HOUSTON - Red flags.... Red flags pop up immediately. When you're the newly sworn mayor of Houston and the housing authority appointed by your predecessor, flat-out ignores your request to put on "pause" a half billion dollars worth of so-called "affordable" rental projects.
Of course, this is the same housing authority that gave the green light to 800 Middle Street. That controversial low-income development is surrounded by severely contaminated property.
This week we learned that instead of giving Mayor John Whitmire an opportunity to review the deals, the authority board and its CEO David Northern approved 13 proposed, tax-abated complexes in one fell swoop.
The mayor responded by saying he will be taking action to ensure "future transparency" - my translation - they are all fired.
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Houston mayor sounds alarm over Housing Authority's disregard for pause request
Houston's newly sworn mayor raises red flags as the Housing Authority, appointed by the predecessor, ignores a request to pause a half-billion-dollar affordable rental project, prompting the mayor to vow action for future transparency, hinting at potential dismissals.