A key moment in the Rochester Housing Authority scandal will come when Adam McFadden’s three-month stint leading the organization ends. It’s never made sense to me why McFadden would step down from his long-term post with Quad A for a temp job, unless he expected to parlay that into the permanent position, or he was promised something else down the line.
Think about it: this could, in theory, end very badly for McFadden. If HUD says he can’t lead the Housing Authority and serve on City Council, which will he choose? In three months’ time, he could find himself without a job and without his Council seat. Though, I don’t believe that will happen.
Commenters on social media clearly don’t have a lot of love for McFadden, and many believe this whole thing is being choreographed by Mayor Lovely Warren and her mentor, State Assembly member David Gantt. Warren asks McFadden to resign from RHA, and he declines — which gives Warren political cover and sets McFadden up for a big reward after his three months are up.
Maybe that’s exactly what happened. But I’m struck by how eager people are to rob Warren of the benefit of the doubt. The whole thing MUST be a conspiracy. Seems to me she couldn’t win either way — whether she asked him to resign or not. And it’s not like the people shaking their heads now were big Warren supporters to start with. They’re people who, for whatever reason, don’t like her and are now only too gleeful to point out missteps.
Don’t get me wrong; there’s a lot about this RHA stuff that is maddening. The incestuous relationship of many of the involved parties — someone is somebody’s cousin, wife, donor. Misleading information provided by the RHA board chair. Obvious cronyism — yes, it’s everywhere in politics and life, but rarely is it so in-your-face. The arrogance with which the RHA board behaved at its only press conference on this matter. (Too often, people in these positions see themselves as up and coming political scene-makers who intend to use the job as a stepping stone. The actual mission of the agency is way down the priority list.)
No one comes out of this smelling good. How unfortunate for an agency that once enjoyed a national reputation and is charged with housing the most vulnerable of Rochester.
This article appears in Oct 29 – Nov 4, 2014.
‘Rob Warren of the benefit of the doubt’?
Maybe if the Mayor issued any kind of transparent and substantive statement a reasonable person could give her the benefit of the doubt. Until that happens one can only form an opinion based on the facts at hand and those are that the Mayor’s self-appointed board terminated an employee with a long term contract without cause or explanation and immediately appointed a person closely aligned with the Mayor but completely lacking any qualifications for the position. Then lied about it. All of this could cost taxpayers close to $1 million.
I don’t have a lot of love for appointees to important public positions that have zero qualifications – it doesn’t matter who it is.
And I think it’s telling that the Mayor did not ask for the resignation of Moses, who could not refuse but did ask for McFadden’s, who could. Thinly veiled political cover as the article points out.
The entire affair is wrapped in corruption, incompetence, amateurism, half-truths and lies.
I hope this isn’t what the public can expect from this administration.
Warren has showed remarkable “amateurism” to date. I have the utmost confidence in making the assumption that her mayoral term is all but done. No need to go any further w/this one.
It is enough to say that this is merely the latest incident of scandal involving the Warren Administration, her allies and their mentor.
At worst, she has been aware of what was going on, but didn’t count on the public outcry against it. Hence her “concerned” pose, demanding McFadden’s resignation, which he won’t give, and not demanding Moses’ resignation, which he would have to give.
She is counting on her popularity to allow this thing to blow over, like everything else that has happened this year.
At best, she is like the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and has summoned up demons she cannot exorcise.
Either way, her fitness to continue in the high office she has attained is questionable.
It amazes me how people are so quick to say that McFadden isn’t qualified for the position, when few know the extent of his qualifications, and are probably clueless of the job description itself. Without knowledge of those two “FACTS”, people are making assumptions. Here’s an idea…….what if McFadden IS the best man for the job who just HAPPENS to be a councilman and a friend of the mayor? Oh, and let’s not forget……….has a HISTORY of serving this community.
For those with so much negativity to spew…………….what have you done for anyone else lately???
And as far as this statement: “The actual mission of the agency is way down the priority list.” you are entitled to your opinion, but it is just that……………..an opinion. With all of your research do you even know the mission statement of the agency? I googled it for you………………………MISSION STATEMENT “Rochester Housing Authority is an essential housing resource for the greater Rochester area providing quality housing opportunities and related services for those in need.”
Now please tell me what in McFadden’s very public history of serving this city do you think are at odds with that?? Not a thing.
The “benefit of the doubt” is what Warren might have been granted in January or February-maybe even March when her earlier ‘crook and crony’ style was revealed. At this point, her lies are so patently obvious that there isn’t much of a doubt remaining. Defending the actions of the various parties here is to be willfully blind or partisan.
How much did McFadden previously earn? Of course, we “must” give the benefit of the doubt and assume that $140,000 is just a standard 10-20% raise over his former non-profit salary. (His new salary is undoubtedly for his own profit regardless of the RHA’s tax status.)
Who really cares… as long as someone gets back into the position and helps lead the agency through the next 3 months as it is only a temporary appointment by the current board. Maybe Adam will be very good at the job…time will tell the truth. He may get the job as a permanent fixture to the post aftre the three month period . And, this would mean that he has to resign from City Council if he is asked and accepts the position in three months. In the mean time Adam cannot vote on any matter surrounding the RHA. I see this as win-win for all of us in Rochester, NY. Adam is and has been dedicated to Rochester, NY for a number of years. Yet , his presentation for policy change is lacking in temperament and unprepared briefs.
Reform in the RHA is long overdue; however, I’m not sure that McFadden is the cure to RHA’s problems.
There is a serious lack of oversight by RHA, especially in subsidizing rent for senior citizens, who reside in a senior living complex, which has income caps to be eligible to live there, as well as to receive a rent subsidy.
Yet, there are many who receive such subsidies from RHA who should not qualify due to income and assets, which must be certified annually.
I have direct knowledge of a senior complex who allows a former, well known and prominent businessman, and has more worth than any one of the Wegman’s family, and he’s not only living in an income capped complex, but also receives a rent subsidy from RHA.
“Maybe that’s exactly what happened. But I’m struck by how eager people are to rob Warren of the benefit of the doubt.” You know why that is.