More Alphonso Jackson news -- and this time, it involves allegations that the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department Secretary retaliated against the Philadelphia Housing Authority for failing to give a buddy of Jackson's a $2-million piece of property way below market value. And it's a sexy suit too -- because that buddy just happens to be one Kenny Gamble, half of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame songwriting and production duo responsible for the Philadelphia soul sound -- courtesy the likes of the O'Jays (including "For the Love of Money"), Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me By Now"), Billy Paul ("Me and Mrs. Jones") and countless others.
The Washington Post has the story, which is, in a nutshell: The Philadelphia housing authority's director has filed a federal suit against Jackson and HUD, claiming that the former president and CEO of the Dallas Housing Authority called Philly's mayor in '06 after the authority wouldn't sell Gamble, an urban developer and friend of Jackson's, the property. And now Philly's housing authority is claiming that Jackson's people "followed up with 'menacing' threats about the property and other housing programs in at least a dozen letters and phone calls over an 11-month period." Also, there are claims that HUD is trying to strip Philly's housing authority of federal funds. And, once more, The Post mentions Jackson's now-infamous comments made in Dallas in April 2006. --Robert Wilonsky