Ex-Priest Wins Job as Redevelopment Chief

Former priest and one-time federal housing official John Tuite was appointed Wednesday to head the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency following a seven-month nationwide search for a successor to former chief Edward Helfeld.

Tuite, 53, won unanimous approval from the CRA board of directors and will begin a two-year contract at $120,000 a year on Friday. Under terms of the contract, Tuite and the CRA board will develop “performance objectives” which he must begin meeting within 18 months.

In brief comments shortly after his appointment, Tuite (pronounced “too-it”) said he considers his job one of “bridging gaps” between the various government agencies that play a role in the development of the city. He also stressed the importance of building coalitions to solve problems facing the region such as homelessness and lack of affordable housing.

“There are no ‘hot dogs’ left in this business,” said Tuite in explaining his management style. “You don’t do it on your own. Nobody does it as a loner. You do it with teams and by putting together and melding teams and trying to get them the motivational thrust.”

Tuite, originally from Chicago, was a community activist as a Catholic priest in that city from 1958 to 1964. He said Wednesday that for “personal reasons” he gave up the priesthood, but has continued over the years to work with religious organizations.

A private consultant since 1983, Tuite served under five different Presidents, starting during the Johnson Administration in 1968 with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD eventually moved him to Los Angeles as director of the Los Angeles area office. HUD planned to transfer him to New Orleans in 1983, but instead of accepting the transfer, he went into private consulting work, representing a number of developers.

CRA Chairman Jim Wood, who has known Tuite for a number of years, said the successor to Helfeld was selected from a field of about 100 candidates. Helfeld, who had headed the redevelopment agency for 10 years, left the post last December after he and the CRA board could not agree on a new contract.

Helfeld is now president of a real estate development subsidiary of Kaufman & Broad.