Mayors Release Latest report on “Ready to Go” Jobs and Infrastructure Projects; Other Groups Call for Stimulus Funds

The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) released its third report on a list of ready-to-go jobs and infrastructure projects which it says will help to jumpstart the economy once President-elect Barack Obama and Congress make stimulus funds available.The report claims in 641 cities of all sizes there are 15,221 local infrastructure projects representing a $96.6 billion investment which will produce 1.2 million jobs in 2009 and 2010. The report includes a summary of the types of projects entailed in these sectors. The mayors’ claim the projects cited in this report does not adequately reflect the true potential impact of the stimulus on local projects and job creation since the list is compiled from “only” 642 cities. The US Conference of Mayors represents 1,200 cities with populations...

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HUD Nominee Faces Challenges

Shaun Donovan’s selection as the Secretary-Designate for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was met with praise from a number of advocates for affordable housing but many challenges lay ahead for the secretary-designate.The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) called Donovan’s selection “an asset at HUD”. According to NAHRO Executive Director Saul N. Ramirez, Jr said Donovan “is an outstanding choice to lead HUD" and contains the “abilities and experience will allow him to bring about responsible change in a difficult time."Sheila Crowley, President of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) called his selection a “brilliant choice for HUD”. She said Donovan “enjoys high regard across the spectrum of housing interests, from low income...

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Donovan Chosen as HUD Secretary: Reports Say Bronx Borough President to Head White House Office

Shaun Donovan, the current Commissioner of New York City’s Office of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), has been nominated to be the next secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).HPD is the largest municipal developer of affordable housing in the nation. Since 1987, HPD has provided over $6.3 billion to support the repair, rehabilitation and new construction of hundreds of thousands of units of housing. HPD protects the existing housing stock and expands housing options for New Yorkers as it strives to improve the availability, affordability, and quality of housing in New York City. HPD has made a decisive shift away from City ownership of properties and has developed innovative community revitalization initiatives that promote private investment and productive...

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New Publication Calls for Increased Role for HUD

A new publication to be released in January calls on President-Elect Barack Obama to create a White House Office on Metropolitan Policy and an increased commitment to housing within his first 100 days in office.The publication, Change for America: A Progressive Blueprint for the 44th President is being published by the Center for American Progress. The group was founded by John Podesta who is serving as head of Obama’s transition team. The book includes a chapter on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The chapter’s authors, former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros and his former Chief of Staff Bruce Katz, call HUD a “legacy government – an overly compartmentalized agency administering programs and policies more suited to an earlier era, with information systems that impede rather...

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A Number of Players Vying to Become Next HUD Secretary

A number of names are being considered to be selected as the new Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Here is a brief summary of some names being considered according to news reports and rumors circulating in Washington.Jesse Jackson Jr.: Rep. Jackson (D-IL) is seeking to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the Senate. Jackson has told friends he is interested in becoming HUD Secretary if he is not selected by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to replace Obama. Jackson, son of Civil Rights Activist the Reverend Jesse Jackson, represents Chicago’s Second Congressional District. Prior to his congressional service, Representative Jackson served as the National Field Director of the National Rainbow Coalition. In this role, he instituted a national non-partisan...

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Groups Agree on Broad Objectives for Housing

Lost in the furor of the current economic climate is rental housing. Elected officials have marshaled billions of dollars to assist homeowners, banks, other financial service institutions and are now considering assistance to the auto industry. While all this money is being printed and tossed around, low and moderate income households are the forgotten victims of this housing crisis.Using its own research and a review of state and local studies and news stories, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) reached the following conclusion about the current foreclosure crisis:• Multi-unit buildings are a significant share of the foreclosures in some areas potentially displacing many households at once;• A majority of the displaced by foreclosure are renters who find themselves in...

