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[source: NativeNews; Mon, 24 Jan 2000 17:47:54]

Cuomo fails to deliver HUD promise
By Mark Anthony Rolo
Today staff
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last year when Housing and Urban Secretary Andrew M. Cuomo visited Pine Ridge and toured some of the worst
housing conditions in Indian country, he vowed to build 300 new mortgage-based homes. But in the months that have followed, the
tribe has only seen 22 homes built.

And of those new homes, most remain empty because many tribal members do not have the credit to secure a mortgage. It has become
clear at Pine Ridge that most of the promised 300 HUD homes are not going to be realized any time soon.

The Cuomo promise, which at the time was criticized as being unrealistic, has become a lightning rod of how federal bureaucrats
exploit Indian issues for political gain. Cuomo's decision to go to Pine Ridge and vow to build homes was viewed by many tribal leaders and
HUD officials as an opportunity for the Democrat from New York state to show off Pine Ridge's "picture perfect" example of a segment of
American society living in destitution to prime a possible run for political office back home.

Cuomo was cautioned about raising the hopes of one of the nation's most impoverished communities. "People were disappointed," said
Floyd Brings Plenty, who is a tribal council representative from the Oglala District. "Even people who had jobs couldn't qualify for
financing."

At Pine Ridge, unemployment reaches upward of 80 per cent. For those members who have jobs the average annual income is only
$2,600. Most tribal residents live below the poverty line. Some homes have no water or sewage system. In many cases, the structures are
poor and in dire need of repairs. And too many homes are overcrowded.

Paul Iron Cloud, who heads up Pine Ridge's housing department, refused to comment.

Last month Iron Cloud told the Washington Times that "Overall, the program has begun and I am hopeful it will continue." But, he said,
the reservation has little of the necessary infrastructure to support the project.

The lack of foresight concerning the dire economic conditions at Pine Ridge has tainted the Cuomo housing promise as just another
bureaucratic gesture that is both grandiose and hollow. It fueled the perception that Cuomo is using his leadership at HUD to put himself
in a political position to run for a senate seat or governor of New York. "I think he (Cuomo) was doing that. But with any politician you run into
problems with them actually understanding the true picture that exists in Indian country -- like dilapidated housing," said Chester Carl, director
of the Navajo Housing Authority.

But a deputy assistant, Jackie Johnson, the highest ranking Indian at HUD, staunchly defends Cuomo's leadership and his motivation. She
stands by his promise to build those 300 homes at Pine Ridge. While some at HUD questioned Cuomo's decision to announce the ambitious
housing development plan, Johnson stood by him.

"I was supportive. I had the same concerns like, is it really going to happen?'" Johnson said. "There's a lot of challenges out there, and
we talked about it very frankly."

Furthermore, Johnson dismisses the notion that Cuomo would ever use poor Indian housing issues for political gain. "He works close with
me. He has a personal interest in Indian issues. It was not at all politicizing," she said. "It does not buy him any weight. What political
gain does he get out of this?"

Cuomo remained silent on the accusations and was unavailable for comment.

But questions about whether or not he is politicizing the housing plight at Pine Ridge are of little concern to some at the reservation. Brings
Plenty said many of the new houses promised were to built in the Oglala District, site of last year's devastating tornado. The promise of
new homes raised hopes of tribal members. "They were excited, almost ecstatic."

But now, Brings Plenty said, spirits are low among many because the realities of qualifying for a mortgage have come into play. In addition
to educating tribal members about what it takes to secure a mortgage, Brings Plenty said HUD needs to recognize that current mortgage plans
are out of reach for most Indians.

A miscalculation about the financial woes of tribal members at Pine Ridge seems to be the biggest obstacle standing in the way of
Cuomo's housing plan going forward. Addressing problems of financing is where HUD has been focusing its energy in order to keep the 300
homes promise alive.

"We're still very much involved. We're letting people know that we have not gone away," Jackie Johnson said. "We are looking for ways to
make homes more affordable and sustainable -- creating mortgage products that will work with the credit issues, but certainly they are
challenging."

But Johnson is quick to point out that even building 22 homes is a major success for any reservation. In the past, Pine Ridge could only
build two or three homes a year. In addition, Johnson said this housing effort is unique in that it is mortgage-based. It is not
traditional subsidized HUD housing.

It is difficult to gauge the Cuomo agenda when it concerns Indian housing. Johnson said Cuomo is sincerely concerned about Pine
Ridge's housing situation, and the media splash that surrounded his pledge to build 300 homes was only about Cuomo wanting the
rest of the country to see what he was seeing.
---
©2000 Indian Country Today

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