Board imposes probation on CEO, engages legal team for inquiry

The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority (ARHA) Board of Commissioners has taken a significant step in addressing a recent controversy by hiring an independent law firm, Mintz Levin, to investigate CEO Erik Johnson.

The decision comes after City Council member John Taylor Chapman initially called for an investigation into Johnson's residency, following reports that he temporarily lived in a public housing unit on Cook Street in July. The controversy has been further fueled by allegations of poor conditions and delayed repairs at ARHA properties, which led to tenant protests last week.

The investigation will delve into various aspects of Johnson's residency, including who approved it, whether he paid market rent or received subsidies, if he was income-qualified for the unit, and whether maintenance work was performed on the property. The City Council's Freedom of Information Act requests seek Johnson's employment contract, all correspondence related to employee occupancy of ARHA units, records of any modifications to Johnson's unit, and communications between ARHA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding the matter.

The board has also hired Strategic Links, a crisis management company, to assist during the investigation process. In addition, the board has ordered Johnson to vacate the property immediately and has placed him on probationary status with a final warning.

The need to ensure safe and affordable housing for all Alexandrians is at an all-time high. Mayor Alyia Gaskins, in her letter to ARHA Board Chair Anitra Androh on Tuesday, called for an independent investigation into Johnson's actions, ARHA's compliance with laws, and ARHA's finances. Gaskins outlined the city's authority over ARHA, stating that while the housing authority is independent, it was established by city ordinance and the City Council has both appointment and removal authority for board members.

The ARHA Board of Commissioners consists of nine members: eight citizen members and one representative from the Alexandria Resident Council. The meeting that led to this decision was called on Monday and held virtually via Zoom, following the cancellation of the regularly scheduled board meeting set for Monday evening at 7 p.m. During the brief public session, technical difficulties required Commissioner Kevin Harris to participate by phone after experiencing issues accessing the Zoom meeting.

City Council member Chapman appreciates the board's decision to call an emergency meeting and has expressed interest in the outcome of the investigation. According to HUD, it is a conflict of interest for a public housing agency director to live on a property they manage. The search results do not provide information on which person hired the firm Mintz Levin to investigate the allegations against Erik Johnson or when this occurred.

The special meeting was a significant step towards transparency and accountability within ARHA, and the public awaits the results of the investigation with keen interest.