Public Housing Chief Takes On HUD's Top Man

Philadelphia's public housing chief has taken on the Bush administration's top housing official, claiming favoritism and pressure tactics. Carl R. Greene, head of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, alleges in a lawsuit that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson threatened to cut federal funding in retaliation for Greene's refusal to steer valuable South Philadelphia land to Kenny Gamble, the famed music producer turned developer.

Jackson and HUD deny any impropriety, and Greene didn't produce any direct evidence to support his claims. Given the remarkable improvements in the city's public housing of late and the spin-off benefits visible in a number of hardscrabble neighborhoods, the smart money is hoping Greene prevails. There was enough smoke rising from Greene's allegations to warrant the HUD inspector general to launch an inquiry some months ago.

Jackson did phone former Mayor John F. Street in 2006, but an aide said it was not to lobby on Gamble's behalf. Rather, Jackson supposedly called only to grumble about a delay in opening a recreation center and park near the disputed land. Another top HUD official also called Street about the same development site - but only to gripe about a delay in putting up a plaque honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Surely, Jackson's keen interest in the project has nothing to do with the fact that he and Gamble are friends. Or that Gamble has given big bucks to politicians from both parties. It could be just standard politics that have come from HUD during the Bush administration.

It would be no surprise if HUD found another excuse to squeeze public housing in Philadelphia. After all, the Gamble dispute arose just as the Bush administration ordered a 12 percent cutback for local housing agencies. PHA had to lay off one in four workers. Now the stakes are even higher, with HUD threatening to trigger more PHA layoffs, hike tenants' rents, and force the authority to scrub much of its low-income housing construction.

Given the threat, Greene deserves kudos for mounting a fight. Mayor Nutter - despite the irritant of having Street still around chairing the PHA board - should back Greene in the interest of maintaining the city's progress on affordable housing.