The Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners took decisive action Wednesday morning, voting to hire an independent law firm to investigate CEO Erik Johnson and placing him on probationary status with a final warning.
The board convened a special meeting at 8 a.m., one day after Mayor Alyia Gaskins sent a letter on behalf of City Council demanding a third-party investigation into Johnson’s residency in public housing.
During the brief public session that followed their executive session, Board Chairwoman Anitra Androh announced three key decisions made by the commissioners.
“We are hiring the law firm of Mintz Levin to conduct the investigation in accordance with the request we received from the mayor and the city council concerning the allegations concerning our CEO,” Androh said.
The board also voted to hire Strategic Links, a crisis management company, to assist during the investigation process.
Additionally, commissioners “took the affirmative vote to issue our CEO a final warning and place him on probationary status,” Androh said. “In addition to requiring him to pay true fair market rent pending this investigation.”
The board chairwoman emphasized that once the independent investigation concludes, “the report will be submitted to the board, and we will then take that under advisement and consideration for any further disciplinary actions as a result of that investigation.”
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the board said it “pledge to work expeditiously, deliberately, and fairly to learn the facts, confirm appropriate accountability measures, implement any needed reforms, and to reinforce our commitment to the highest standards of governance.”
City Council member John Taylor Chapman said in a statement he appreciates “that the board called an emergency meeting to take action. I am interested in the outcome of the investigation, the next steps and how we repair the short and long-term trust between ARHA and the community.”
The controversy began when Johnson temporarily lived in a public housing unit on Cook Street in July. The ARHA Board of Commissioners released a statement last week saying Johnson “moved into an ARHA property without required approvals or knowledge by the Board” and ordered him to “vacate the property immediately.”
In Wednesday’s statement, the board reiterated that it “had no prior knowledge of this situation” and that “Mr. Johnson was immediately directed to take all necessary steps to vacate the unit.”
In her four-page letter sent Tuesday to ARHA Board Chair Anitra Androh, Gaskins called for an independent investigation into three specific areas: Johnson’s actions, ARHA’s compliance with all applicable laws related to properties the authority owns and manages, and ARHA’s finances, including an independent financial audit.
“Mr. Johnson’s actions raise significant questions about governance and accountability at ARHA,” Gaskins wrote on behalf of City Council. “His actions also threaten to undermine public confidence in ARHA at a time when the need to ensure that all Alexandrians have access to safe and affordable housing is at an all-time high.”
Chapman initially called for an investigation into the matter, saying “We are calling for an immediate investigation into how and why the CEO of ARHA took a unit away from the public for his own use.”
In her letter, Gaskins outlined the city’s authority over ARHA, noting that while the housing authority is independent, it was established by city ordinance and the City Council has both appointment and removal authority for board members.
The City Council’s Freedom of Information Act requests seek Johnson’s employment contract, all correspondence related to employee occupancy of ARHA units, records of any modifications to Johnson’s unit, and communications between ARHA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding the matter. The letter includes multiple FOIA requests and demands responses by close of business Sept. 3.
Gaskins also posed 13 detailed questions about Johnson’s residency, including who approved it, whether he paid market rent or received subsidies, if he was income-qualified for the unit, and whether maintenance work was performed on the property.
According to HUD, it is a conflict of interest for a public housing agency director to live on a property they manage. Johnson was hired a year ago and started work in September 2024.
The special meeting was called Monday and held virtually only via Zoom, according to a public notice posted on the city’s calendar system. The session was scheduled to run until 10 a.m. but concluded at 9:34 a.m.
The meeting came after ARHA canceled its regularly scheduled board meeting that was set for Monday evening at 7 p.m.
During Wednesday’s brief public session, technical difficulties required Commissioner Kevin Harris to participate by phone after experiencing issues accessing the Zoom meeting.
The board conducted a roll call with Chairwoman Androh confirming the presence of commissioners Michelle, Kevin, and Peter, though not all board members were identified during the public portion of the meeting.
The controversy follows tenant protests last week over poor conditions and delayed repairs at ARHA properties.
The ARHA Board of Commissioners provides policy guidance and oversight of the agency’s programs, operations and activities. There are nine members: eight citizen members and one representative from the Alexandria Resident Council, who must be a resident of public or publicly assisted housing.
Current board members include Anitra Androh as chairwoman, Willie F. Bailey Sr. as vice-chairman, and commissioners Peter Kleeblatt, Christopher Ballard, Michelle Krocker, Brad Duncan, Reid Mene, Kevin Harris who serves as the Alexandria Resident Council representative, and Rizwan Chaudry.
