HUD chief resigns amid ethics investigations

CNN ^

[gondramB]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson resigned Monday, amid multiple ethics investigations and criticism from top lawmakers.

Jackson said he will step down on April 18. He did not mention the allegations in his brief statement Monday, saying only that he wanted to attend to personal and family matters.

The resignation came after criticism from members of Congress that Jackson has refused to respond adequately to allegations of impropriety.

No names have been floated as candidates to replace Jackson, a long-time friend of President Bush from their days in Texas.

[catbertz]

HUD..DUH! Almost as bad as State Dept.

[gondramB]

From Wikipedia

>>Alphonso Roy Jackson (born September 9, 1945 in Marshall, Texas) is the current and 13th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He was nominated by President George W. Bush on January 28, 2004 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on March 31, 2004. Jackson announced his resignation on March 31, 2008.[1]

He previously served as Deputy Secretary of HUD since June 2001. After former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez left the administration to campaign to become a United States Senator for Florida, Deputy Secretary Jackson became acting secretary of HUD.<<

>>Conflict of interest investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with HUD Inspector General Kenneth Donohue, a federal grand jury, and prosecutors from the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section are investigating conflict of interest allegations over a $127 million redevelopment project in New Orleans that Jackson had awarded to Columbia Residential, an Atlanta Company. According to the HUD secretary’s public financial disclosure reports, the firm has significant financial ties to Jackson, and owes the secretary between $250,000 and $500,000 “for past services.”[6] The investigation centers around whether Jackson had misled Congress when he testified that he “didn’t touch contracts”.[7]

Separately, federal agents are closely examining whether Jackson arranged lucrative housing work for two of his close friends, one of whom worked at the Housing Authority of New Orleans, and the other had received a contract to manage the Virgin Islands Housing Authority.[8]

Jackson’s former No. 2 aide Scott Keller has emerged as a key figure in the investigation.[6]

It was reported by the Wall Street Journal that he would resign on Monday, March 31, 2008, as a consequence of the investigation. [9]

[edit] Withholding funds for political reasons

In March 2008 The Washington Post reported on a series of emails in early 2007 between HUD assistant secretaries Kim Kendrick and Orlando J. Cabrera that suggested that HUD leadership sought to punish Carl R. Greene, the director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). Greene had refused to turn over property to Universal Community Homes, a development company founded by Kenny Gamble, a friend of Jackson’s; Greene said that Universal had not performed as promised. Gamble complained to Jackson about the situation in 2006. On the same date that the emails were sent, HUD notified PHA that it was in violation of rules regarding accessibility for disabled residents.[10]<<

[Vaduz]

Bad ethics in washington iam shocked I tell you shocked.

[gondramB]

I’d guess this is what actually did it.

>>HUD secretary’s blunt warning
Alphonso Jackson says deal was scuttled after contractor admits not liking Bush<<

http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2006/05/08/story1.html?hbx=e_abd

>> “He had made every effort to get a contract with HUD for 10 years,” Jackson said of the prospective contractor. “He made a heck of a proposal and was on the (General Services Administration) list, so we selected him. He came to see me and thank me for selecting him. Then he said something ... he said, ‘I have a problem with your president.’

“I said, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘I don’t like President Bush.’ I thought to myself, ‘Brother, you have a disconnect — the president is elected, I was selected. You wouldn’t be getting the contract unless I was sitting here. If you have a problem with the president, don’t tell the secretary.’

“He didn’t get the contract,” Jackson continued. “Why should I reward someone who doesn’t like the president, so they can use funds to try to campaign against the president? Logic says they don’t get the contract. That’s the way I believe.” <<

[gondramB]

I can see why the President likes this guy

>>America is a place where you can be born into a low-income household but still lift yourself up, and it doesn’t matter what color you are.
Alphonso Jackson

And for far too long, the Democrats have had a monopoly on black votes in this country.
Alphonso Jackson

And I always like to stress, it’s not a quota, not a set-aside, it’s not about race, it’s about giving opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to do work with the Federal Government.
Alphonso Jackson <<

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/alphonso_jackson.html