City of Lakewood CA
Complaint 243417 Details

To Whom This May Concern

I applied for the grant for the Fix It Paint Program in Jan of this year and obtained all the information that was requested to qualify for the grant which was to be granted based on income and I did qualify. Maribel came to my home and took the necessary pictures and Sam even showed up with some paint samples so I could select my color. This was a very timely process and I waited patiently but from the get go it seemed like even though I qualified for the grant the city seemed to be looking for ways to not provide it. First they mentioned permits for replacement windows that were put on the house many years ago (In the Fix it Paint Program ad it does not mention anything that if work has been done without a permit then you don’t qualify it strictly says its based on income and household size). Ok I agreed to the permit even though I didn’t even know one was needed to get replacement windows and the window company that installed them never mentioned it. Then I get a call asking for the size of my windows that seemed a bit odd but ok I gave my sizes then I am told that I don’t qualify because my windows are not the appropriate size. This is getting crazy now. My home was built in the 60's all I did was put in replacement windows I did not change the size of the windows they were what the house was built with. See the attachment I have enclosed and highlighted the area. It states on existing property (which my house is as its not a new construction) that only one window needs to meet the requirement which the master bedroom window does. I brought this to Maribel's attention and she agreed and transferred me to someone by the name of Josh who was less than helpful. He states the website has not been updated (which is not my fault and what it states should be honored) and referred me to the Dept of Public Works why I don’t know. Upon contacting them I am informed that my home address is out of their jurisdiction and refer me back to the City of Lakewood. What Josh should have done is stated "I agree with you on what it states here let me check further into this for you and get back with you". But he didn’t he sent me on a wild goose chase just to get rid of me. I have jumped through ever hoop to apply for this grant and it seems instead of helping the homeowners as the Fix It Program states they keep coming up with obstacle after obstacle to get out of providing the service that is advertised.

I have lived in Lakewood for almost 20 years now and I bought my ex husband out of the house so that I could remain there and my children could remain in their schools. I have always felt proud to say I live here but I am so upset over the run around that I have received with this Fix it Paint Grant. If someone can please address this I would so appreciate it. Thank you.

Update: I have just hung up from speaking with Ceceila Rodriguez who apparently is Maribel's supervisor and the story she is telling me now is that in the attachment the statement means "for each window in each room". If you look at the attachment no where does it even mention the word "each" under "existing construction". Please get back to me on this ASAP. Thank you.