Obama Names Shaun Donovan To Head HUD

(AP)  President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday named New York City housing commissioner Shaun Donovan to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, turning to a former Clinton administration aide with a national reputation for developing affordable housing.

Obama praised Donovan's record at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where he managed a $7.5 billion plan with a goal of putting a half-million New Yorkers in affordable housing. The Harvard-educated architect also kept foreclosures to a minimum in the city's low- and moderate-income home ownership plan, with just five out of 17,000 participating homes.

"We can't keep throwing money at the problem, hoping for a different result," Obama said during his radio address released early Saturday. "We need to approach the old challenge of affordable housing with new energy, new ideas, and a new, efficient style of leadership. We need to understand that the old ways of looking at our cities just won't do."

While the mortgage crisis has threatened cities, Obama said it also provides a chance to rethink how the Cabinet agency can help urban residents. He said Donovan, who also has a degree in public service from Harvard, will bring "fresh thinking unencumbered by old ideology and outdated ideas."

Obama's selection of Donovan marks the 11th post he has filled in his cabinet, in just over a month since his election as the nation's first African American president. Still to come are announcements of his selections to head the Central Intelligence Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the departments of energy, education, interior, labor, transportation and agriculture.

Donovan's appointment was something of a surprise. Most speculation has centered around Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin or Bronx borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr.

HUD often has been led by someone who is a minority. Latino groups were pushing heavily for Diaz, following in the footsteps of Clinton appointee Henry Cisneros of San Antonio, Texas. Bush picked Mel Martinez of Florida, a Hispanic, and Alphonso Jackson of Texas, an African American.

Even the rollout of the selection - announced at 6 a.m. Saturday via e-mail and later in Obama's Saturday radio address - broke with how Obama has announced previous Cabinet positions. For his other appointees, Obama invited reporters to a news conference, along with the nominee, and took questions.

Obama's last news conference on Thursday, to introduce former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as his pick for Health and Human Services, was dominated by questions about the corruption scandal swirling around Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of putting Obama's Senate seat up for sale. Obama has said he's confident none of his aides were involved in any of the alleged deals.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg named Donovan, a New York native, to head the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development in 2004. He has been the point person for implementing Bloomberg's plan to build and preserve 165,000 affordable housing units for 500,000 people by 2013. It is the largest housing plan in the nation.

Donovan took a leave-of-absence as New York's housing commissioner to campaign for Obama.

Before working for Bloomberg, he worked at Prudential Mortgage Capital Company. And before that, he was deputy assistant secretary for multifamily housing at HUD during the Clinton administration. In that role he was the government's chief administrator for managing privately owned, government-subsidized housing. The housing subsidy programs provided over $9 billion annually to 1.7 million families. He also oversaw some 30,000 multifamily properties with more than 2 million housing units.

Donovan, 42, has a reputation for finding new ways to create and preserve affordable housing. As New York's housing commissioner, he spearheaded the creation of the $200 million New York Acquisition Fund, a collaboration between the city, foundations and financial institutions. It is intended to help small developers and nonprofit groups compete for land in the private market.

He was acting commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration during the transition from Clinton to President George W. Bush.
By Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott

[nearl4511]

Yes and as long as we are getting back from those on "the dole", let''s also get something back from those companies that seem to be always on the Govt dole as well....especially those that seek Govt. favor and contracts, but refuse to pay taxes.

See really shortsighted comments posted directly below.

[Dwaraka36]

I would like to suggest to Commissioner Shaun Donovan, the HUD Secretary designate a way to get something back from those who benefit from the government programs. When a person or family is given some benefit such as subsidized housing or a cheaper loan, they should give back some time to the community. This give back can be worked out as a coupon for so many hours of service of a particular level for every $100 of benefit. Government getting coupons!. The Government then gives those coupons to some other agency, department or organization to use in a suitable program. For example, the coupons may be used to provide child minding centers in those communities or to prepare and serve food at city or rural shelters. Young people may mow the lawns and raise gardens in the housing developments. If service coupons are received by government for social welfare payments, the services can be used in other projects. The program will enhance the recipients%u2019 self-esteem. The Secretary Designate%u2019s think-tank can frame a program.

[stevex47]

Wow, this sounds like another good pick by Obama.

He may end up saving us millions in foreclosures and other costs to society.

Every pick he''s made so far are very well thought out.

[terrorislame]

DEMOCRATS WILL FIX THE USA ONCE AGAIN !!!!
The GOP Sect Ran the USA into THE RED " BIG TIME "
BUT,ONCE AGAIN,....The Knights In Shining Armor WILL FIX the USA !!!!

How can You MORONS EVER Vote for These RepubliCONS ?

As my Very Wise Old Friend Harold used to say "Let this be a lesson to You ! ",...He grew up during the First Depression ",..and died a wealthy man,because he was Very Frugal !
And he did not have Republican bone in his body !

[likeitis5050]

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN..THE SKIES ARE BLUE AND CLEAR AGAIN...BILL IS BACK!!! How clever of him to wrap it all up in a tall drink of water called Obama...Bill!...it''s going to be a roller coaster ride, which is your style, but shoot...how much fun are we all going to have with you back at the reins!!! And lucky for Obama to be able to dump any mishaps at your feet so as not to soil the ''first black president'' thing too much. Win-win!!

[wardoglrs]

So that%u2019s who Obama has appointed so far. With the exception of the last two, Holder and Jones, we have a cabinet just as dishonest as any that has preceded it. This is not the change voters wanted. We have warmongers in Gates and Albright, a financial saboteur in Summers, a power hungry Treasury Secretary, public deception with Napolitano and Richardson, and Clinton will say anything to appease the person with whom she%u2019s talking. If this isn%u2019t more of the same, then I don%u2019t know what is.

[perk235]

Then you should thank the Republican House and Senate, because before the Republicans took over Clinton said deficits were in the future as far as you could see.
Posted by d7767w at 03:36 PM : Dec 13, 2008
----------
Interesting that although Bush may not talk about the deficit, it''s the largest ever under him. Of course Bush wouldn''t even use the Recession when we are facing Great Depression II.

But then again he didn''t seem to understand Category V, either.

[be_real]

Obama made another wise and wonderful choice. We gonna turn Alabama and Tennesse back into what they do best. Pig Farms. They can have natural Pork and we can save from sending them twice as much in pork barrel as we recieve from tax reciepts. The HUD job will be a tough one turning those plantations back into homes and farms for decent folk.


Posted by sockpuppet4 at 02:11 PM : Dec 13, 2008




LOL.............

[debinok1]

Here is the link to the 34 state constitution stuff,

http://www.americanpolicy.org/default.htm

I am not 100% sure this is really all its cracked up to be, but there is the info.

[irmcvet971]

OH and he was a member of the Clinton administration.

You Obama voters got suckered. We not pulling out of Irag and it''''s the Clinton''''s all over again..

Posted by mbskoczen at 12:00 PM : Dec 13, 2008

Where the HELLL would you suggest he get QUALIFIED and EXPERIENCED PEOPLE!! From the Administration PRIOR to the VERY successful one of Clinton?! I don''t know about you but I sure trust someone who helped guide us through THOSE eight years than I would someone who helped guide us through the Bush Administration... EITHER of them. Do you people EVER just look at anyone who doesn''t agree with the "Party" as just and AMERICAN?