This morning's Washington Post reports that a Fairfax County audit of RPJ Housing, the low income housing group formerly headed by Herb Cooper-Levy, has been found to be in dire financial straits.
The audit did not uncover other irregularities such as the forged zoning document which led to Mr. Cooper-Levy's ouster earlier this year. But the audit "uncovered unusual credit swaps performed by the nonprofit and found that RPJ had over-leveraged itself by buying more than a dozen houses and apartment buildings in the mid-2000s, according to a summary of findings provided to county officials."
Potentially as many as 100 families who live in RPJ housing in Fairfax County may soon lose their homes as a consequence of RPJ's financial difficulties. Also in jeopardy according to the Post are the volunteer home renovation programs Rebuilding Together and Hearts and Hammers, which RPJ operated in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.
So besides the accusation by Fairfax County officials that he forged a key zoning document, it appears Mr. Cooper-Levy also failed in one of the primary duties of the leader of any charitable organization: to prudently manage its finances.
So did Alexandria Planning Commission Chairman John Komoroske read the article this morning? Did he reflect on his long, closely intertwined relationship with Mr. Cooper-Levy on the Braddock Action Team and how promoting big development in our neighborhood in exchange for City bucks fed the hubris of his colleague, leading not only to his downfall but to a cascade of misfortune for people who need RPJ's help?
We in this neighborhood have principles, but once again those in power in Alexandria who dictate to us have demonstrated they have none.
34 comments:
Good butt-kicking story! I'd add Hamer's name to Komoroske's. Together they screwed us good. Out of curiosity is ADAM still kicking? Levy was its VP.
It would be a sad day if RPJ went away. I volunteered for several years with the organization and the folks there are wonderful. If the Washington Post story is accurate, so many people could be hurt. My thoughts and prayers for these fine folks.
Agree with the comment from 7:00 AM.
I know several of the RPJ staff, including the current executive director, and I have met several board members. They are such nice, decent people and they are trying so hard. I hope that Fairfax will be fair and decent to them and do everything it can to help. Such a sad situation.
"My thoughts and prayers for these fine folks."
Fine folks? You're kidding, right? Fine folks don't run an organization as Levy did then burden the rest of us with his management style. You obviously did not attend the charettes. He and Komoroske screwed us starting with the Braddock Action Team. Hamer couldn't see past her butt.
"Hamer couldn't see past her butt."
Is she really as dumb as she seems of just dumb like a political fox? She asks few questions and lives mostly in the political hear oops here and now.
"They are such nice, decent people and they are trying so hard."
I think this is a problem with the mindset of many in Alexandria government as a whole. People so desperately want to help others, but only want to do it their way and insist that they know best and have the moral high ground because they are helping others.
But they never really seem to consider empirically whether their actions are actually helping. For example, are we actually helping people if we give them free or subsidized housing with no strings attached?
Also, they cry that if they just had more money, they could solve more problems. Yet, for example, our schools perform shockingly poorly compared to neighboring jursidictions who sepnd far less per pupil than we do.
I think it's time to reconsider whether we're getting a good return on our tax dollar for many of these social programs we're running (or in Herb's case, subidizing).
"We in this neighborhood have principles, but once again those in power in Alexandria who dictate to us have demonstrated they have none."
Two things have bothered me as I have watched the story unfold. Alexandria's pols have been conspicuously silent especially Euille and the RPJ Board has yet to take a thrumping.
"They are such nice, decent people and they are trying so hard."
Probably why Alexandria's pols are silent. They are getting a free pass.
SUPERB HERB. Karma could not bring down a more reprehensible individual
Could not happen to a more deserving person....
From Mayor Euille's year in review alexandrianews.org Debating him is time wasted. As a former school board member Euille should have dealt with the race issues long ago. So I am more inclined to suggest that we fire Sherman and impeach Morris. Sherman's agenda is more than Jefferson Houston. But what?
"The school system gets a lot of funding from us and our taxpayers have the right to ask if that money is being spent wisely,” Euille said.
"ACPS is looking into the possibility of a public/private partnership to redevelop Jefferson-Houston Elementary School but Council has not agreed to partner with them. “We know that something must be done to improve Jefferson-Houston but we need to see more details,” Euille said."
"“We know that something must be done to improve Jefferson-Houston but we need to see more details,” Euille said."
Something "must have been done" for years now and you have done nothing Mr. Mayor except pander....
"Good butt-kicking story!"
And where is our hard hitting investigative reporting team from the Gazette Packet, Times, and AlexandriaNews.org?
Will they actually run a story on Herbie? I would love to see them rehash Levy's legendary diatribes in defense of ARHA....
There's a lot of illogical criticism of RPJ on this board. Just because Superb Herb may have something wrong does not mean that there is something wrong with the organization, and I bet the person who made the comment about RPJ's board has never met any of the staff or board members other than Superb Herb.
Our church has done Rebuilding Together/Christmas in April for more than 12 years with RPJ Housing. Even now, tears come to my eyes when I think of the volunteer home repairs we have provided to those in need, including the elderly and disabled.
