DCHA Board Votes On A Two -Year Contract For Brenda Donald

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Brenda Donalds tenure with the DC Housing Authority would have been short. The DCHA board voted in late May to install Mayor Muriel Bowsers former director of child and family services as its interim leader while a subcommite conducted a national search. Donald only retired when he agreed to go to DCHA following the ouster of former director Tyrone Garretts.

But before the search committee could finalize the job description, board chairman Neil Albert, another Bowser ally, announced that Donald wanted to stay for two years. The board will convene in a last-minute emergency meeting tomorrow morning to consider a resolution authorizing a two-year contract for Donald.

The sudden reversal raises many questions for Loose Lips about timing, the mayor’s influence on the independent agency, and Donalds ’qualifications for permanent employment.

The draft job description, shared with LL, calls for:

Comprehensive knowledge of the programs, regulations and directives of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as all other applicable Federal and District laws and regulations.

Comprehensive knowledge and experience in urban community planning, real estate development and rehabilitation in an urban setting and real estate management.

And demonstrated knowledge of urban economics, design, and planning, property acquisition and asset redevelopment systems, techniques, and skills.

The description also calls for highly advanced leadership and communication skills, experience in political and community advocacy, and 10 years of senior management experience in human services; community, economic, and affordable housing development; or real estate development; or a combination of the three.

Donald wrote an email to LL that would be early before he responded before the boards voted tomorrow. Albert did not respond to LLs email asking for comment.

Judging from his resume, Donald has human services and experience managing spades. He has served in three DC mayoral administrations as Bowsers representative for health and human services and most recently as director of the Child and Family Services Agency. Mayor Tony Williams appointed Donald’s deputy mayor for children, youth, families and seniors, and he worked for former Mayor and current Ward 7 councilor Vince Gray as director of CFSAs.

But his resume is void of any experience in real estate, development, or affordable housing.

Daniel Del Pielago, an Empower DC organizer dedicated to public housing, said Donald responds to emails and is generally willing to meet with residents and advocates during his short tenure.

But he said his experience does not appear to measure.

I don’t think he has a background in housing needs, or in knowing HUD, Del Pielago said. He clearly knew the city, but political allegiances deepened because of it. So always a concern.

Del Pielago describes how, in his view, the housing authorities ’mission to serve the District’s lowest -income residents sometimes clashes with Bowsers’ priorities. He acknowledges that Bowser has included funds in the 2022 budget for affordable housing, along with $ 50 million for long-standing repairs.

But, he added, in a very simple way, the housing authority has access to a significant amount of real estate in this city, and what we have seen under this administration is a full development and a full displacement. I think it’s clear what could happen if the mayor had a lot of influence [over the agency].

By law, the mayor currently appoints five members to DCHA’s 11-member board of commissioners, who collectively serve as the executive director’s bosses. Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio, who also serves as Bowsers ’chief of staff, sits as an ex-officio member. Commission votes are often split at 6-5. The fear is that Donald will solidify Bowsers ’influence in the agency.

An attempt this year to add two DC Council -designated positions to the board failed. Instead the mayor and the Council get another nomination.

As interim director, Donald has already sought to usurp some of the board’s authority on contracts. Commissioners must approve contracts worth $ 250,000 or more. On behalf of Donalds, At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds tried to raise that amount to $ 500,000 in the District 2022 budget bill. The bonds conveyed Donalds ’concern that the lower threshold for approval of the board delayed the necessary maintenance and repairs.

At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman successfully introduced an amendment to eliminate the Bonds effort. As LL previously reported, the contracting shenanigans were part of an internal audit that found $ 1.3 million in wasted funds.

Both Bonds and Silverman talked about Donald in general on Tuesday. But Silverman said he would like to see a national search for a permanent director.

For Lori Leibowitz, managing attorney at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program, the biggest issue is the process. DCHA announced the emergency meeting on Wednesday and instructed those wishing to speak to sign up 24 hours in advance by 9 am Thursday.

It’s also not clear that they interviewed Brenda Donald, Leibowitz said. I wouldn’t take someone into my organization without me interviewing them after they have a temporary role. And none of the roles in my organization are as large and public as the executive director of the DC Housing Authority. They are very important.

Del Pielago agreed.

It all happens at very short notice, and it’s kind of a continuation of the distrust that residents and housing authority advocates have, he said. Obviously this is a critical role and residents should have something to say to it.

He added: They move on their own time and do not consider the community they are supposed to serve.

This article has been updated to clarify Councilmember Silvermans comments about Brenda Donald and the process for finding a permanent director.

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