Could our Mold Illness Validation Dream Become A National Nightmare For The Poor?

[Guest guest]

Like many of us, I've been ill from mold and like the rest of us, I've

been frustrated at the snails pace at which the medical establishment

seems to be absorbing new discoveries on mold-related illness. But,

like the rest of you, I am confident that all of us will be vindicated

soon, and the cause of our sufferings will be recognized, with all

that entails - i.e. changes in the legal landscape..

Great, right?

It COULD be.. but right now, with the current situation in Washington,

I think the likelihood is much higher that the 'official' verification

that mycotoxins and mold cause permanent human illness will lead to a

NIGHTMARISH SITUATION in which millions of poor RENTING families lose

their homes, and in which millions of almost-as-poor small landlords

also lose their incomes from rental housing, in many cases income

which they cannot live without.

Think about it.. Literally millions of affordable rental homes will be

declared 'too expensive to fix' and the inhabitants will be evicted,

and many, perhaps most will be unable to find replacement housing!!!

Schools won't be fixed, they will be torn down and replaced with

trailers.. (also notorious for mold problems in the long run) or

perhaps more likely, children will be bussed long distances to newly

overcrowded schools.. Teachers will be laid off..

We have all felt the wrath of the mold-hiding landlords, the official

denial, etc.

As long as those same people remain in power, they will get their

revenge.. And they will do it by trying to retaliate against the

poor.. the victims..

WHAT CAN WE DO TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THE DAY MOLD ILLNESS IS RECOGNIZED SO

THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN?

*I think we need to be pro-active and try to work out some kind of

win-win situation that looks at all of the players in this situation,

and BALANCES thier needs.. and especially PREVENTS THE USE OF MOLD AS

A TOOL TO DESTROY THE LIVES OF THE POOR IN THE RECOGNITION

ENVIRONMENT?

Interest free loans - with a condition of providing them preservation

of all affordable housing stock, coupled with requirements for

in-place, contained remediation (so people wont lose their homes while

remediation is done) STRONG limits on evictions of families..

PROHIBITIONS ON MOLD REMEDIATION FROM BEING CONSIDERED A 'CAPITAL

IMPROVEMENT' and BEING USED AS AN EXCUSE TO RAISE RENTS TO THE POINT

WHERE THEY ARE TOO HIGH FOR THE CURRENT RESIDENTS.. (and not just for

those below the official 'poverty line' of $13,000 a year!)

Ideas, people?

Please, think about this issue.. Mold disease risk and 'the cost of

repairing mold damage' is a 'perfect storm' for some, just as Katrina

was.. to DESTROY and scatter to the winds poor communities..

THEY ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS JUST FOR RECOGNIZING MOLD ILLNESS.. IT COULD

END UP THROWING MILLIONS OUT INTO THE CRUEL STREETS.. TO DIE...