Pa. Senate approves more mayoral authority over PHA
The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved a bill that would give Philadelphia's mayor more power and influence over the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved a bill that would give Philadelphia's mayor more power and influence over the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
Senate Bill 1174 was approved 49 to 0 in a Monday vote and heads to the House Urban Affairs committee for its consideration.
The bill would increase the size of the housing authority's board of commissioners from five to nine and give the office of the mayor the authority to appoint all of its members.
Among the cosponsors are Sen. Gen Yaw, a Republican from Bradford County, and Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen, a Philadelphia Democrat.
Mayor Nutter has pushed for the legislative changes which are seen as a critical reform of the housing authority.
The federal government took control of the state agency last March after revelations of massive overspending on outside lawyers and the secret settlement of three sexual harassment complaints against former executive director Carl R. Greene.
Jennifer Lin
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