Federal government seizes control of Miami-Dade Housing Agency

[babylonsister]

Feds taking control of Miami-Dade housing agency
Posted on Tue, Aug. 07, 2007
BY MATTHEW I. PINZUR


The federal government seized control of the Miami-Dade Housing Agency Tuesday, accusing the county of grossly mismanaging housing programs for some 25,000 of its neediest families.

''This isn't an issue of punishment; this is an issue of rectifying a real problem,'' said Orlando Cabrera, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's assistant secretary for public housing.

The takeover, which has been brewing since at least February, sets up a potentially drawn-out legal challenge over the control of roughly $275 million in federal money used for public housing, rental-assistance vouchers and the rebuilding of Liberty City housing projects.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez, County Manager George Burgess and County Commission Chairman Brueno Barreiro did not immediately return calls. Through a spokeswoman, Alvarez said he would hold a news conference at 2:30 p.m.

The administrator appointed by HUD, Donald LaVoy, will have near-absolute authority over hiring, firing, spending and operations. Miami-Dade's mayor, county manager and County Commission effectively lose control of the department -- a devastating smack to their credibility, as well as their power to guide where, when and how public housing is built and renovated.

Federal takeovers have become more common in recent years but are still relatively rare. Only six of the country's 4,100 public-housing agencies are being run by HUD, and four other takeovers have ended since late 2004 -- Detroit and New Orleans were among the most visible.

more...

http://www.miamiherald.com/459/story/195217.html

[Robbien]

1. Out of the frying pan and into the fire

While the local HUD program was full of fraud and corruption, the Federal HUD will gut the program leaving just a shell full of nothing.

[kestrel91316]

3. Prediction: they will tear down the housing and all those folks will

be left to their own devices to house themselves.

The Feds are into this "culture of personal responsibility" thing in a big way. Excpet when it comes to themselves, of course.

[Selatius]

4. Federal HUD is currently run by Bush White House, no?

I predict no relief for the poor.

[Scurrilous]

2. I, for one, welcome our new Federal overlords to South Florida.

:thumbsup: