at least 73 rental apartments according to HANH. That amounted to nearly $80,000 paid out by HANH to the two for the month of October alone.

Meanwhile, lenders are foreclosing on their homes across town. And even though Dawson and Steinbach stopped paying their mortgages on the properties, that hasn’t stopped New Haven’s housing authority from continuing to send them rent checks.

To read more of this story visit: Slumlords Stiff Banks — & Rake In Sec. 8 Bucks | New Haven Independent.

Small touches make things clear: Whole Foods adds Braille in its Newtonville store | The Boston Globe

NEWTON – The shoppers descended on the produce aisle, but instead of reaching out for the fresh papayas and melons, they grazed their fingers over small labels at the bottom of the display cabinets that told them about each product.

The shoppers were blind or visually impaired, and they were at the Whole Foods in Newtonville trying out the first food labels in Braille at a supermarket on the East Coast; many said they found the experience liberating.

“It’s a sense of freedom, to be able to make your own choice,’’ said Joe Quintanilla, one of the shoppers. “Sometimes, I feel guilty having someone read me everything that is there on a label.’’

To read more of this story, visit Small touches make things clear: Whole Foods adds Braille in its Newtonville store | The Boston Globe

Extended Butterfly Equipment Sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 4-7

There will be an extended liquidation sale Tuesday-Friday, Oct 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Everything must go!

Power Wheelchairs previously priced $1,000-$20,000 now $300-$400!

DEEP DISCOUNTS ON:

  • Manual wheelchairs
  • Hoyer lifts
  • Canes, Crutches, Walkers
  • Commodes; and
  • Other Accessories

All merchandise sold as is.
All Sales Final.
Cash only.
No Dealers, No Early Birds,

Print the flier here: butterflyLiqidationSale-oct-2011.

Center for Disability Rights
764-B Campbell Ave.
West Haven, CT 06516
(203) 934-7079
www.cdr-ct.org

Dear Friend, Member, Consumer, or Partnering Organization:

As you may have heard, after a 23-year history of both loaning and selling durable medical equipment and assistive technology and devices to consumers who need no cost or low cost equipment, Butterfly Equipment is changing its focus.

Times have changed and there are many more programs doing what we do. In addition, the funding climate is not favorable to ongoing support and maintenance of a large and diversified DME recycler. In particular, we have observed that over half our calls and loans and sales are for manual wheel chairs, and most of the rest is for shower benches and commodes. Despite the incredible values offered by Butterfly in power chairs, scooters, Hoyer lifts, walkers, crutches, and other devices, there is very little demand for the large inventory that we have.

Consequently, in the future, Butterfly will only focus on manual wheel chairs, shower benches, and a few commodes. All other inventory MUST go. After this last sale from Oct. 4-7, 2011, Butterfly will dispose of all remaining inventory.

At our last sale, folks happily left with manual chairs for as little as $20, walkers for as little as $5, canes for $2, Hoyer lifts for $70, and power chairs for $300-400. This is your last chance. Please come and tell everyone you know who needs such equipment.

Sincerely:

Marc Anthony Gallucci, Esq.
Executive Director

Disabled Woman Unhappy With Malloy’s Executive Order | CT News Junkie

Catherine Ludlum of Manchester, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy and uses 8 to 10 personal care attendants a week to maintain her independence, said she doesn’t support Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s executive order that opens up the door to unionizing her personal care attendants.

“This came out without input from the disability community or personal care assistants themselves,” Ludlum said Friday.

Ludlum, 49, said she’s been hiring personal care attendants for 23 years and has lived on her own most of that time. Personal care attendants assist individuals like Ludlum with things like dressing, meal preparation, and shopping. They are paid through the state and funding for the program is limited.

Read more here: CT News Junkie | Disabled Woman Unhappy With Malloy’s Executive Order.

Man Sues White Castle Over Booth Size and Harvest Moon Shines On The Web | Yahoo! News

Even though we live in a supersized world, bigger is not always better. One devoted White Castle customer is suing the restaurant chain because he can’t fit into the restaurant’s booths. Martin Kessman, who weighs 290 pounds, complained to management for more than two years after repeatedly knocking his knee into the tables’ metal supports. After the 64-year-old New York stockbroker sent a series of letters of complaint to the chain, he received what he called condescending responses. White Castle sent him free hamburger coupons and promised that it would expand its booth sizes. But the booths were never changed and Kessman is now taking his case to federal court. He is suing for bigger chairs and unspecified damages because he says the eatery is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. (He compares himself to pregnant women and the handicapped.) The lawsuit, however, has not put an end to Kessman’s love of mini burgers. Now, instead of going to White Castle himself, he sends his wife.

Read more here: Man Sues White Castle Over Booth Size and Harvest Moon Shines On The Web | Trending Now – Yahoo! News.

Butterfly Equipment Liquidation Sale Everything must go — Sept. 14-19

10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sept 14, 16, 19

10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Thurs. Sept 15

Power Wheelchairs previously priced $1,000-$20,000 now $400!

DEEP DISCOUNTS ON:

• Manual wheelchairs
• Hoyer lifts
• Canes, Crutches, Walkers
• Commodes, and
• Other Accessories

All merchandise sold as is.
All Sales Final.

Cash only.
No Dealers, No Early Birds

Center for Disability Rights
764-B Campbell Ave.
West Haven, CT 06516
(203) 934-7079
www.cdr-ct.org

Tools and Resources on Elder Abuse For Providers Working with Older Adults, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 22, New Haven

Glennie Harris-Roberts, Supervisor, Protective Services for the Elderly and Angela Karen, Probate Court of West Haven and Shelley O’Brien, Regional Ombudsman, Protective Services for the Elderly, will present “Tools and Resources on Elder Abuse For Providers Working with Older Adults,” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at Tower One/Tower East, 18 Tower Lane in New Haven. Continental Breakfast will be served. Space is limited, reserve your spot! RSVP to Sue Hamilton 203-785-8533 x3158 or shamilton@aoapartnerships.org.

Susan Hamilton is Program Assistant for the Agency on Aging of South Central CT, 1 Long Wharf Dr., New Haven, Ct 06511.