Two days later I am hearing things that supposedly
took place at the meeting and knowing I was there from beginning to end I find
it hard to believe they were there but I did see them in the room!!!

In any case the meeting took about 45 minutes with
most topics being covered. As it went faster than I suspect Gretchen expected it
to she did open the floor to a few people, I being one of them, who had my
say.

In any case one of the
most important things she said,rephrasing, "If you don't like living here we
will help you move." One of the thnigs that caught my attention was when Gretchen answered a letter asking why the pool
wasn't heated and why there wasn't a rest room by the pool. She handled it a lot
better than I would have. She, politely, reminded the woman that Gateway was a
HUD development for low (very low) income people providing the necessities of
life that the residents who live there could not provide themselves with. She
told the woman if she gets a sugar daddy maybe he would pay to heat the pool.
She, also, said there were 269 bathrooms on the property! LOL

She talked about how rents
were figured using strict government regulations, how eviction was a long
process, that winning  the lottery or inheriting money, etc., would not mean
that you have to leave. She talked about the office staff, she explained that
Carol and Lee, our security guards, were grandfathered in and had been on the
list for a long time. (Why anyone would complain about having security on the
premises 24/7 boggles my mind.) Gretchen also explained that HUD may no longer
give Gateway the funds to run the Gateway bus which taked residents to supermarkets, special
events, etc., because like everyone they, too, are cutting expenses.  She, also,
mentioned that the mortgage to HUD would be paid off by 2020 and,briefly ,
explained what that would mean. She really didn't say anything about it but the
rumors have been flying since then but they always fly every year when the
'contract' with HUD has to be renewed.

The rules regarding 'visitors' was revisted as
someone complained about a woman's boyfriend 'living' with her--yeah, sounds
like high school, doesn't it?--and the lady got up and spoke her mind and I told
her they were just jealous she had someone in her bed and they didn't!!

One downer was that the
new pastor would have to move off
the property because he and his wife weren't qualified to live at Gateway, one
point being that they were too young and the other that they lived in the only 3
bedroom apartment  here and was paid for by Gateway as part of his salary but
HUD said, "No," as he was not the administrator. He is a real go-getter and
quickly got involved with and for the community and I feel if he has to move off
the property and pay rent (which isn't cheap in Fort Lauderdale) he will get another
job.

She touched on the whole
discrimination issue saying she couldn't believe it when she heard it. She
mentioned that we (Gateway) are way below the requirements regarding number
ofminorities wanted by HUD in each of the properties.

A few more topics were
covered before she opened the floor and I was the second person called on. I
brought up the subject of the 'dissentients' and why didn't they have the guts
to get up and speak now? I, also, asked Gretchen to name them but she claims (I
don't believe it) she doesn't know who they are. I didn'tmake a big deal over it
but I called those who won't speak up, are afraid to back their 'beliefs',
didn't have the b---s to say what they think, cowards. I will, immodestly, tell
you I got a BIG round of applause!!  :O)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All in all it was a good meeting. It was also the
biggest turnout they ever had and I suggested that maybe, just maybe, holding it
at 11:30 instead of 10 AM helped so they will hold May's meeting at the same
time.

As I alluded to above it
seems more rumors are flying since the meeting. I am hearing things I supposedly
said that I never said!! LOL I, also,
got into a 'fight' with a so called WASP, who claims she is a member of the DAR
and that her family dates back to the Mayflower, because of her attitude towards
the office staff--that she was better than them (and most people at Gateway) and
all I did was say, "And you live here? Obviously you are in the same boat we
are." She was proud that when she went home everything was the same and she
seemed proud that the young members of her family use malicious words regarding
other groups but she doesn't say anything. Oh well I made anotherenemy--that's
what I get for mixing with the peasants! LOL