CHA Chief Resigns Amid Credit Card Controversy
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Housing Authority chief executive officer Lewis Jordan has submitted his resignation, in the wake of questions about his use of a government credit card.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bob Conway reports, Jordan submitted his resignation Tuesday. It will be effective at the end of the month.
Questions have mounted in recent weeks about Jordan's use of CHA credit cards, which he said in a statement have overshadowed the work of the agency, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
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He wrote in his resignation letter that the issue has been an impediment to his ability to steer a $1 billion organization, but added that his credit card use was consistent with CHA and federal policies, the Sun-Times reported.
Last week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel revoked city credit cards, after reports about officials in various agencies abusing them.
He also hired a firm to review the way the cards have been used for the past two years.
The mayor said he would wait for the results of the review, but he says the message to his department heads is that the culture of accountability is here.
Jordan was appointed by retired Mayor Richard M. Daley in December 2007. He had previously served as director for the Housing Authority of Cook County and executive director for the Rockford Housing Authority.
He is also a former resident of CHA housing, having lived in the Rockwell Gardens development until the age of 2.
