HUD Officials Caught Gleefully Emailing Retaliation Ideas

[babylonsister]

HUD E-Mails Refer to Retaliation

By Carol D. Leonnig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 12, 2008; Page A03



After Philadelphia's housing director refused a demand by President Bush's housing secretary to transfer a piece of city property to a business friend, two top political appointees at the department exchanged e-mails discussing the pain they could cause the Philadelphia director.

"Would you like me to make his life less happy? If so, how?" Orlando J. Cabrera, then-assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, wrote about Philadelphia housing director Carl R. Greene.

"Take away all of his Federal dollars?" responded Kim Kendrick, an assistant secretary who oversaw accessible housing. She typed symbols for a smiley-face, ":-D," at the end of her January 2007 note.

Cabrera wrote back a few minutes later: "Let me look into that possibility."

The e-mails, obtained by The Washington Post, came to light as a result of a lawsuit provoked by HUD's decision last September to strip the Philadelphia Housing Authority of as much as $50 million in federal funds. In December, it declared the agency in violation of rules that underpin its ability to decide precisely how it will spend federal housing funds. Kendrick was the official who formally notified the authority that she had found it in violation.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/11/AR2008031102800.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[Raejeanowl]

1. Smells Funky On The Surface, Doesn't It?

I wonder just how much the defaulted development deal (set aside by the judge, so presumably proven defaulted and Greene proven correct on that part) directly impinged on the Authority's ability to meet the terms of the accessibility requirements and the broader HUD funding contract.

But why would multiple Jackson minions dance to this same tune of pressing Greene for the release of the vacant city land to Jackson's former associate? What's in it for THEM other than the approbation of their boss?

I'll be interested to hear what else comes out of this.

[OKthatsIT]

4. On the surface? It sure does stink like white collar mafia to me.

[hootinholler]

2. The abuses are systemic. n/t

[pepperbear]

3. Does anyone know if the "Kenny Gamble" in the article is THIS Kenny Gamble...

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/10/gamble.huff.ap/