Monthly Meetings
2021 – October
Great night for politics at the GNBLA with Massachusetts State Rep Antonio Cabral, and New Bedford City Councilor Joe Lopes. Tony: Spoke of challenges with Covid, RAFT and ERAP program, affordable housing, state money for housing development, and plenty of other issues. City Councilman Joe Lopes of Ward 6 in New Bedford: Spoke of real…
Read More2021 – September
September 9 meeting ably hosted by Bill Schofield. Carl Bonnell, exterminator announced his new business at 774-400-5993. Leo Choquett, running for City Councilman Ward 1, has a fundraiser on September 15 at 6 pm at the Jade Garden Restaurant. The main speaker Attorney John Walsh, 508-994-0083, Advice, 1) always have a written agreement, 2) never…
Read More2021 – June
June 3 was our last meeting before the summer. Our people are back. The main speakers were Matt Andrew, Ron Oliveira, and Carl Superior speaking about rents in Fall River and New Bedford and the local real estate market. Rents in New Bedford are now 1,2 &3 3 bedrooms $1000, $1200 & $1300. About the…
Read More2021 – May
The last photo is of our speakers from last Thursday, (from left to right) Attorney Donna Cohen of the Volunteer Lawyer Project, Clerk-Magistrate Mark Jeffries, and Judge Donna Salvidio. The vaccines are out there, people are returning. ~ Donna Cohen spoke of Pro-bono and Low Bono legal help for landlords (that’s right). ~ Mark Jeffries…
Read More2021 – April Meeting
Speakers were Attorney John Francouer and Constable Edward Avilla, eviction in the Age of Covid. Governor Baker ended the Eviction Moratorium on October 17, CDC moratorium theoretically ends on June 30th. Can’t evict for non-payment of rent, can evict for cause, or possession. Landlords can help tenants apply for RAFT payment, new eviction forms so…
Read More2021 – March Meeting
GNBLA meeting was at the Thirsty Whale (thank you, Ron Oliveira). Speakers were State Reps Shawn Dooley and Peter Durant. We need to know what is going on in the State legislature, but not panic over bills that are going nowhere. Rent control bills only by local option, South Coast Rail definitely going to happen,…
Read More2020 – December Meeting
Covid 101 with Ron Oliveira and Kevin Welch. Ron suggests we build rapport with good tenants. Problem with court for another year, refile old motions before new cases. Allow tenants to work off debt, find jobs, raise rent on new tenants, not old ones. Look at all of your expenses, see what you can trim.…
Read More2020 – October Meeting
Another great meeting, guest speakers Judge Joe Michaud and Clerk Magistrate Mark Jeffries. Judge Michaud had moment of silence for Linda Silveira, deeply missed. According to Judge Michaud, people with a written record, best organized, tend to win. Reasonable notice to enter apartment 24-48 hours. Real backlog at Housing Court, a lot of overtime. Judge…
Read More2020 – September Meeting
We were back in business September 10 at Cotali-Mar. We had Cara Gray, Chris Kennedy and Stephanie Terach talk about MassSave. You need to call 800-527-7283 before September 30 for free insulation and air ceilings, along with a free energy audit. The brilliant Attorney Jordana Greenman (via Zoom) was fresh from her and Rich Vetstein…
Read More2020 – March Meeting
No surprise, another great meeting. We had a role reversal, I hosted and Bill Schofield spoke about the Public Safety Committee of the City Council and the Problem Property Ordinance. Attorney Jenessa Pateakos spoke about evictions, Erin Cronin had some great ideas and Assistant Chief Housing Specialist of Southeastern Housing Court Catherine Golderick spoke about…
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