BY DAVID J. FOSTER
Staff Writer

John White, Jr., wants to set the record straight.

Contrary to a report in the April 23rd Northeast Breeze (the News Gleaner's sister publication), he did not as Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) director initiate the so-called "homeless priority" policy for Section 8 housing. That was a government edict he inherited when homeless shelters "were busting at the seams," he said.

What frustrates White most about the unfounded charge is that he believes anyone placed in a Section 8 property must understand how to maintain a home and live responsibly with neighbors. "It was inappropriate for many of those families who would try to make that transition," he said.

White said he wanted the city to provide social services to help homeless families improve their chances of surviving the transition from homelessness to eventual home ownership. "Now these same people who promised they would (comply), sit before City Council and recommend we provide this kind of help," he said. "Where have they been."

It was a suggestion he made long before Section 8 became last year's most heated policy debate, a point he'll make when his campaign for mayor hits full-stride. He is expected to be challenged by City Council president John Street and announced candidate State Rep. Dwight Evans.

White is proud of his PHA tenure. He oversaw the demolition of the blighted Schuykill Falls and Raymond Rosen high-rise towers, which will be replaced by new houses and commercial strips. He initiated a new tenants' lease that makes PHA and its residents more responsible for their property.

And he was there when HUD removed PHA from its "troubled" housing authority list.

One thing hasn't changed. White believes public housing administration is largely misunderstood.

Some Section 8 facilities are controlled by PHA, some by HUD, some by the city itself. "There are four programs," he said. "It's not all PHA. But how many people know that?"

And how many people remember that White is more than the past director of PHA? How many know of work administering the "Penn Free" drug prevention and treatment program as Gov. Casey's Secretary of the Department of Welfare?

"That's what campaigns are for," he said. In a few months, White, a former state legislator and city councilman, will remind Philadelphians of the expansive John White, Jr. resume and argue that background makes him the man to lead the city into the next century.

News Gleaner: When Northeast residents think of John White, Jr. they think of . . .

John White, Jr.: . . . Section 8.

NG: How do you overcome that perception?

JW: I don't think there's anything to overcome. People don't understand the Section 8 programs. I've tried to explain this to City Council. There are four Section 8 programs in the city. The PHA-operated program is the smallest. HUD has the largest. When people call about a problem with a Section 8 house, they probably call PHA. But it may not have anything to do with PHA.

There's also the TRAC program, run by the city of Philadelphia, which runs transitional housing for people.

Under the Philadelphia Housing Authority Section 8 program, PHA has the authority for administering the program, that is they identify and qualify both landlord and tenant, and they inspect. We are given a specific set of rules and guidelines we have to face. HUD runs specialized Section 8 programs (aimed at), for example, immigrants.

So the misconstruing of what the program is has caused a lot of confusion among the ordinary citizens. When they see a problem Section 8 family, they assume its PHA Section 8, when there's a strong likelihood that it is not.

NG: Do the people of the Northeast have a reason to fear Section 8?

JW: The fear is about the spread of poverty, which is caused by the city's job loss and a lack of education. People are moving and not being replaced by people earning $50,000, but by people struggling to make ends meet. It's not the Section 8 program people are afraid of, it's the uncertainty about their economic future, although it may not be internalized that way.

NG: Is a Section 8 property popping up on a block a sign of encroaching poverty?

JW: There are a lot of reasons a Section 8 property could pop up on a block. Parents die and leave a property to siblings who already own homes. This is an opportunity for them to have additional income. Maybe they can't sell the house. Do we deny those people the opportunity (to earn income)? It's a matter of economics.

The federal government wants to move (HUD residents) to mixed income communities. When you bring down 800 units in six towers, PHA isn't getting hard units to replace them, but Section 8 certificates. And folks are beating up on PHA. They don't understand PHA has no alternative. HUD isn't saying, "Here's some money. Go fix up another unit in public housing." HUD is saying, "You have a Section 8 certificate. Give it to them."

Neighborhoods are afraid of Section 8. Council people and legislators are angry at the program. But who passes the laws that dictate the policies they don't like? (Demand) Congress or HUD to do something other than give out Section 8 certificates. Give housing authorities the money to build new houses.

NG: If you had all the power to fix housing. What would you do?

JW: For Section 8, housing authorities need greater flexibility. When you demolish a house or unit, Section 8 should not be your only alternative for its replacement.

For those who qualify for Section 8, we need to do more to help them make the transition to "neighborhood life."

NG: What's the biggest problem facing the city?

JW: At the top, we have to stop the bleeding of jobs. That's followed by the tax situation. We cannot add another half-penny to taxes. And then there's the lack of a reliable, productive, entry-level workforce. That ties directly into our schools.

NG: You're a former state representative. Do you agree with the state General Assembly's vote to take over the School District if School Superintendent David Hornbeck closes schools next year?

JW: (Harrisburg) is not the place for this debate. If David Hornbeck came to me and said he was closing my schools in March, I'd tell him, "Pack your bags. Find someplace else to work." I value education more than that.

There's nothing wrong with labeling Philadelphia a distressed school district. But when you strip a union of all the bargaining power its worked so hard to get over the years, I think you've crossed the line.

When I'm mayor, the buck will not stop with the school superintendent.

NG: The top issue concerning Northeast's residents is crime. Is their fear justified?

JW: There is no greater fear of crime in the Northeast than anywhere else in the city. But there's less tolerance for crime here. If given the opportunity and the resources, (Police Commissioner) John Timoney could do an outstanding job in giving people a higher degree of confidence in his ability to have some impact on their fear. In large part, it is his focus. He doesn't take a laid-back big-picture approach.

NG: What reforms would you bring to the police department?

JW: I want to see what Timoney does. I hope his agenda will include a much more visible police presence. I'm not talking about the overused term Community Policing, but community responsiveness, a presence that deters crime. But it's not just Timoney's responsibility.

Some people see crime and think police commissioner. That's not how I see it. I see a court system, district attorneys, probation, and jails. They all have roles. The commissioner can make arrests, but if prisons are overcrowded so they won't let you lock them up, what's the point? If the courts have a backlog so judges can't hear cases, what's the point?

But what are we doing? Looking for the quick-fix: Timoney's here.

Why don't we have a drug court in Philadelphia to isolate drug dealers in a court with a judge who understands the crime these individuals are engaging in?

It's more than Mr. Timoney.

NG: Would you keep Timoney in a John White administration?

JW: It depends. I want to see his performance. Right now, it's too early to say.

Back to Front Page | News Archives | Contact Us | Advertising

The Week In Review | Police Report | Community Calendar | Trips
Reunions | Movie Reviews | Web Links | Classifieds