PHA Accuses Jackson of Retaliatory Action

The Philadelphia Housing Authority, in a recent lawsuit, has accused Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson of taking retaliatory action against the agency because it would not transfer, at a steep discount, a $2 million piece of public property to a friend of the secretary. Previous to the lawsuit, HUD had accused the PHA of not providing enough housing units to people with disabilities, an allegation that if confirmed, could lead to loss of federal funds for the authority. The existence of the PHA lawsuit was first reported by The Washington Post. PHA director, Carl Green, in an affidavit, said Mr. Jackson called the city's mayor, demanding that the parcel be transferred to developer Kenny Gamble, who is described by the newspaper as a "business friend" of the secretary. The PHA chief alleges that Mr. Jackson's aides at the agency followed up with "menacing" threats about the property. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would not comment on specifics but said in a statement that "this litigation will vindicate our actions to enforce our nation's fair housing laws." Besides being a real estate developer, Mr. Gamble is a songwriter who penned such Motown classics as "Love Train" and "Me and Mrs. Jones."