Senator asks HUD boss about Greene 'activities'

LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS have been slow to question Carl Greene's management of the Philadelphia Housing Authority during a week of revelations about his unpaid mortgage and management style. But a U.S. senator jumped into the fray yesterday, demanding answers.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, yesterday sent a strongly worded letter to Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, asking if HUD knew about Greene's "questionable financial activities."

Grassley, ranking minority member of the Senate Committee on Finance, demanded to know if HUD was aware of PHA pressure on employees to pay into a fund that sponsored social outings, if HUD had received any personnel complaints since 2008 and what kind of oversight HUD has given over the stimulus dollars provided to PHA.

"I write to you today because I remain concerned about waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars being given to PHAs [public-housing authorities] that have a track record of these problems," Grassley wrote.

Referencing the Daily News, Grassley questioned the $2.12 weekly fee that nonunion PHA workers are asked to pay into the Pennsylvania Institute of Affordable Housing, which pays for bowling outings for some staffers, as well as the $300 to $600 that senior employees are encouraged to pony up for parties and gifts.

Grassley also asked for details on the annual salaries and bonuses for the directors of the top-20 housing authorities, along with information on who sets those salaries.

Greene makes $306,370 and last year received a bonus of more than $44,188. In comparison, New York City Housing Authority Chairman John Rhea makes $197,364.

"While I appreciate that cities want to pay competitive salaries to ensure that they get top-quality personnel, I am much more concerned that stimulus dollars appear to be spent on exorbitant salaries," Grassley said.

Grassley could not be reached last night. A HUD spokesman did not return a call requesting comment.