And just FYI, the City does not provide operating grants to RPJ. Most housing assistance is from the federal government and goes directly to the resident. So, critics of RPJ should get some facts in front of them before they reach conclusions based on their intuition-which is a polite way of saying prejudices.
I hope Fairfax will pursue criminal charges against Superb Herb. It would be with great delight that I would take off work to watch. My take on him, even before the recent news, is that he is manipulative, sneaky, two-faced, profane, arrogant and abusive. I feel sorry for the long-time RPJ staff and hope that things work out okay for them.
"And where is our hard hitting investigative reporting team"
I have read the comments and come to only one conclusion. Politics dictates logic. Good conduct be damned! Hamer is political, she obediently takes her cue from the pols. She may be a marginal talent but it doesn't matter. The pols like her. Did Levy not also work in Alexandria's Housing Department? Where did he learn the ethic that brought him down? Is ARHA any different? ARHA has been highly indulged. Priest may be better than Dearborn but so what. ACPS wants to redevelop JH and finally the JV dumpster gets screened. Politics! How long ago did we ask for the screen? And we asked sooo nicely. What kills me is that Euille in the same year end summary bragged that the Bland ground breaking was the beginning of good things. Like hell! How many public housing residents did the pols not disperse? Bland was a political bailout stage managed by Hamer. Glad it's summer and I can cool off.
"From Mayor Euille's year in review alexandrianews.org" From the same year end speech.
Redevelopment in Braddock East has already begun. “We broke ground on a new mixed income housing development that will include market rate and public homes side by side,” Euille said. “That is just the beginning of good things to come for that neighborhood.”
"I bet the person who made the comment about RPJ's board has never met any of the staff or board members other than Superb Herb."
Sorry, although I get your pain anyone experienced in nonprofits knows that Superb Herb could not act as he did for as long as he did without board indulgence. Nonprofit board members have a fiduciary responsibility which his board members seem to have abandoned. Not everything can be managed touchy feely. Why do you think many nonprofit boards volunteer board members carry directors and officers insurance? Accountability was missing.
"So, critics of RPJ should get some facts in front of them before they reach conclusions based on their intuition-which is a polite way of saying prejudices."
Please stop trying to win the Lenny Harris Memorial Race Baiting Award.
Where are these so-called attacks on the RPJ board? Most of the comments here are in praise of RPJ staff and its mission. I think the only negative comment that the board deserves is why they couldnt pick up on this illegal activity earlier. Where was the oversight of Mr. Levy and his actions?
Other than that, there was never any "prejudice" shown. So stop with the usual "everyone who criticizes is a racist" response. Its reprehensible and you should be ashamed of yourself.
"My take on him, even before the recent news, is that he is manipulative, sneaky, two-faced, profane, arrogant and abusive."
Not a bad take at all, but still no explanation from the City about how this man could become so influential in the affordable housing debate, when he was nothing but a crook.
"So stop with the usual "everyone who criticizes is a racist" response. Its reprehensible and you should be ashamed of yourself."
Agreed. To start accusing people of prejudice is straight out of the race card deck.
Where was the board? If they are so wonderful why didn't they pick up on this illegality?
I don't care if the board was white, black, brown, green, etc...
They have a duty and responsibility to ensure that executives act in an ethical manner. Doesn't matter if its corporations or nonprofits.
The fact that they let Levy do this and run around like a madman cursing out anyone who didn't agree with him is something that is justifiable for criticism.
Herbie was also the director of the organization that formed the Arlandira-Chirilagua Co-op and demanded that the city "forgive" the loan after 15 years if it was deemed as running successfully. The 15 years was up last year and the housing office found that it wasn't "successful". The city is still considering forgiving the loan anyway. Another $100,000 down the drain.
"And just FYI, the City does not provide operating grants to RPJ. Most housing assistance is from the federal government and goes directly to the resident. So, critics of RPJ should get some facts in front of them before they reach conclusions based on their intuition-which is a polite way of saying prejudices."
Puh-leeze. Your lazy race baiting notwithstanding, you don't seem to understand the argument here. It's beside the point whether or not Alexandria's tax dollars directly fund or subsidize RPJ (or ARHA, or any other organization that provides low income housing).
It is beyond dispute that our City tax dollars directly pay for the CONSEQUENCES of all this subsidized housing. People who require free or subsidized housing require more very expensive taxpayer funded social services, not to mention the increased police costs.
Anyway, it's far from clear that all this taxpayer subsizided "affordable" housing is all that needed or effective. Doesn't anyone remember the pleading to have people rent at the Fire station apartments? And they were asking HOW much rent, compared to the much more affordable properties available on the free market?
Again, regardless of whether affordable housing developers like RPJ are funded by federal, city or state taxpayers, I think it's not an efficient use of taxpayer money.
"What kills me is that Euille in the same year end summary bragged that the Bland ground breaking was the beginning of good things. Like hell! How many public housing residents did the pols not disperse?"