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Obama Victory No Accident, Offers Many Lessons for the Future

Barack Obama’s victory November 4 marked the end of an era. It signaled the dominance of the World War Two generation and its influence is now over. The victories they won, the conflicts they lived with and the struggles they endured are now part of the past or left to their grandchildren to solve. To the greatest generation, as tabbed by newsman Tom Brokaw, we salute you. But the time has come for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren - the next generation - to assert its greatness.The accomplishments of our parents and grandparents generation should not be underestimated. This generation survived the Great Depression, won World War Two, ushered in an era of prosperity unmatched at the time in the history of the country, oversaw conflicts in Korea and Viet Nam, endured the upheavals...

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Obama Expresses Support for One-for-One Replacement of Units

In an interview published in the September-October issue of the Journal of Housing and Community Development, Presidential candidate Barack Obama expressed support for reinstating the one-for-one replacement requirement. The Journal is a bi-monthly magazine published by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).Obama was the only candidate to respond to questions sent to the offices of each of the presidential candidates in January. Prior to 1996, federal housing law provided that every public housing unit that was demolished had to be replaced on a one-for-one basis with another public housing or equivalent unit. In 1996 this requirement was suspended and later repealed by Congress.In addition to expressing his support for the one-for-one replacement requirement,...

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More Good than Bad from 2008 Presidential Election

Lost in the typical mudslinging and frenzy of the 2008 presidential campaign there were a number of elements to this election year that should not be lost. Apart from its historical significance, a few underlying themes should not be forgotten.First, Barack Obama and Sarah Palin represent the political version of a “rags to riches” story which defines this country. Their ascendancy reminds all of us impossible dreams are possible. While they each have detractors believing their “inexperience” should be disqualify them, in some respects that really doesn’t matter. Ultimately, the voters will decide if either of them is qualified for the positions they are pursuing. What does matter is celebrating a country where two relatively unknown individuals can run for the two highest offices in the land.Second,...

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Economy Affecting Local Governments and Working Families

Local governments and working families are feeling the crunch of the economic crisis and could be in for some long term pain according to two recent reports. The National League of Cities (NLC) recently released it annual survey of city finance officers which concluded that municipalities’ fiscal condition has decreased dramatically in 2008.Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages, and towns it represents. More than 1,600 municipalities of all sizes pay dues to NLC and actively participate as leaders and voting members in the organization. The City Fiscal Condition Survey is a national mail survey of finance officers in U.S. cities conducted in the spring of each year. This is the 23rd...

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Funding Available for Foreclosed Properties

State and local governments have an opportunity to provide some much needed relief to the economic impact of the mortgage crisis in neighborhoods but some obstacles and unintended consequences could mute this opportunity.As part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, Congress appropriated a total of $3.9 billion to be distributed to state and local governments by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Called the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), provides funds for HUD to allocate in an expedited fashion to state and local governments in need of purchasing foreclosed and abandoned properties to prevent further deterioration in neighborhoods as a result of the current economic climate.The funds may be used principally for five activities:• To establish financing...

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CRA: A Tool for Local Agencies

Last week aviewfromdc held the position that local housing and community development organizations needed to explore relationships with local lending institutions to generate additional funds. It is our opinion the bail out and other federal priorities will make it extremely difficult and highly unlikely local agencies will see an increase in federal funds. Nothing has occurred in the past week to change that assessment. In fact, the vents of the past week have reinforced our view that local agencies need to be more creative in seeking additional funds to serve their low- and moderate-income population.One tool which can be used to generate additional resources is the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). In this issue we are providing our readers with a summary of the act taken from the National...

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Future Increases in Funding for Housing and Community Development Programs in Doubt after Bailout

The final agreement for the largest bailout in US history makes it highly unlikely there will be any significant increases in funding for housing and community development programs in 2009 and beyond. The final cost of the bail out could reach upwards to $1 trillion leaving serious questions about how other critical issues will be funded. These issues include affordable health care, alternative energy, the fight against terrorism, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid reform. According to The Washington Post, in 2011 the Social Security Trust Fund will no longer be an option for Members of Congress to tap into when they need additional funds. That year is when the first wave of baby boomers will retire. Even thought the bailout is expected to be off-budget, significant increases in public...

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