Housing program failures

Re “Homes for the needy profit others,” April 12

At the beginning of this report, The Times insults the intelligence of its dwindling readership by portraying Carol and Jerry Ptacek as victims of a Department of Housing and Urban Development program failure. One must read 19 paragraphs to discover that isn’t so.

Both spouses are currently on disability -- sad, but not the government’s fault. They gambled home equity they received from refinancing their home several times at Indian casinos -- a poor choice, but not the government’s fault. They took out a negative amortization loan -- foolish, but not the government’s fault. They assumed the house had been completely overhauled -- naive, but not the government’s fault. And on and on and on.

Does The Times think readers will embrace the painting of these people as victims? Count me as one reader who abhors the idea. Is the bailout mentality affecting so many that it’s becoming the norm? This country is in serious trouble if that’s the case.

Luke Brown

Culver City

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Your report exposes the folly of the HUD program to help low-income residents in San Bernardino acquire affordable housing by handing over foreclosed homes for $1 to the city, which passed them on to developers at bargain prices.

Through a variety of subsequent machinations, often by lenders, the intended homeowners lost their homes anyway. So we are back where we started

Now, San Bernardino County is reportedly contemplating a similar program through HUD to fight blight caused by foreclosed homes. Developers are lining up. History, anyone?

Richard Gonzalez

Redlands