THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 28, 1997 TAG: 9701280213
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 70 lines
City Councilman Paul R. Riddick on Monday renewed his criticism of the housing authority's recent approval of a ``social lease'' that calls on public housing residents to volunteer for community service.
Riddick, speaking at a meeting between members of council and the authority, denounced the lease as ``insensitive'' and an ``invasion of privacy'' and called on the authority's board to repeal it.
``I really believe you're going to create an atmosphere that's going to backfire on you,'' Riddick said during Monday's four-hour meeting, a free-ranging session that touched on the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's citywide redevelopment efforts and public housing issues.
During discussion, Riddick also suggested that the city consider disbanding the NRHA's board and taking control of the authority's operations, in the same way that the city recently voted to make Nauticus a city agency.
City Councilman Herbert M. Collins also said the city should review the possibility for cost-savings that might occur.
``We aren't trying to frighten or intimidate anybody about their jobs, but we have to look at this realistically,'' Collins told NRHA officials.
Riddick, who said he has called for a city takeover of NRHA in the past, made his remarks after NRHA officials detailed projected cutbacks in federal funding for public housing and a potential shortfall of more than $500,000 to administer NRHA's development program in the fiscal year that begins in July.
``This is not retribution for them enacting the social lease - this is dollars and cents,'' Riddick said.
While Riddick said he hopes the council will discuss his idea at a future work session, some council members said it's unlikely the city would attempt to absorb the NRHA's duties.
``We're a long way from that in my mind,'' said Mayor Paul D. Fraim, who said the NRHA does an ``excellent'' job.
``This partner (NRHA) has served us well and I think it will continue,'' said Councilman Mason Andrews.
Riddick, whose city ward encompasses most of Norfolk's public housing neighborhoods, has been vocal in opposing the social lease. No other council member spoke against it Monday.
The NRHA's board of commissioners adopted the lease by a 5-to-1 vote on Jan. 13. It calls on able-bodied and unemployed public-housing residents to do community volunteer work 20 hours a year, and the lease also sets out other conditions for occupants, such as keeping their children in school.
Doyle E. Hull, chairman of NRHA's board, said he doubts that commissioners will reconsider their vote on the lease.
``In my view, it's been settled,'' Hull said. ``I don't see any reason for us to continue to debate an issue that's been well debated.''
Hull said the social lease is ``non-punitive'' for residents and reflects the evolving nature of government welfare. Changes in federal law, for instance, will require welfare recipients to find jobs or put in 20 hours a week of community service.
``That's so far above what we're asking them to do,'' Hull said.
Hull said public housing was never designed for ``long-term residency, and we have three generations there.'' The social lease, like welfare reform, is an attempt ``to improve their lot in life'' Hull said.
``I can agree with you that we are intruding,'' Hull told Riddick, ``but the question is, `Should we?' Our judgment is that we should. . . We're not doing this unfeelingly without sensitivity to the issues, but we've got to get ahead of the curve.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Paul R. Riddick
KEYWORDS: SOCIAL LEASE PUBLIC HOUSING VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY
SERVICE