GALVESTON, TX  – The following is a public statement from Mayor Lewis Rosen in regard to the rebuilding of public housing following Hurricane Ike.

“Representatives of the City of Galveston and the Galveston Housing Authority (GHA) had met previously with Secretary Shaun Donovan and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) officials in Washington, D.C. concerning public housing.  I requested a joint meeting between HUD, the General Land Office (GLO), and the advocates to come to an agreement on the replacement of the 569 units.

Representatives of the City and Galveston Housing Authority then asked Jerry Patterson and the GLO to join the city in seeking a declaratory judgment in Federal Court to resolve the public housing issues. This request was denied.

The City and GHA representatives made repeated requests to the GLO for a joint meeting with the advocates. On Wednesday, September 12, 2012, a conference call was scheduled with the GLO and the advocates, but the advocates failed to participate. During the conference call, the GLO instructed me, as the Mayor, to contact the advocates directly. The City and the Galveston Housing Authority are contacting the advocates.”

The GLO and advocates’ September 10, 2012, proposal, as well as the City’s response, will be posted on the City’s website at www.cityofgalveston.org.