Frett-Gregory Faults Plaskett and Roach Over VIHFA Crisis, Offers Six-Part Reform Plan

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) dealt a devastating blow to the Virgin Islands economy this week by suspending the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (“HFA”) from receiving future federal funds, citing the local administration’s inaction, corruption, mismanagement, waste, and deficient disaster recovery efforts. The HFA was awarded nearly $2 billion in federal funding and due to mismanagement it will no longer have access to the remaining funds pending investigation. This is not merely a warning, it is a crisis. Virgin Islanders should be deeply concerned that even more damaging consequences may follow if we don’t have the right leadership in place. Virgin Islanders should also be concerned that we were blindsided by this sudden freeze in funding. From my 30 years of experience in government and working with federal partners, I know that a funding freeze of this magnitude should never come as a surprise. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett has repea...