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TV on TV – James Drake

Tommy Vitolo interviews James Drake, Chief of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation
at the Brookline Center For Community Mental Health.

SPOA Housing Policy, Episode 12 – Confronting Eviction Delay Tactics

At a time when different groups are demanding equal rights and protection from predatory behavior, there is one group that has been forgotten in the conversation — the rental property owner. This couldn’t be more prevalent in Massachusetts of all places.

The conversation centers on Ms. Aletta Horton, a generous entrepreneur and small property owner who was forced to turn to eviction as a last resort when her tenants willfully stopped paying the agreed upon rent. Aletta was then forced to confront a series of
false accusations made by her tenants to delay the eviction proceedings — and to possibly force Aletta into foreclosure.

Attorney Jordana Greenman will describe how the legal system failed to protect Aletta in a timely manner — and how this failure threatens rental housing providers across Massachusetts.

How can the so-called “landlord” combat the stereotype of being greedy in rushing towards eviction, when the majority of owners who are patient and generous, like Aletta, become the easiest prey the longer they wait to regain possession of their properties?

Small business owners already provide the majority of rental housing in our Commonwealth. In order to create balance in our system, is it possible to save this endangered group before it goes extinct?

SPOA Vice President, Amir Shahsavari, moderates the discussion.