A.G. Gancarski
A spirited discussion of the dispensation of surplus property in District 10 and Jacksonville’s lingering affordable housing issues highlighted Jacksonville’s NCIS committee Monday.
The Real Estate Division requested authorization to declare 32 condo lots on Lane Avenue South in Common Elements, Brookewood A Condominium, as surplus tax reverted parcels after an investigation which determined the City has no need for property. The authorization would allow for the sale of all parcels as one collective unit through a RFP process. Each parcel is zoned RMD-D and assessed at $8,000.00.
The bill passed 4 to 2, with Councilman Reggie Brown (who represents the district) and Councilwoman Joyce Morgan as the no votes.
The bill has two more committees, Finance and Rules, to clear ahead of consideration by the full council on Aug. 23.
Councilman Reggie Brown thought that controversy-plagued Wealth Watchers had this deal locked up, despite being investigated for a conflict of interest.
There had been miscommunication between Brown and the Lenny Curry administration for weeks on this, with Brown wanting a copy of the “mystery letter” documenting the investigation of “Wealth Watchers,” of which Brown has yet to secure documentation of its existence, despite news accounts describing it.
“I am STILL respectfully requesting to be provided a copy of the letter from the Florida Housing Corporation, OIG, as stated in your letter. I want a copy of the official letter that was sent to the City from this agency which declared that Wealth Watchers was being investigated. If you are unable to provide a copy of the aforementioned document please provide a written explanation as to why you are unable to do so,” Councilman Reggie Brown wrote Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa on August 5.
Mousa had written Brown previously, saying that it was “not in the City’s best interest to continue conducting any new business with Wealth Watchers until these matters are resolved. Any ongoing and/or prior contracts with Wealth Watchers will not be impacted provided they remain in compliance with the terms and conditions of the contracts.”
Wealth Watchers Inc. in February was suspended from the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund Program and from the State of Florida’s Foreclosure Counseling Program. Wealth Watchers is currently under state investigation by Florida Housing Corp, OIG.
“I have asked repeatedly for the letter [of investigation] … I have asked Senator Audrey Gibson as well as the governor’s office,” said Councilman Reggie Brown in the committee meeting.
Brown wanted documentation of the investigation.
“I have not been given this information,” Brown said.
“I didn’t ask for Wealth Watchers. They were assigned to District 10,” Brown said, describing the treatment of the organization as “disrespectful.”
“This can be a simple fix with me. I just want a copy of the letter,” Brown said. “You have to show me – show me the money.”
Wealth Watchers had been ceded 32 unit properties for development at a total value of $256,000. The property has to be ceded in bulk to reduce the city’s liability.
“The only thing I’ve asked is for the copy of the letter … I think the undercurrent here shows total disrespect for the district council person … total disrespect for the process,” Brown said Monday
Brown’s complaint: the Curry administration ceded properties to these companies without consulting district council members. Administration members countered that the code didn’t necessarily require that, and that given Wealth Watchers’ shaky legal position, an RFP was in order for the dispensation of these surplus properties.
“They’re under investigation,” Brown said. “They haven’t been found guilty of anything. So why are we rescinding these properties?”
“Just because an organization is under investigation doesn’t mean it’s guilty,” Brown added.
Brown’s contention is that Wealth Watchers had the surplus properties; administration members countered that it was not a done deal.
Brown still diverged from that interpretation.
“The concern was if there was an investigation, do we want to continue to do stuff with Wealth Watchers,” Ali Korman Shelton of the Curry administration said, given the open investigation.
“It was my understanding that we weren’t going forward with anything with Wealth Watchers at this time,” Korman Shelton said.
Brown fulminated for some time.
“Folks are failing to be wholly candid, and this should not be the practice of this body … there’s an undercurrent … it’s a bunch of lies going on,” Brown said.
Councilman Bill Gulliford said that the federal and state investigations were a “red flag” that warranted “legitimate” concern from the Curry administration. A member of the Curry administration noted other “compliance issues” regarding developing donated properties.
Brown was not mollified, describing the bill as an “undercurrent” jobbing Wealth Watchers out in favor of the Community Development Corporation, and an attempt to “overthrow” his leadership.
“These folks elected me … there’s an undercurrent here,” Brown said, noting that now he’s without a CHDO in District 10.
“If there’s an investigation,” Brown asked, “why can’t I get a copy of it?”
