The detailed March 27 Gazette report “Northampton Housing Authority boss placed on leave,” by Alexander MacDougall, reveals that employees of the NHA filed a complaint. The NHA Board Of Commissioners is the legal provider of housing and responsible for protecting staff as well as tenants from harassment and allegations of malfeasance, and should have acted without being required to by the commonwealth.

There are ongoing conflicts among tenants, fear due to the lack of security, fear of retaliation, and some individuals appear to experience harassment. It is unfair that when tenants complain, they rarely if ever get relief, and when staff complains, they get an investigation of their concerns.

The failure of the NHA board to be diligent in their fiduciary duty points to a systemic problem in public and subsidized housing. To address the lack of oversight and protect tenants from harassment, state Sen. Joan B. Lovely, D-Salem, and state Rep. Sally Kerans, D-Danvers, propose House Bill H.1814 to create an Office of the Tenant Advocate in the Office of the Attorney General.

Jerry Halberstadt

Coordinator, Stop Bullying Coalition, Peabody