By Hannah Shiblaq | hshiblaq@alextimes.com
Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority tenants gathered at Mark Center on Oct. 7 to hear from ARHA and city leadership about erroneous ledgers, evictions and ongoing maintenance issues.
The forum was organized by current ARHA tenant Ronesha Parker and former ARHA tenant and housing advocate Loren DePina.
DePina told the Times that she has facilitated meetings which “haven’t produced the amount of accountability or resolution that residents are asking for.”
ARHA Board Chair Mark Jinks, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, City Manager Jim Parajon and City Councilor John Chapman were on the Oct. 7 panel, moderated by Emily Linnemeier, Ph.D. All members of City Council and ARHA Board members Theresa Peterson and Nathan Macek were invited.
ARHA Interim CEO Roy Priest and former Acting Deputy CEO Janell Diaz were also present but not seated on the panel.
Approximately 15 current and former ARHA tenants spoke, many of whom concealed their identities due to “fear of retaliation,” several anonymous speakers said at the forum.
“What we’re seeking to do is [to] give more stability to the organization and … put accountability and assistance in place, and having Mr. Priest as the interim CEO is our first major step to be able to right the ship,” Jinks said at the panel.
At the forum’s close, Linnemeier asked ARHA leadership and city officials to stand to show their commitment to participating in walkthroughs of various ARHA properties and agreeing to meet with tenants to discuss the issues they raised. All panelists stood.
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