Charlottesville seriously needs a capable, durable housing director.
We hope, for everyone’s sake, that Randy Bickers is that and more.
Looking at his big grin on the front page of the Jan. 5 Daily Progress, one is persuaded to believe in hope [“New housing chief has stuck close to home(s)”].
The Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority has myriad problems, from an infrastructure that needs expensive repairs to a long history of leaders who have failed or bailed.
As the new executive director of the housing authority, Mr. Bickers knows all this — he’s an Albemarle County native whose personal history with the community exceeds that of any previous director, and he was even the authority’s deputy director for two years. He’s returning now as top administrator — and he’s smiling.
City officials say the authority is ready to “turn a corner.”
For several years the agency has been rated as “troubled” by the federal Housing and Urban Development Department because its public housing sites are deteriorating.
Additionally, the local agency has had a series of failed administrations. (One former director even got into trouble for firing a gun into the air to disperse suspected drug dealers at a public housing complex, resulting in criminal charges — not against the alleged suspects, but against him.)
All in all, the authority has had four directors in 10 years. The lack of consistent leadership has been been a problem in itself, making it harder to tackle the other issues, such as deteriorating infrastructure, reduced federal aid, drug abuse and residents’ safety, and more.
To his qualifications of hometown savvy and previous experience with the authority, Mr. Bickers also adds an accounting degree from the University of Virginia. City leaders hope this will help him negotiate the complex web of federal regulations and make best use of available funding.
It’s in everyone’s best interests for Mr. Bickers to succeed, over the long haul, where others have failed. Public housing residents need a good administrator, taxpayers need public servants who can do their jobs efficiently and cost-effectively.
Here’s hoping that Mr. Bickers will prove to be the housing leader that Charlottesville has been seeking for so long.
If that happens, expect lots of smiles, on many faces.
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