There was a lot of head scratching when President Trump decided that Dr. Ben Carson, a pediatric neurosurgeon, would be just the person to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Rep. Nancy Pelosi released a statement calling Carson “disturbingly unqualified.”)
Carson got off to a rough start when he referred to slaves as immigrants in a speech to his new staff, but today he got down to business, touring Eureka Gardens with Sen. Marco Rubio. The subsidized housing complex in Jacksonville, Fla., had managed to maintain its HUD contract despite failing multiple inspections.
Eureka Gardens Apartments scored 59 on last inspection. HUD Secretsry Carson Sen. Rubio will tour complex today. #GMJ
— Alex Osiadacz (@AlexOsiadacz) April 11, 2017
Fixing Eureka Gardens has been a priority of Rubio’s for a while now; during testimony last fall, Rubio fingered HUD for enabling slumlords.
FL. Sens Rubio and Nelson finish testimony. @senmarcorubio says "slumlords caused the problems but HUD enabled it." pic.twitter.com/8onOOzey35
— George Colli (@GeorgeColli) September 22, 2016
Tuesday’s tour with Carson seemed to go well.
Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Al Lawson talk HUD reform in Jacksonville https://t.co/oKzOYMX9hP #FlaPol #jaxpol via @aggancarski pic.twitter.com/xkZWg8pQpb
— Florida Politics (@Fla_Pol) April 11, 2017
Joined Senator @marcorubio and @RepAlLawsonJr today to tour Eureka Gardens and discuss the future of the complex with residents.
— Ben Carson (@SecretaryCarson) April 11, 2017
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Making progress at #EurekaGardens All the credit goes to the residents & the local media that highlighted the terrible conditions https://t.co/EW2NqiA8yC
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 11, 2017
Congratulations Senator, we see a lot of accomplishments going your way! Thank you for being a loud voice for Floridians and all Americans!
— Jackie?I (@jackie_Ion) April 11, 2017
Keep fighting Senator! A lot of the credit goes to YOU for spotlighting this issue. Don't underestimate the power of your voice.??
— SueS (@sues711) April 11, 2017
So glad to hear HUD reform is happening.
— Jeremy Grimes (@imJeremyGrimes) April 11, 2017
Welcome to @CityofJax! @SecretaryCarson discusses the importance of working across silos with hundreds of @HUDSoutheast @HUDgov employees. pic.twitter.com/YuMDyPRcSl
— Lynne Patton (HUD) (@LynnePattonHUD) April 11, 2017
Carson had some intriguing things to contribute Tuesday, including the idea of housing savings accounts that would allow residents to save toward a down payment on their own home, as well as “vision centers” to provide career guidance to young people.
Carson: "which ethnic group has the highest per capita income?" …. Rubio: "rich people" #FlaPol pic.twitter.com/zCpwAwrouX
— AG GANCARSKI (@AGGancarski) April 11, 2017
Carson promoting vouchers, ownership – including housing savings accounts, which allows HUD residents to save for down payments for houses
— AG GANCARSKI (@AGGancarski) April 11, 2017
Low income tax credits a part of the Trump plan. HUD Sec Carson says "significant part" of Trump infrastructure ask will be for housing
— AG GANCARSKI (@AGGancarski) April 11, 2017
Carson proposing "vision centers" to help give kids in HUD complexes career guidance
— AG GANCARSKI (@AGGancarski) April 11, 2017
Large DC group at Eureka Gardens. @RepAlLawsonJr @marcorubio @SecretaryCarson plus Sheriff Williams, Councilman Dennis and others. @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/0620y0Jg4H
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialFox4) April 11, 2017
HUD @SecretaryCarson looking at the living conditions. He's with @marcorubio @RepAlLawsonJr @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/ma5Pe49Yq0
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialFox4) April 11, 2017
Amazing tour of #EurekaGardens' new redevelopment plan by #MilleniaMgmt w/@SecretaryCarson @marcorubio @RepAlLawsonJr & #PastorGriffin. pic.twitter.com/LgvYIBXAfJ
— Lynne Patton (HUD) (@LynnePattonHUD) April 11, 2017
HUD @SecretaryCarson visited Eureka Gardens. This property has failed multiple inspections for poor living conditions. @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/DbMp7pKUHS
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialFox4) April 11, 2017
The owner of Eureka Gardens is appealing a recently failed inspection. They also say they have always appealed failures and passed after. https://t.co/kwAWJ5oYsc
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialFox4) April 11, 2017
Despite talk about “people being thrown out on the streets,” Ben Carson says that’s “not gonna happen.” https://t.co/HKKNAP2Lh3
— Florida Times-Union (@jaxdotcom) April 11, 2017
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Related:
Nancy Pelosi, other lefties slam choice of Ben Carson for HUD secretary (but THIS much is certain) https://t.co/9xXTiSbZuv
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 5, 2016
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