NORTH BERGEN — A paralyzed Desert Storm veteran who is a resident of the North Bergen Housing Authority, Sean Vassallo, along with his wife Page, was served an eviction notice, causing a media uproar this week.
According to published reports, Sean has a catheter and feeding tube and is dependent on a home health aide and nurse for lifting, bathing and taking care of him, and is also dependent on Page and a friend, Gary Danchise.
Paul Swibinski, a spokesperson for the housing authority, confirmed that Sean and Page Vassallo were served an eviction notice and are due to landlord-tenant court next week, but said that they were following federal law, which prohibits someone who is not on the lease from staying in a residence for more than 14 days.
“Anyone who spends more than 14 nights is considered to be living there and it is illegal for anyone whose name is not on the lease to live there,” said Swibinski.
He said after residents complained about Danchise, the housing authority began a three-month investigation that determined he was in fact living there.
He said that the investigations stemmed from residents not wanting Danchise “anywhere near their apartments,” but that at this time, he could not release any further information.
Swibinski said that three certified letters were sent to the Vassallos as well, but that the NBHA never received a response.
According to reports, Mario Blanche, the attorney for an activist group called the Concerned Citizens of North Bergen, is representing the Vasallos. — Tricia Tirella
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