Still here at Naabik’iyati Committe, which finally started at 11:20 am, when they were scheduled to start at 10 am. Naabi is still on hearing REPORTS and the latest report on Navajo Housing Authority and the federal government’s directive to NHA that it would lose about $96 million in federal housing funds because NHA had not spent it.
NAVAJO WASHINGTON, DC, OFFICE
NHA filed appeal on Monday, met deadline, so HUD has 30 days to respond.
DELEGATE WALTER PHLEPS
i understand Ms. Pratt wud be traveling to Window Rock and so I’m asking for report/briefing from her to Council on Aug. 11.
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
In your response, advice to Speaker Pro Temp Bates, you said it would not be wise for Delegates to travel to Washington to talk with legislators regarding NHA. But I feel that we as citizens, grassroot citizens, have rights to appeal to legislators. Here in Council, even though we have various legislation, we still keep ears up to constituency. ARe u still of opinion that we have right to advocate for ourselves.
NAVAJO DC OFFICE DIRECTOR CLARA PRATT
my recommendation was for Delegates not to advocate for administrative process regarding NHA and Delegates wanted to meet with new confirmed HUD Director but he would have been unavailable because his confirmation is not official and so he would not have been in DC.
NHA
i have copy of letter. NHA CEO Aneva Yazzie is not here because she’s in Denver at federal housing negotiating meeting. but I’m here to provide update on HUD administrative hearing regarding HUD’s directive to NHA that it would be blocking NHA from drawing down federal housing funds from prior year funding because NHA did not spend those funds.
DELEGATE LEONARD TSOSIE
iF WE LOSE, we lose $96 million in precious housing dollars.
VOTE ON NHA REPORT, 10 IN FAVOR, 4 OPPOSED
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
for NHA CEO Aneva Yazzie and private attorney Patterson Joe to attend these federal housing negotiating meetings is wrong because the ones that are to be negotiating are to be tribally elected officials.
DELEGATE RUSSELL BEGAYE
the last info i received regarding reversion of federal housing funds from NHA was meeting in Phoenix and then threat of lawsuit, and now we have this appeal letter. Where are we? and there was request for Delegates to go to DC and that was cancelled. We need update.
CHAIRPERSON PRO TEMP BATES
when we had the discussion about your concerns, you were absent and so I’ll have staff provide you report.
DELEGATE EDMUND YAZZIE
i also share frustration over how tribe is being represented at DC. My concern is about the proposed allocation of Fort Wingate land.
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
i understand Delegate Edmund Yazzie’s frustration. I know you are trying to move us along through our agenda but we feel there is no closure on our discussions regarding the tribal DC office and how they are representing us. We feel you are “cold-hearted.”
CHAIRPERSON PRO TEMP BATES
Delegate Edmund Yazzie’s concerns have been written down and I need to step back to review and it also takes coordination to address Delegate Edmund Yazzie’s concerns. I’ll talk with DC office tomorrow morning and express concerns and then we’ll proceed on coordinating all of this. That is best answer I can give without committing us to anything. And then I’ll issue memo.
DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
But I wud like to remind DC office, they work for us. Their letter made it appear that we were working for them.
