U.S. senators demanded accountability for slum-like housing conditions on milita...
WASHINGTON - U.S. senators demanded accountability for slum-like housing conditions on military bases across the country Thursday, with one calling for a criminal investigation of private landlords granted vast power over tenant housing.
Blumenthal did not offer details during the hearing. Yet other senators described military families being charged questionable fees or being sickened by dangerous housing conditions. Last month, a survey of military families found deep dissatisfaction, countering a far rosier picture of tenant satisfaction presented by private contractors managing base housing.
But under committee questioning, the service secretaries acknowledged they are still working out the fine print of the bill of rights, including how the protections will be enforced. One major hurdle: The services plan to renegotiate their 50-year contracts with landlords hired under the military’s privatization program.
The Navy and Army are pushing to renegotiate the fees paid to private real estate firms, some of which are based on performance. Private operators did not testify Thursday, but in interviews, and in hearings last month, said they are committed to fixing flaws.
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