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7/16/2025 8:39:03 PM
Breaking News

LR officials want housing authority commissioners gone


LR officials want housing authority commissioners gone


Brian ChilsonCOMMISSIONERS: The Metropolitan Housing Alliance board includes those seated here, left to right: Louis Jackson (resigned in August), Kerry Wright, Lee Lindsey, Leta Anthony, Branndii Peterson (missing).
The Little Rock Board of Directors on Tuesday suggested they wanted Mayor Frank Scott Jr. to request the immediate resignations of commissioners at the Metropolitan Housing Authority.

If the commissioners do not comply, the board advised the mayor to correspond offering the housing authority board members a 10-day notification of a public hearing concerning their removal from office. Commissioners can be ousted this way, but having them resign instantly is faster.

Scott said he would ask for resignations Wednesday and send the letters later, if needed.
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The Metropolitan Housing Alliance, aka the Little Rock real estate authority, has a five-member, self-appointing board of commissioners. City officials verify or reject their choices, and two of the positions are up for a 2nd term at the end of September. One position is vacant after a member resigned last month. Three of the active members are involved with the Central Arkansas Housing Corporation, a not-for-profit company created by the housing authority that is mentioned in some of the troubling reports.

Brian ChilsonCOMMISSIONER LETA ANTHONY
Director Lance Hines beat the drum for leadership modifications at the Little Rock real estate authority in the last few months. He suggested Tuesday that Kerry Wright, the latest commissioner and the only one not involved with the Central Arkansas Housing Corporation, not be replaced. In conversation with Wright, Hines said Wright noted he would step down "as a sacrificial lamb," but he wished to continue to serve.
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Brian ChilsonCOMMISSIONER KERRY WRIGHT
Scott debriefed city directors on Tuesday about a conference he had with agents from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development earlier in the day., as well as provide responsibility for the fiduciary obligation of MHA funds."

Just recently recognized problem areas with the management at the Metropolitan Housing Alliance consist of a failure to submit financial declarations given that 2019, a "distressed" rating from HUD in August and a report detailing nearly $30 million in "questioned and possibly disallowed" funds between the real estate authority and the Central Arkansas Housing Corporation.

Brian ChilsonCOMMISSIONER LEE LINDSEY
Last week, City Attorney Tom Carpenter predicted a receivership might be assigned to the housing authority, which would limit the power city officials have over its operations and shift the real estate authority's financial resources to a third celebration. Brian ChilsonEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ERICKA BENEDICTO
HUD let the Metropolitan Housing Authority understand in August that they must provide a healing strategy within 30 days. The clock has been ticking. If the commissioners were gotten rid of, Scott informed city directors Tuesday the recovery strategy would still be crafted and provided by the Executive Director Ericka Benedicto and personnel even.
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Elwood Hill
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Elwood Hill

Elwood Hill is an award-winning journalist with more than 18 years' of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, John has worked on a variety of different stories and assignments including national politics, local sports, and international business news. Elwood graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and immediately began working for Breaking Now News as lead journalist.

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