Cummings and Jeffries Question HUD on Report of Potential Sale of Starrett City

Cummings and Jeffries Question HUD on Report of Potential Sale of Starrett City

Washington, DC (Sept. 8, 2017) – (RealEstateRama) — Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) issued the following statement in response to a report in the New York Times that the owners of the nation’s largest government-subsidized residential property, Starrett City, may be selling the development in a deal that could personally benefit President Trump:

“We warned months ago that President Trump and his family could receive a multi-million dollar windfall if officials in his Administration—who ultimately report to him—approve the sale of Starrett City, so we are deeply concerned by this new report that a secret deal may be in the works.  Both the Obama and George W. Bush Administrations opposed previous efforts to sell the property because the parties refused to guarantee that families who rent there would be protected, so we need to understand what actions the Trump Administration has taken—or is about to take.  Although the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has produced some documents in response to our request, information related to this proposed sale has not been provided.  We will again push for clarification concerning how President Trump would profit from this potential sale and how affordable housing for thousands of working class families will be protected.”

Ranking Member Cummings and Rep. Jeffries sent a letter on July 7, 2017, to HUD and the President’s trustees requesting documents relating to President Trump’s apparent conflicts of interest arising from his ownership stake in Starrett City.