Carl R. Greene
Encyclopedia
Carl R. Greene was the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Housing Authority
(PHA), (March 9, 1998 to September 23, 2010) the fourth largest public housing authority in the nation. On his departure, PHA provided approximately 14,000 units of affordable housing for 80,000 Philadelphia residents and managed the city’s Housing Choice Voucher program. Before heading PHA, Greene held a similar position with the Detroit Housing Commission. He also held senior positions with housing authorities in Atlanta and Washington, DC.
Greene earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology from George Washington University. He is a Certified Property Manager with the Institute of Real Estate Management
(IREM).
Since 1998, Carl Greene and his staff at PHA managed more than $1.6 billion in redevelopment projects throughout the city. Upon his departure, PHA was administering $126.9 million in HUD stimulus funds to improve and expand affordable housing, rebuild neighborhoods, and create more than 3,000 local jobs.
New Jersey
lawyer Marcia Allen Phillips said she came to believe that she was being kept in the dark about "secret cases" involving claims of "sexual harassment and wrongful termination" against Greene. Ultimately, she did not pursue the court action". She believed that at the time she filed suit against Carl Greene and PHA, the political climate was "Carl Greene" oriented and therefore many people in high places continued to allow Mr. Greene to thrive despite his obvious inappropriate and/or illegal behavior.
In response to the above Philadelphia Inquirer article, its website cited dozens of negative comments by readers, many complaining that Mr. Greene fired them at will, depending on his mood or whim without any warnings or compensation. Many express unethical and unprofessional behavior on his part at large meetings, such as public humiliation and threats. A full article to this effect appeared on August 29, 2010
Greene has received criticism for his combative style even with government agencies. For instance, although PHA is a state authority, its funded mostly by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); during the administration of President George W. Bush
, Greene sued the HUD. U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond ruled on April 18, 2008 in Philadelphia that HUD acted legally and did not retaliate against the housing authority.
On October 16, 2008, the Philadelphia Housing Authority signed a ten year agreement with HUD. PHA said that over the next four years it would make sure 760 units of housing were upgraded to be fully accessible for people with disabilities.
filed a foreclosure action in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
, Court of Common Pleas, seeking to cure a default of $386,685 on a $400,000 mortgage for Mr. Greene's condominium and primary residence which was valued at $615,035. Such residence located in Naval Square, a Toll Brothers
condominium development on the site of the former Philadelphia Naval Asylum
.
The Philadelphia Inquirer further revealed that Greene also repaid over $52,000 in back taxes owed in 2010 to settle a lien placed against him by the Internal Revenue Service
.
Mr. Greene's budgeted compensation for his work at the Philadelphia Housing Authority for 2010, at approximately $350,000/year, was more than the designated salaries of the Governor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the mayor of Philadelphia, combined.
"Charges of sexual misconduct have shadowed Greene since his arrival in Philadelphia in 1998 from the Detroit Housing Commission. In his former job, a housing-agency auditor accused Greene of kissing, touching, and fondling her, and promising her a promotion if she "submitted to his demands." Rendell, who as mayor at the time headed PHA, hired Greene and gave him a contract that ensured his job even if he lost the Michigan case. The case brought by Gertrude Faye Johnson was settled out of court on the eve of a trial".
At PHA, at least two other cases of sexual harassment have been made against Greene. Melissa Shingles, a former senior management specialist at PHA, filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in 2004. The case was closed in 2006 after a settlement was reached between the sides.
John M. Elliott, an attorney for Elizabeth Helm, a 29-year-old employee of the authority (PHA), has charged Greene of "serial predatory sexual misconduct." Elliott alleges that Greene promised her a promotion in her capacity as an interior designer and planner at PHA, if she submitted to his sexual advances. In a letter outlining Helm's sexual-harassment complaint, Elliott wrote that Greene "insisted" that Helm meet him after work April 12, 2010 at the bar of the Prime Rib Restaurant at 1701 Locust St. to discuss PHA-related matters. Elliot calls her the "most recent victim" of Greene's pattern of sexual harassment.
