Gov. Patrick Announces Plan to Consolidate Housing Authorities

In an announcement causing shock waves today throughout the tight-knit community of housing authority commissioners and directors, Governor Patrick is proposing a major reorganization of public housing authorities in Massachusetts, centralizing the administration of public housing units into six regional agencies, replacing the 240 local authorities in cities and towns across the state. 

The Boston Globe reports that the state chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, which represents professional housing authority directors, is opposed to this plan.  The proposal requires legislative changes, and the Governor has a mountain to climb to muster support in the notoriously political and patronage-protecting General Court.