Smith Quits L.A. Housing Agency Helm

Homer Smith, the executive director of the Los Angeles City Housing Authority, resigned late Friday, ending a long controversy over his leadership of the agency, which provides shelter for the city’s poor.

In return for his early retirement, he will receive $103,805.84 under an agreement he negotiated with the city.

Smith, who was appointed to the authority’s top post in 1979, after working his way up from a housing patrolman’s job he assumed 27 years ago, said in an interview that his departure will “give the agency a fresh start.”

During the last five years, Smith has come under repeated fire from his own employees, outside consultants and city officials for bad contracting practices, wasteful spending and dictatorial personnel moves within the agency, which has a $175-million budget.

Over Smith’s strenuous objections, the City Council approved a sweeping management overhaul of the Housing Authority in June that drastically reduced his power, requiring him to follow strict budgetary practices and preventing him from summarily firing many top aides, as he had done in the past.

Smith, 53, said his job has recently become “increasingly difficult.”

“I’m tired. I need a rest,” he said, disclosing that he has no plans for future employment.

Smith’s contract as executive director was not due to expire until January, 1987. His resignation is effective Jan. 17, 1986, but he will leave immediately on a long vacation.

Smith said he conferred with Mayor Tom Bradley, his longtime friend and steadfast supporter, before making his decision. The mayor “said he would like for me to stay on,” Smith recalled.

Bradley was not available for comment Friday. But Deputy Mayor Grace Davis said of Smith’s resignation, “I’m sorry it had to happen this way.”

Davis said she has been aggravated by the Housing Authority’s failure to quickly implement the manage

ment reforms approved in June by the City Council and Bradley.

Smith tendered his resignation from his $79,000-a-year post to the agency’s Board of Housing Commissioners, which accepted it unanimously and without discussion.

The board had asked him to stay on, Smith said. But commission President Alvin Greene said in an interview that he had not asked Smith to remain on the job.

Greene called Smith’s resignation “in the best interest of the Housing Authority.”

“The commission probably collectively feels that a very fresh outlook would be beneficial.”

The board will soon launch a nationwide search for a new executive director, Greene said. In the meantime, the commission will run the agency on a daily basis, with the help of a five-member committee of senior Housing Authority managers. The head of the committee will be Finance Director Robert Zampino, who looked stunned when Greene appointed him to the new post.

Smith’s veteran top aide, Ida Arestad, was not included as a member of the committee. The commission has sparred with Smith over what role Arestad should play in the agency. Recently, the board ordered Smith to demote her, and he refused. Smith said that he does not know if Arestad will remain with the agency after he leaves.

Greene said he does not know precisely why Smith resigned but said he thinks Smith is tired.

‘Like a Horror Story’

“He may feel that he’s gotten some bad press over the years that’s been detrimental to him,” Greene said, adding that the press clippings written about Smith, dating to 1982, read “like a horror story.”

After reports by The Times of mismanagement in 1982, Bradley ordered the commission then overseeing Smith to launch an investigation. The commission hired a Washington law firm, which issued a long report in 1983, citing a series of problems and recommending reforms.

The commission refused to implement the recommendations of the report. Bradley subsequently disbanded the commission, over the angry protests of the members, who threatened to sue to keep their posts.

The City Council then took charge of the Housing Authority and, after ordering a series of management reforms in June, handed control of the agency back to a newly constituted commission of citizens appointed by the mayor.