Recent War Vet Gets Stiffed by Apartment Owner

I wasn’t planning on writing three consecutive posts about Iraq and Afghanistan vets. That is, not until now.  Not until I came across a report printed in yesterday’s Boston Herald about an American veteran who was told by a prospective landlord that it might be better if he were to look elsewhere than in her apartments for housing.

The colors fly high at the JCC in
Bridgewater, NJ (Bergeron Image)

Writing for the Herald, Laurel Sweet stated that Sgt. Joe Morgan, 29, whose tours of duty took him to Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, was told by apartment owner Janice Roberts, 63, that “her peace activism presented a ‘conflict of interests’ and suggested he seek housing elsewhere.”

According to a voicemail left on Morgan’s phone, Roberts explained that, “We are very adamant about our beliefs.  It just is not going to be comfortable for us without a doubt.  It probably would be better for you to look for a place that is a little bit less politically active and controversial.”

You can’t do that.  Not even in the Savin Hill section of Dorchester in Boston.  It’s illegal in Massachusetts to discriminate against veterans in housing because of their military service.  Sgt. Morgan has retained counsel and is suing.

Commenting on this case, civil liberties lawyer Harvey Silvergate said, “As a society, we’re forgetting how to live with our differences . . .”

After the detestable treatment accorded Vietnam vets returning home from battle, and the tales of “Hanoi Jane” badmouthing America from the North Vietnamese capital as Americans were dying in the rice paddies and jungles of South Vietnam, I thought that we would now resist blaming American fighting men and women for the mistakes of our politicians. 

That turnaround has largely happened, as is evidenced by the deference and honor now bestowed on our recent veterans, but there are always holdouts.  One of them seems to be a landlord in Dorchester’s Savin Hill.

Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to squeeze the gusto from the blessings of life, while you can.


Note:  Other topics of interest which will affect education nationally and locally:

1.    Today’s Wisconsin voting for the recall of that state’s governor, Scott Walker.

2.    The status of labor contract negotiations between the Bridgewater-Raritan School District and the local affiliate of the National Education Association:  Are they nearing agreement?