Dear Hilary---no problem with differing views--but your post says exactly what I meant about getting help from the legislators with whom he has worked ! CLOUT comes that way, I think, not in {Portland ,ME} from a bunch of faceless Parkies who live all over the world....in other words in THIS particular situation I think the we on list do not have much weight as advocates. They will think, "SO WHAT?" and be irritated by getting a bunch of calls/emails from us---that's my hunch. I think Ivan is mistaken in spending energy trying to energize the list, and should use all his strength to get help from the Representative/Senator who know him for his advocacy for PD. The "tyrants" are more likely to listen toi them--that's just my belief. Advocacy from the list can be very important in getting funding, etc., as has been proven---but I think there are some cases where it is not to best way to get results....IMHO. Furthermore, a class action suit seems less probable in the light of Ivan's most recent explanation that they are concerned about the insurance money--that seems not to have much direct connection with his plea of disability/ abatement eligibility , which COULD set a precedent. Maybe I'm still confused--another example of how hard it is to "advocate" without first-hand knowledge, even after Ivan's explanations. Maybe there's something we still haven't caught onto? Suggestions, anyone? Hilary wrote: >Camilla, >For once, i must, most respectfully, beg to differ from you. I know i am very >much an emotive "fools rush in" kind of person, and not such a clear and >logical thinker as yourself. But i think that in this case , something funny >is going on = that the authorities are perhaps concerned that Ivan's case may >be the precursor of many others - maybe even a class action? In which case >they could be adopting an attitude of "lets nip it in the bud" Hardly a >professional way to behave, but who knows. >And so it might not be a bad idea for these petty tyrants ( and i use that >term in its approximate political sense of someone who has more power than he >knows how to use) to know that Ivan is not defenceless, that he has >supporters who are not dependent for their livelihoods on the largesse of >these same people in power - remember this is a small town , where the main >employers are also the city councillors. >If at least somebody (or bodies) with a little legal background could examine >Ivan's paperwork - even if he is not licensed in the state of maine, at least >we could find out if Ivan has a claim. It seems obvious enuff to me, but >then i'm not a lawyer. AS far as i understand the situation, they are >claiming "property tax" and if ivan had that money, then he didnt have >property ! > >REspectfully yours > >hilary > >Camilla Flintermann wrote: >> >> Ivan-- this is totally incomprehensible "thinking" on the part of the >> city--but I very much doubt that we can do anything to influence them---the >> "legal" wheels are in motion, and I suspect that out outrage is less than >> effective. You must have a LOCAL advocate...preferably a lawyer who can >> handle this for you. >> I assume that you have given them copies of all the bills, showing where >> the money went? Are they saying the taxes should have been paid FIRST >> before you spent the insurance funds on the new house? That I could >> understand, but as you explained it, their thinking doesn't compute. By >> "financially ineligible for assistance from the city", do you refer to the >> tax abatement that you hoped to get? I must confess I'm confused, and >> again feel there is no way I can be of help here. >> >> You have several weeks to find help there. Perhaps your legislator's aide >> can refer you to an attorney who will take your case ? What about the >> attorney (Harvey) who handled the payment? I wish I could see any >> intervention by us on the list that would be effective--but this is a >> matter for legalities, not anger, no matter how we feel about it. . >> >> >Dear Nita, bob, Camilla, and LIST: >> > >> >Briefly ( I am too tired to type more): >> > >> >1) After an arduous battle, 129,00 dollars was finally released by >> >Acadia Insurance Co. to me, >> > for damages from an August, 1996 fire that destroyed my home and >> >posssessions,. It was sent >> >via attorney Chuck Harvey, in February, 1997. >> > >> >2) THe CIty of Portland's lawyers are claiming NOW that this 1996 >> >fire-damage insurance >> >payment makes me financially ineligible for assistance from the City now, >> >in 1999!! They claim >> >that I had money from the settlement as late as recently, and throughout >> >the applicable period >> >the Maine Human RIghts Commission is considering, which is October , 1997 >> >- May 1998, during >> >which time I am claiming discrimination. >> > >> > >> >3) Despite what the City's lawyers just claimed on Oct. 20th, >> >ALL $129,000.00 was used up by me by July, 1997. I kept it all in a >> >separate >> >checking account so I would not lose my Medicaid. Medicaid allows very >> >limited >> >cash assets. I think it is $2,000 (two thousand dollars) or less. >> > >> >It was used the insurance money as follows: >> > >> >a) Eleven or twelve checks to pay contractor KenToner $112,000 to rebuild >> >and re-fit my home. All payments were completed by late July or early >> >August, 1997. >> > b) LaPierre Furniturture and Appliances about $3500 during April, May >> >and June 1997 >> >for fridge, dishwahser, washing macahine and kitchen >> >range and oven; to buy some furniture, and kitchen items-like microwave >> >oven, >> >I ran out long before I could get clothes , like a winter coat, and so >> >forth. >> >c)It was also used to pay rent for 7 months at Back >> >Cove Estates, from Dec. 1996 - June 1997, (about $5000) while I waited >> >for my burned >> >home to be rebuilt from the foundation at $730/month, plus 2 months' >> >security deposit. >> >d) What was left went to long-distance calls and gasoline and various >> >living >> >expenses for the 11 months I was homeless(about $7,000) >> >The city 's entire aragumeant is falsely based on my supposedly having >> >plenty of >> >money--in fact, I never replaced many, many things, still don't even have >> >curtains, >> >for example. >> > >> >My current bank balance is $147.00. >> >Tonight the certified mail aautomatic foreclosure notice >> >for back taxes and interest arrived. Dec 17 is the foreclosure >> >date. It is for ab out 1400 dollars. >> > >> >The Human Rights COmmission vote is on Dec. 13th. >> > >> >Ivan Suzman >> >:-) >> >> Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55 >> Oxford, Ohio >> http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm >> <[log in to unmask]> >> >> "Ask me about the CARE list for >> Caregivers of Parkinsonians ! " Love to you from Grandma / Nonnie <[log in to unmask]> JUST 0000000 TO 0/ 0 000 SAY HI! 0| o o |0 0| ^ |0 . ......... ...o00o..........\.. *.. ./.......o00o........... | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Visit our website at: http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm