Problems With the ARA

Dear Editor,
    Thank you, Kimberly Reeves, for covering the story about the Austin Revitalization Authority [“The Dead End at Olive and Juniper,” News, Sept. 7].
    There are still other East Austin residents out there who participated in homeownership and/or rehabilitation programs who've endured similar and perhaps more profound atrocities with regard to these type of programs (delays; noncommunication, the runaround; smoothing over/covering up the facts; and residents displaced from their homes, living in limbo indefinitely).
    Ms. Reeves, please keep up the good work – I believe you've just scratched the surface.
    I look forward to seeing more stories on this topic. The people and the stories are out there.
    Also, regarding a reader's comment on the story – while I can relate to the reader's concern for residents who are in extremely oppressed situations, the focus of the story has to do with ARA's apparent mismanagement and abuse/misuse of their contractual duties and misuse of your/our taxpayer dollars.
    The point is: If it is happening to people who are college graduates, then just imagine how significant the impact is when these same abuses are happening to those in less-fortunate situations and are also struggling to get their story out. The fact is, if this is happening to any citizen of our community, it is causing hardships that certainly impact low-income individuals.