Public housing chief lashes out at Mayor Stimpson

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile Housing Authority CEO Michael Pierce lashed out at Mayor Sandy Stimpson and others in a seven-page letter to the agency’s board.

Pierce told FOX10 News that this has been brewing for about four and a half years — about six months after he took the job.

He said it stems from the Stimpson administration’s desire to build new affordable housing on land owned by the Mobile Housing Authority.

Pierce said some city leaders have disparaged him publicly.

He said he supports the idea but adds that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rules make it impossible to using housing authority land for that purpose.

“Now that this is out in the public domain, the public is gonna be looking for something to happen. And if this doesn’t happen, we’re right where I thought we would be. We’re the reason why it didn’t happen. So, we’ll be scapegoated for why they don’t reach their goal. But the goal was never practical in the first place,” Pierce said.

Stimpson said he was surprised to see Pierce’s letter. He said the city continues to push for more affordable housing. But he stated it’s not his intention to undermine the housing authority.

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