Despite his resignation Monday, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson still hasn't alienated the affections of Sen. David Vitter and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Two Democratic U.S. senators, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Patty Murray of Washington, had called for Jackson's resignation in light of the secretary's refusal to answer questions put to him by a Senate committee regarding allegations of corruption at HUD. Vitter has offered fairly tepid support for investigations into Jackson's dealings. Nagin has made no public call for a thorough look at allegations that Jackson tried to steer contracts to his cronies.
Jackson gained infamy in 2006 when he bragged to a Texas audience that he yanked a HUD deal from a contractor who didn't share his political beliefs. He also has been accused of helping a friend land a contract for nearly $500,000 related to the redevelopment of public housing in New Orleans.
Perhaps local elected officials shouldn't trouble themselves with the investigations regarding Jackson's dealings in Philadelphia and the Virgin Islands. But, at the risk of understatement, I must remind them that New Orleans is very close to home.
If we are to be vigorous in the fight against corruption in Louisiana, we must be vigorous in our investigations of Alphonso Jackson and HUD.
Jackson's resignation does not mean that he is guilty. It is a reminder, however, that he was under pressure to resign because of the investigation.
Words of support
Vitter has often pushed for rigorous investigations of people whose dealings he finds suspicious. But when I spoke with him late last year, he emphasized his "great working relationship with the secretary."
"I think we should all let any investigation that may be going on be concluded," he said at the time. He reiterated his support for Jackson's policies Monday, but was silent on the issue of the investigation.
On National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," program, Nagin was one of the few officials heard to defend Jackson.
"He got those projects jump-started and it was about $600 (million) or $700 million worth of redevelopment that was going on prior to Katrina," Nagin said. "And now going out, he has pretty much gotten just about every major housing development going with the exception of one."
What the mayor failed to mention was that HUD controls acres and acres and acres of blighted and abandoned property in the Florida and Desire public housing developments as well as in the forgotten Imperial Gardens site across I-610 from the LSU Dental School. This land was blighted prior to Katrina, and has seen no redevelopment since then.
Even with Jackson's departure, our mayor and senator ought to support an aggressive investigation of the allegations involving HUD's dealings in New Orleans. Otherwise, it will be difficult not to laugh in the future when they claim to oppose public corruption.
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Lolis Eric Elie can be reached at lelie@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3330.