Can I get an A-M-E-N!??!! Shameful that they didn't disperse after all their pre-election smarmy promises about deconcentration, fair share, blah blah. Cowardly liars, all. Looking forward to the next election like it's freakin Christmas.
Can I get an A-M-E-N!??!!
Amen, Amen, Amen. I'll give ya 3.
The Bland bailout is just one more example of how the city tolerates in this case ARHA's mismanagement.
Ever think of running for office or working on one of the committees instead of sitting at your computer complaining about how the city is run? Ever think about offering suggestions instead of constantly critiquing others?
Re the RPJ board, is the previous poster suggesting that non-profit boards of directors should ask county governments to send copies of zoning documents to them, then review those documents to ensure that there are no forgeries? If not, how would the RPJ board posssibly have known that Superb Herb allegedly submitted a forged zoning document?
As to Herb's profanity and volatile behavior, those may be rude, inappropriate, and unhelpful, but they are not necessarily unethical. I would be surprised if most non-profit boards would learn quickly of this sort of behavior.
My prayers to the long-suffering RPJ staff and board that is left to make things right.
As for Herb, I don't care if he rots in a bucket of snot. I wish no person harm, but I just can't find it in me to move much past indifference given my interactions with him over the years.
On the issue of increased police costs, I would be grateful if the previous poster could point me to empirical evidence to support this conclusion.
Does anyone know anything about Herbie's departure from city government? It would be interesting to know what happened there.
I wrote to Sharon Bulova in support of RPJ and other nonprofits (not the same as supporting His Herbness) and got back a form letter that basically said bug off. Bulova is no friend of nonprofits in Fairfax and I hope we will see a democratic candidate who will unset her soon. Does she not get that nonprofits already avoid Fairfax? This is one really clueless pol. Im happy to crucify Herb but that is not the same as puniching nonprofits.
"Ever think of running for office or working on one of the committees instead of sitting at your computer complaining about how the city is run? Ever think about offering suggestions instead of constantly critiquing others?"
Folks, don't pay this poster any mind. Just another screamer who is trying to divide us.
Many posters here are involved with the WOTCA and attended many of the Braddock Road Metro Small Area Plan meetings.
A lot of us have sat for hours at City Council open mic sessions to speak & provide alternative ideas, just to be cut off after a measily 5 minutes.
We've written letters to council asking why they refuse the ideas provided from the community on many issues.
We have asked city officials as to why they treat Resolution 830 as if it were the first amendment and then pretend that the city's fair policy doesnt even exist.
Some have attend ARHA meetings to ask questions and provide reasonable alternatives to the never ending crime and nusiance problems.
We've sent long letters to council with new ideas which could improve the quality of life in P-G for both citizens and public housing folks.
Many have attended neighborhood walk thru's with our part time mayor and part time council. All this effort on our part just to be called gentrifying racists behind our backs.
Most here have attended ACPS meetings to ask questions, & offer alternatives, only to be cut off, talked over and ignored by those holding the meetings.
We attended the Monarch meetings and held the developers feet to the fire on the particulars regarding the massive structure.
What upsets me more than anything else is ignorant comments from people like the above poster. You probably don't live in PG and you need stay off this blog which has become one of our greatest tools in our fight for an even better neighborhood.
People like you wiith their insipid thoughts and comments are part of the problem. Go scream somewhere else if you don't want to be part of the solution.
Fairfax County is a disgrace and has no clue how to work with nonprofits.
When a nonprofit runs into trouble, the county should find a way to work as a true business partner with the nonprofit and help it find its feet. A nonprofit is not the same as its executive director.
The way Fairfax County is treating RPJ is like arresting a rape victim on the grounds that she wore provactive clothing. Folks at RPJ have been through more than enough and it is time for the county to either arrest that fat piece of crap, His Herbness, or move on.
I agree with the earlier poster. If the board of supervisors doesn't step in soon and fix the county's outrageous behavior, I will vote to clean house in the next election. It is time for change and a county government that understands the value that nonprofits bring to our community.
Board of supervisors, get a clue. Act now and stop mistreating our nonprofits. Punish the culpable and don't make a bunch of excuses about why you can't hold Herb Cooper Levy responsible for being a sneaking, conniving *)(%(&%.
Re Herbi's departure from city government. Yup, their were issues. He is not to be trusted.
Agreed. Fairfax needs to partner with its nonprofits, not beat on them.
Yes, the Almighty Herb needs to be brought up on criminal charges. I hope RPJ Housing sues him to with in an inch of his sorry life
His Herbness is still not taking responsibility for his actions. Everything is someone else's fault. If he really cared about RPJ and those in need, he would take responsibility for his actions.
What a sorry and sad excuse for a human being.
Agreed. Herb is still carrying on about how people stole his job and other crazy s***. This is a man who is so mixed up that doesn't know what the truth is.
Herb, just in case you read this, let me be clear: You have no one to blame but yourself. Leave RPJ alone and use what time you have left on this earth to become a decent, ethical human being. Stop the lies.
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