Taking a Stand Against the Politics Behind CoSA’s ‘Affordable Housing’, Part 3
By Mason Brand
In Part 1 of my “Take a Stand …” series, I covered the City of San Antonio (CoSA)’s belief in the concept of “Osmosis.”
CoSA politicians, its organizations (such as the San Antonio Housing Trust (SAHT)), and their respective bureaucratic staffs, believe that the more Section 8 housing (i.e. “Affordable”) they install in and around areas such as the 281 North communities (zoned for Comal ISD), west of Interstate 10 (zoned for Boerne ISD), etc. they are helping the projects’ occupants achieve socioeconomic upward mobility by absorbing success from others in these communities.
It rarely works, and can result in reverse osmosis towards substance abuse by clustering poor families together, according to a Montclair State University study. Similarly, as documented in a Texas A&M study, Section 8 results in increased violent crime amongst men in communities.
In Part 2, I described how these programs are essentially “affordable housing at political gunpoint” to Texas taxpayers. These are strong steps towards socialism, and it just plain “ain’t Texan.”
I concluded with a statement that, in Part 3, I would reveal some insight into how some of these Section 8 affordable housing programs, their special interest lobbyists and developers, are accomplishing just that. So let’s peel back one of those layers of that Texas Onion!
It Pays to Know Somebody at the Top
One of the Section 8 affordable housing developers employed by CoSA/SAHT is Indiana-based Pedcor Investments.
In July 2015, Pedcor hired away the previous Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Director of Multi-Family Finance, Jean Latsha. It also just so happens that Mrs. Latsha is married to Robert Latsha, the Executive Director of the Texas Bond Review Board.
The Texas Bond Review Board provides the tax payer-funded bonds that guarantees the tens of millions of dollars that Pedcor receives in tax credits. Mr. Latsha was appointed to this role by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
During a meeting on July 29th of this year with the SAHT, Mrs. Latsha remarked that “there is no conflict of interest with my husband because he’s a non-voting member of the Texas Bond Review Board,” only to meet with our opposition’s boos, hisses, and protests.
Section 8 Affordable Housing Corporate Cronyism Abounds Across Texas
An expose from Wayne Dolcefino Consulting discovered a similar conflict of interest regarding how the Houston Housing Authority (HHA) was using a for-profit advisor (himself a former head of the HHA) and his partner to advise on Section 8 affordable housing developer and HHA transactions.
The partner also happened to be the wife of one of Harris County’s Commissioners.
Dolcefino Consulting’s find may have initially taken the cake on corporate cronyism and gross conflicts of interest for these Section 8 affordable housing programs. But, our communities’ findings on the Latshas tip the scales and demonstrate just how high up the layers of this Texas Onion go.
Moreover, any Open Records Request (ORR) submitted to the Texas Bond Review Board actually go to Executive Director Latsha. Quite a way to cover all bases in Pedcor’s favor.
Our community has submitted an ORR to the Texas Bond Review Board specifically regarding Mr. Latsha’s handling of any and all of Pedcor’s tax credit applications since July 2015. As expected, it claimed a number of exemptions under Texas Chapter 552, the Public Information Act, with the Texas Attorney General’s Office ruling pending.
Lastly, I made a trip to the Texas Capitol on November 7th to make my three minutes of public comment to the THDCA Governing Board in opposition to the tax credit application for Pedcor’s Creek Bend apartments. Mrs. Latsha was in the audience.
During the hearing (at the 2:07:48 mark), TDHCA Governing Board Chair Leo Vasquez violates Texas Administrative Code Title 10, Part 1, Chapter 1, Rule §1.10 Public Comment Procedures. This specifies that the Chair shall not limit public “in a manner that inappropriately favors a particular point of view”.
As documented in the video, Chairman Vasquez is clearly heard suppressing Mrs. Latsha from making public comment, stating to her that “anything else you could say could only work against you.” This was before the TDHCA Governing Board cast their vote for the tax credit application.
Additionally, our efforts to oppose this specific project had signed written letters from State Representative Mark Dorazio, State Senator Donna Campbell, Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody, and even Comal ISD Superintendent Dr. John Chapman. More than a trifecta.
THDCA Multi-Family Finance Director Teresa Morales mentioned the opposition letters by these officials to the TDHCA Governing Board, though glossing over them and minimizing their relevance.
At least TDHCA Governing Board Member Kenny Marchant abstained from voting on this specific Pedcor tax credit application, while Anna Maria Farias voted a hard “No,” and repeated it twice to ensure she was heard.
Again however, it pays to know someone at the top if your Jean Latsha and Pedcor.
Coming in Part 4, we will reveal our analysis and findings of the ORRs we have received thus far. We’ll also highlight the Environment Site Assessment of one of the SAHT’s and Pedcor’s jointly-owned properties for the planned Section 8 affordable housing project Creek Bend Phase I and II.
That will leave you shocked: it is immediately adjacent to Cibolo Creek, a contributing recharge zone to the Edwards Aquifer. Stay tuned!
The views and opinions expressed in the is guest editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of InfuseSA. InfuseSA shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies represented in guest editorials.