Helm had worked at PHA for about a year. The night of the incident, Greene praised her work and said he was processing her promotion paperwork.
He then made advances including "touching, grabbing, and groping her,". Despite her insistence that he stop, Greene "continued to forcibly and physically pursue inappropriate and unwanted contact of an intimate nature."
Elliot states that Greene admitted to Helm that his contact was unwelcome, stating as he grabbed her, "I know that you don't want to kiss me." Helm filed a complaint April 30, and an investigation opened May 13. An out of court settlement of $250,000 was offered on August 24, 2010
On September 7, 2010 Mr. Greene filed suit against the agency's board of directors, saying its members had "effectively terminated" him without due process, asking for damages in excess of $600,000
Philadelphia Housing Authority
The Philadelphia Housing Authority is a municipal authority providing Public housing services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.It is the 4th largest housing authority in the United States and is the largest landlord in Pennsylvania.-Board of Commissioners:...
(PHA), (March 9, 1998 to September 23, 2010) the fourth largest public housing authority in the nation. On his departure, PHA provided approximately 14,000 units of affordable housing for 80,000 Philadelphia residents and managed the city’s Housing Choice Voucher program. Before heading PHA, Greene held a similar position with the Detroit Housing Commission. He also held senior positions with housing authorities in Atlanta and Washington, DC.
Greene earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology from George Washington University. He is a Certified Property Manager with the Institute of Real Estate Management
Institute of Real Estate Management
The Institute of Real Estate Management is a real estate association, founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States in 1933. As of 2007, it has a membership of over 500 corporate members and over 17,400 individual members. The organisation consists of 81 national chapters and eight international...
(IREM).
Since 1998, Carl Greene and his staff at PHA managed more than $1.6 billion in redevelopment projects throughout the city. Upon his departure, PHA was administering $126.9 million in HUD stimulus funds to improve and expand affordable housing, rebuild neighborhoods, and create more than 3,000 local jobs.
Tenure with Controversy
While Mr. Greene was working for the PHA, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported : "Greene's tenure has not been without controversy. He is widely known for being a demanding boss willing to discharge employees. He and PHA have faced at least five lawsuits from former employees, including three lawyers and a former public relations officer. In 2008, he was sued by a lawyer who said she had been fired as PHA's top attorney after five days because she would not "engage in any unethical practices."New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
lawyer Marcia Allen Phillips said she came to believe that she was being kept in the dark about "secret cases" involving claims of "sexual harassment and wrongful termination" against Greene. Ultimately, she did not pursue the court action". She believed that at the time she filed suit against Carl Greene and PHA, the political climate was "Carl Greene" oriented and therefore many people in high places continued to allow Mr. Greene to thrive despite his obvious inappropriate and/or illegal behavior.
In response to the above Philadelphia Inquirer article, its website cited dozens of negative comments by readers, many complaining that Mr. Greene fired them at will, depending on his mood or whim without any warnings or compensation. Many express unethical and unprofessional behavior on his part at large meetings, such as public humiliation and threats. A full article to this effect appeared on August 29, 2010
Greene has received criticism for his combative style even with government agencies. For instance, although PHA is a state authority, its funded mostly by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); during the administration of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, Greene sued the HUD. U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond ruled on April 18, 2008 in Philadelphia that HUD acted legally and did not retaliate against the housing authority.
On October 16, 2008, the Philadelphia Housing Authority signed a ten year agreement with HUD. PHA said that over the next four years it would make sure 760 units of housing were upgraded to be fully accessible for people with disabilities.
Foreclosure and Tax Lien Scandal
On July 27, 2010, Wells FargoWells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
filed a foreclosure action in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
The First Judicial District is the judicial body governing the county of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consists of the Court of Common Pleas, the Municipal Court, and Traffic Court for the jurisdiction of Philadelphia....
