Free Republic

More than 60 current and former NYCHA workers have been busted in a bribe-and-extortion scheme that authorities say involves the largest number of federal bribery charges in a single day in Department of Justice history. The suspects — accused of accepting cash payments from contractors in exchange for lucrative New York City Housing Authority contracts — were hauled off in handcuffs in a widespread raid Tuesday morning, according to the Southern District of New York. The charges may be linked to “micro-purchase” projects, or contracts for smaller repairs and other construction at city housing developments, sources told The Post. As...

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Friday took the extraordinary step of firing his embattled investigations commissioner, Mark G. Peters, the culmination of a fierce rivalry between the two powerful men. It was a rare and consequential action by a mayor to remove an investigations commissioner: The position is understood to come with a large degree of independence that allows impartial scrutiny of all areas of government, including the executive branch.

BOULDER, Colo.- A Colorado housing authority is backing off plans for new nudity regulations prompted by complaints about a pair of local nudists. Boulder Housing Partners officials said they are backing off plans for new rules for the northern Foothills Community, where neighbors complained about Catharine Pierce, 52, gardening outside of the home she shares with her husband and fellow nudist Robert while wearing nothing but thong underwear, the Boulder Daily Camera reported Thursday. The housing authority previously indicated it would include a ban on public display of female breasts after complaints about Pierce. However, officials said they are dropping...

Thousands of residents of subsidized housing in New Jersey got a last-minute Christmas gift this week, after federal officials agreed to a complex arrangement that advances 21 housing authorities $80 million to renovate old buildings.The authorities will repay the money over 20 years, using 30 percent of their annual appropriation for capital maintenance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. And they benefited from a joint borrowing operation overseen by the state."It's a good news story for housing authorities for once," said David Gardner, executive director of the Morristown Housing Authority, which helped organize the borrowing effort through...