Backlash against director pick prompts Tacoma Housing Authority to elevate internal candidate
The Tacoma Housing Authority Board of Directors has changed its selection for executive director following objections from staff last month.
The five-member board voted unanimously Friday to vacate the offer made to John Hall, the current executive director for the Indianapolis Housing Agency, and instead voted to offer the position to interim THA executive director April Black. Black is serving as the interim executive director for the THA after the retirement of Michael Mirra earlier this year.
The board did not immediately discuss in the public meeting the details behind the decision but said more information is coming.
“The board will be issuing a public statement with additional details in the next couple of days,” said board chair Stan Rumbaugh.
The board voted Sept. 10 to offer the position to Hall, prompting backlash from THA staff and some members of the public, who felt the selection was rushed and were concerned about comments Hall allegedly made during his job interviews regarding people who identify as transgender, referring to housing authority clients as “criminals” and demonstrating a lack of knowledge about diversity, equity and inclusion.
In response, the board decided to vote to reconsider its decision and spent several weeks soliciting feedback from the public. Hall and Black’s interviews with staff and the public were also provided on the website.
The News Tribune could not locate in the interviews where Hall referred to housing authority clients as “criminals,” as some previous complaints have claimed, or references to people identifying as transgender. Hall did speak to housing authorities being historically underfunded, short staffed and experiencing “high crime” at their properties.
Hall, who previously told The News Tribune he felt “unfairly portrayed” by some staff members and also explained his comments regarding the LGBTQ community. He said that when he worked in Washington D.C. 10 years ago, the mayor was implementing a mandate requiring agencies to employ folks who identify as transgender, and he grappling with how to create an inclusive environment as a leader.
Rumbaugh told The News Tribune last month there were some other interviews with candidates and staff that were not recorded.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 2:08 PM.