, Court of Common Pleas, seeking to cure a default of $386,685 on a $400,000 mortgage for Mr. Greene's condominium and primary residence which was valued at $615,035. Such residence located in Naval Square, a Toll Brothers
Toll Brothers
Toll Brothers is a Horsham, Pennsylvania based luxury homes builder.-Company Overview:Toll Brothers is a residential and commercial real estate development company with communities in 50 markets throughout 19 states...
condominium development on the site of the former Philadelphia Naval Asylum
Philadelphia Naval Asylum
The Philadelphia Naval Asylum, later the Naval Home, was a hospital, the Philadelphia Naval School, and a home for retired sailors for the United States Navy from 1834 to 1976, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
.
The Philadelphia Inquirer further revealed that Greene also repaid over $52,000 in back taxes owed in 2010 to settle a lien placed against him by the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
.
Mr. Greene's budgeted compensation for his work at the Philadelphia Housing Authority for 2010, at approximately $350,000/year, was more than the designated salaries of the Governor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the mayor of Philadelphia, combined.
Sexual Harassment Allegations
On August 19, 2010, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote :"Charges of sexual misconduct have shadowed Greene since his arrival in Philadelphia in 1998 from the Detroit Housing Commission. In his former job, a housing-agency auditor accused Greene of kissing, touching, and fondling her, and promising her a promotion if she "submitted to his demands." Rendell, who as mayor at the time headed PHA, hired Greene and gave him a contract that ensured his job even if he lost the Michigan case. The case brought by Gertrude Faye Johnson was settled out of court on the eve of a trial".
At PHA, at least two other cases of sexual harassment have been made against Greene. Melissa Shingles, a former senior management specialist at PHA, filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in 2004. The case was closed in 2006 after a settlement was reached between the sides.
John M. Elliott, an attorney for Elizabeth Helm, a 29-year-old employee of the authority (PHA), has charged Greene of "serial predatory sexual misconduct." Elliott alleges that Greene promised her a promotion in her capacity as an interior designer and planner at PHA, if she submitted to his sexual advances. In a letter outlining Helm's sexual-harassment complaint, Elliott wrote that Greene "insisted" that Helm meet him after work April 12, 2010 at the bar of the Prime Rib Restaurant at 1701 Locust St. to discuss PHA-related matters. Elliot calls her the "most recent victim" of Greene's pattern of sexual harassment.
Helm had worked at PHA for about a year. The night of the incident, Greene praised her work and said he was processing her promotion paperwork.
He then made advances including "touching, grabbing, and groping her,". Despite her insistence that he stop, Greene "continued to forcibly and physically pursue inappropriate and unwanted contact of an intimate nature."
Elliot states that Greene admitted to Helm that his contact was unwelcome, stating as he grabbed her, "I know that you don't want to kiss me." Helm filed a complaint April 30, and an investigation opened May 13. An out of court settlement of $250,000 was offered on August 24, 2010
Suspension and Suit
On August 25, 2010 the PHA board suspended Mr. Greene for 30 days, after receiving a subpoena for documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office working with the FBI. The PHA said it would proceed with its own investigation into the latest sexual harassment claim (and the first three, claiming it had never been notified of their existence -due to technicalities in the settlements- which to its surprise exceeded $650000). HUD launched its own probe as well.On September 7, 2010 Mr. Greene filed suit against the agency's board of directors, saying its members had "effectively terminated" him without due process, asking for damages in excess of $600,000
External links
- Philadelphia Housing Authority
- "The Effect of the Stimulus Package," ABC World News, December 3, 2009.
- "PHA celebrates progress and good will on housing" Philadelphia Inquirer, November 25, 2009.
- "PHA gets $22M more in federal aid," Philadelphia Inquirer, September 26, 2009.
- "PHA gets $13.9M more in federal help," Philadelphia Inquirer, September 22, 2009.