Letters: To restore the Philadelphia Housing Authority's honor, just call Sister Mary Scullion

IT MAY NOT be premature to sense that Carl Greene's tenure at Philadelphia Housing Authority is about to end. Rather than focusing on how PHA got here and debating whether Mr. Greene's pluses outweigh his minuses, we suggest that the focus be on the future - on reforming the organization and restoring the trust of the citizens PHA serves, and the taxpayers who fund it.

The next executive director ought to be ready to hit the ground running. That person has to build on PHA's successes and repair the citizens' confidence in the agency - and ought not to be seen as a "Nutter pick" or a "Street-pick," as some have suggested.

As former regional directors for HUD overseeing six states, we were based in Philadelphia. Allow us to suggest the best candidate, someone of supreme competence, endless compassion and unquestioned integrity.

If the city and PHA board want a serious, capable leader, they need look no farther than less than a mile from City Hall: Sister Mary Scullion.

As executives who've worked in this area and in other areas of business and government, we can assure you that no headhunter or search committee would be able to find anyone so experienced and skilled in housing, business, compassion - and local government.

She would restore integrity and bring know-how to serve thousands of citizens and protect taxpayer dollars, too. Rarely is the choice so obvious, and so close to home. "Calling Sister Mary. . ."

John G. Bravacos

Regional Director, HUD (2007-09)

Guy Ciarrocchi

Regional Director, HUD (2005-06)

WHY IS IT that Philadelphia just seems to invite crisis after crisis, the latest being the Philadelphia Housing Authority and its executive director, Carl Greene?

Who's fault is the latest fiasco - Mr. Greene's or the so-called board overseeing the PHA? Since obviously the PHA board has been totally asleep at the switch for the last 12 years with virtually no oversight, I would say it's the board's fault. And I'm quite sure most people would agree.

Mr. Greene has suggested that the media is trying to throw him under the bus. Might I suggest to Mr. Green that he resign his position immediately and get on that bus before it runs over him since the damage to his legacy is already done due to his own actions.

Oh, and while I'm at it, might it not also be a good idea to replace the entire PHA board with some independent members who are not so beholden to Mr. Greene for whatever reason: Street, Blackwell, Reynolds, Brady, Eiding.

Can this five-member board be objective with Mr. Greene's fate?

Really, now, do ya think?

Gerald Jackson, Philadelphia

Carl Greene should have been stopped from the beginning - nobody should have that much power to treat employees the way he did.

Mr. Greene and all those in concert with him should be fired. I don't care how many degrees you have, you have no right to treat people the way he did. Wake up, workforce, and report this behavior right away.

Gregory Betancourt

Retired Correctional Officer

Philadelphia