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Community Corner

HUD QUESTIONS HHA BD

HUD QUESTIONS ACTIONS OF HOBOKEN HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD

AGENCY UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE VALIDITY OF HHA BOARD’S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CARMELO GARCIA

Hoboken— “Not justified” that’s how a HUD official described the actions of the HHA Board.  It awarded a no bid contract to a firm hired to investigate the administrative and financial practices of HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia.  In the letter, Sonia Burgos, Director of New Jersey’s Public Housing Office with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, makes it clear noncompetitive procurement is permitted only in limited circumstances.  And she adds “Based on the limited facts which have been provided, our office is unable to ascertain the validity of the allegations or support the justifications of the Hoboken HA Board to procure Special Counsel”.

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Longtime HHA Commissioner and former Chair Jean Rodriguez applauded HUD for intervening and putting a roadblock in the way of HHA Chairwoman Dana Wefer’s efforts to target HHA Executive Director Carmelo Garcia.  “How can we enforce rules and policy on tenants when the Chairwoman and board majority aligned with Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer continue to break their own rules and policies,” said Rodriguez.  “The politics being injected is unbearable and the residents are the ones to suffer.”

A recent article in the Hudson Reporter described the situation as “ironic in that the HHA board is questioning many of Garcia's contracts for the same reason: They were apparently not bid out.”

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 “What we have been subjected to is retaliation and obstructionism, “said Rodriguez.  “The Chairwoman does not allow Executive Director Carmelo Garcia to speak when we ask questions and the disrespect demonstrated to residents and the administration at the meeting is an injustice. Furthermore we’re violating the open public meetings act and creating hardships for residents to participate in the public process by moving the meetings to City Hall. This must stop or someone needs to step in before they continue hurting the agency and its residents!”

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