Apr 13, 2007 9:56 am US/Eastern
County Could Lose Control Over Public Housing
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MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Miami-Dade leaders and federal housing administrators will meet next Thursday in Washington to decide the eventual control over the county's public housing projects which are federally funded.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez is scheduled to lead the local delegation, which will try to convince the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to allow his administration to control the Miami-Dade Housing Agency.
HUD has expressed interest in taking over the agency, reluctant to leave it the hands of the same government that allowed it to fall into disrepair.
The Miami Herald's "House of Lies" series, published last year, exposed widespread problems at the agency, including mismanagement, construction delays and unfulfilled building contracts.
Alvarez, the commission and County Manager George Burgess said they are already doing everything possible to rebuild the department; they fear a federal takeover will slow progress and leave the agency less responsive to local residents.
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CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this repo)
