Housing Secretary Ben Carson A No-Show For Chicago Press Conference

Affordable Housing advocates
Chuck Sudo/Bisnow
Affordable Housing Advocates Showed Up At A Bronzeville Cha Office Jan. 8, 2018, To Protest Hud Secretary Ben Carson's Chicago Visit And Demand Full Funding For Hud.

Housing Secretary Ben Carson was in Chicago Monday to attend a policy round-table discussion with local housing leaders on ways to foster economic development. But Carson skipped out of a previously announced press conference in Bronzeville after the round-table, and HUD spokespeople have not responded to Bisnow's requests for comment as to why.

Carson's Chicago visit came days after the Trump administration announced it would delay enforcement of an Obama-era federal housing rule requiring communities to address patterns of racial housing segregation. A group of 12 protesters from affordable housing advocate groups Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance and ONE Northside, were on hand to protest Carson's visit and demand full funding for HUD, but Carson left HUD's Section 3 Bronzeville field office 15 minutes before the announced presser was to begin.

Helping people develop the skills they need to compete in today’s workforce can change lives for the better across the nation. Today I’m talking about #Section3 and other policies that can foster economic development. pic.twitter.com/ZTUWtDhIiy

— Ben Carson (@SecretaryCarson) January 8, 2018

Protesters also appeared at Carson's first meeting at the Metcalfe Federal Building, where he met with the staff of HUD's Midwest regional office. So far, HUD has not made available any transcripts from either meeting.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Chicago Newsletters
Related Stories

After Departing Trump Admin, HUD's Former Philly Head Joins Local Planning Commission

108-Acre Hawthorne Race Course Buyer Could Put Data Center On Site

To Rein In Costs, Philly Affordable Housing Players Look To Become 'Less Reliant On Consultants'

Oak Brook Investor Scoops Up Suburban Multifamily Community: The Chicago Deal Sheet

EXCLUSIVE: Opal Holdings' Former 700K SF Suburban Chicago Office Campus Hits The Market

Big-Box Deals Push Chicago Industrial Leasing Into National Top 3

Bally's Debt Obligations Raise Doubts Over Casino Operator's Future

With Illinois' Senior Population Set To Grow By 40%, Developers Are Facing A Financing Puzzle

REPORT: JLL In Talks To Relocate Global Headquarters

Illinois' Record Storm Season May Be Changing The Risk Equation For CRE

SoFlo Homebuilders Prepare For Smaller, Pricier Market As Buyer Pool Shrinks

Venture One Real Estate Lands 132K SF Portfolio: The Chicago Deal Sheet