Wow! That makes so much sense. Johnstown has a very dark history of racism, which unfortunately still continues today. I was contacted by an older Johnstown native many months ago who felt very strongly that the current situation mirrored its history of banishing the black community in the past.

I agree. This sounds way out in left field, but I think it might have something to do with the school. Housing might be part of it, but just before this whole thing blew up, there was an enormous push to undermine and vilify the local SD as incompetent and financially burdensome with a simultaneous push for private charter schools. I think it ties in somehow, but I'm not sure how.

There are many other things going on as well, and a huge influx of money pouring in and a lot of bitter people trying to position themselves to benefit. I don't have a stake in it either way. Burns got some big donations this year and followed up with a slew of votes favoring fash trash. He's not just a DINO, he's a trash DINO. The legitimate dems in town are problematic too. The best thing I can say about them is at least they're trying. The overall theme in town is pro-patriarchial, anti-poor, and xenophobic with performative liberal tokenism. It's all secrets here. Dems won't speak out against anything in this town.

The whole thing stinks, but it's impossible to tell where the odor is wafting in from. Maybe it's like a fart cloud that hangs over the entire city.

Also, from the Tribune Democrat, October 29, 2021:

"DeBartola wants to see a decrease in the amount of federally funded Section 8 housing operated through the JHA, which recently held an event designed to provide landlords with information and bring them into the program. He believes the voucher system plays a role in creating a transient population within Johnstown."

This isn't about "structural deficiencies". They have depopulated an ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD because of a small section of folks who believe "those people don't belong here".

"Let's hope that means these units will be torn down and not replaced" seems like a pretty bizarre response to that.

Classic example of the bike fail meme. Demand harsh cuts in funding, then come back later saying "OMG Look what THEY did!"

I don't know why you're getting downvoted, but I got a few good guesses

Rep Burns on public housing on Nov 17 2022:

"One of the issues I discovered while canvassing the city this summer was a profound concern of local residents over the influx of people from Philadelphia in Section 8 housing. If the Johnstown Housing Authority (JHA) has a surplus that they can fund the housing wish list of people from Philadelphia that purposely move here just to get a government benefit then perhaps the Housing Authority needs to downsize the scope of its Section 8 program."

His facebook page