U.S. Representative Artur Davis, Keynote Speaker at the NLADA 2008 Annual Conference

The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) announced that U.S. Representative Artur Davis, a Democrat representing Alabama's seventh congressional district, was the keynote speaker at the NLADA 2008 Annual Conference, November 19-21, which was in Washington, DC. The title of the conference was "Creating Change, Achieving Justice."

A champion for the poor, Congresman Davis was a pivotal leader in restoring funding to the HOPE VI program for renovating public housing, where he persuaded more than 60 Republicans to vote with Democrats to save HOPE VI. As chair of the health care subcommittee of Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's Black Belt Action Commission, Davis expanded the delivery of health care services to African American residents living in the rural "Black Belt" region of western Alabama.

"As a national leader in preserving and enhancing basic human rights of those in need, Rep. Davis has helped thousands of people in his home state of Alabama, as well as across the country, achieve the fundamental promise of equality," said Jo-Ann Wallace, NLADA president and CEO. "It was an honor to welcome him to NLADA's 2008 Annual Conference."

Rep. Davis was born in 1967 and raised in a low-income area of West Montgomery, Alabama. He excelled in school, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in 1990 and Cum Laude from Harvard Law School in 1993. During law school, instead of accepting a summer job at an elite law firm, he returned to his roots and interned at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Davis then clerked for Judge Myron Thompson, one of the first African American judges appointed to the federal bench in Alabama. Following his clerkship, he served as an assistant United States attorney for the Middle District of Alabama where he prosecuted white collar crime and high level drug dealers. From 1998 until his 2002 election to Congress, Rep. Davis practiced law in Birmingham with a focus on criminal defense and workplace discrimination.

Congressman Davis has been recognized by the Washington Post, the National Journal and CNN as one of the future leaders to watch in Washington.

For more information on the 2008 NLADA Annual Conference please visit www.nlada.org/training.

Jobs, Help Michigan Residents Find Affordable Housing

LANSING, Mich - Source: marketwatch.com - PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that over 2,100 units of affordable rental housing will be built or renovated for low to moderate-income Michigan families, the elderly, people with disabilities and those at risk of homelessness as a result of $20.6 million in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) approved by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The tax credits will also help bolster the state's economy by creating approximately 3,200 jobs in construction and related trades.

"These tax credits will leverage $200 million in investment necessary to develop thriving and vibrant communities around the state, creating jobs and providing affordable housing," said Granholm. "In this time of economic challenge, we must do all that we can to stimulate the economy and help citizens who are struggling."

MSHDA Executive Director Keith Molin said a portion of the total award would provide units of rental housing for disabled Michigan residents as well as those individuals and families at risk of homelessness.

"About 45 percent of the units created through this allocation are going to be in distressed areas," Molin said. "This accounts for over $9.5 million going into areas that are already suffering from severe economic strain and high poverty levels."

Owners and investors in low-income housing may apply to receive a tax credit against their federal tax liability if the rental housing has at least 20 percent of its units for households with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median, or 40 percent of its units reserved for households with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median. More HERE

Easton's Delaware Terrace to be demolished in January 2009

The Morning Call report's, after five years of planning, Easton's Delaware Terrace public housing development is to be demolished early next year, city housing officials said Tuesday.

The 55-year-old complex of 250 apartments, which finished emptying out earlier this year, is to be razed to make way for the planned HOPE VI project. At Tuesday's meeting of the Easton Housing Authority, Executive Director Gene Pambianchi said demolition should begin in ''mid- to late January.''

In the meantime, city firefighters might get to fill some of the building with smoke for training, Pambianchi said. ''There'd be no live fires,'' he stressed, but the firefighters could practice ripping through walls and roofs. More HERE

HOPE VI: Casino funds to rescue

Funds would go toward $3 million cleanup effort

By Mark Scheer
E-mail Mark
Niagara Gazette

Casino revenues are being eyed as a funding source for a $3 million clean-up effort at the HOPE VI housing development in the city’s North End.

Mayor Paul Dyster has asked the City Council to comply with a request for financial support from the Niagara Falls Housing Authority and the developer of the HOPE VI project, Norstar Development Corp. The agency and its developer have requested $3 million to cover the cost of removing incinerator ash found at the construction site.

Dyster’s proposal would provide the project with $1 million of 2007 casino revenue received by the city this year and another $1 million of 2008 casino revenue which is expected to arrive in 2009. In addition, Dyster has asked the council to allow another $1 million already set aside for the second phase of the project to be used earlier than expected to address the immediate clean-up concern.

Under Dyster’s proposal, the housing authority would be obligated to use the entire $3 million it requested for actual cleanup and construction work. The authority would be forbidden from using any portion of the money to cover administrative costs or engineering, architectural or legal fees. Transfer of the funding is contingent upon the project developers securing all of the necessary permits and approvals. The housing authority would also agree to cover all costs in excess of $3 million.

In his resolution to the council, Dyster indicated former Mayor Vince Anello, in a letter dated May 1, 2006, “pledged” $2 million in Community Development Block Grant or HOME funds to the second phase of the project. Dyster indicated the $2 million of casino revenue included in his plan would allow the city to fulfill Anello’s “pledge.”

The funding for the clean-up effort is in addition to the $2 million the city has already given the housing authority for the project under the terms of the casino cash agreement.

City Council Chairman Sam Fruscione said he has no problem with the mayor’s plan for covering the city’s portion of the clean-up costs. He said the city has little choice but to support cleaning up the property.
More HERE