HUD calls for Philadelphia Housing Authority’s board members resignations

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is calling for all five board members of the Philadelphia Housing Authority to step down from office.Ron Sims, the Deputy Secretary of HUD said, “to restore confidence in the agency . . . to protect the funding for the residents,” the board should step aside so HUD can work directly with the interim executive director, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.This response from the federal agency follows investigations of PHA’s financial practices and spending, as well as the September firing of former executive Carl Greene.  Board members Debra Brady and Jannie L. Blackwell told the Inquirer that they have no plans for giving up their positions on the board.WHYY’s Senior Reporter Dave Davies reached out to John Street Chairman of the PHA board and former Philadelphia Mayor who said in an email that he has spoken to all of the board members and they’re in agreement against resignation.  Street plans to release an official statement later this weekend.   For the full story – read the reporting of Mark Fazlollah, Jeff Shields, and Jennifer Lin from The Philadelphia Inquirer.