Thursday, March 26, 2026 - Part 1

The views and opinions expressed on analysed this are entirely those of the

on-air participants and do not reflect those of the station's board, management, staff or underwriters.

And good Thursday morning and welcome to another edition of Analyze This Here on your MPO Station

in the US Virgin Islands. So we teach at XFM, 93.1. We use truly novel James beautiful

day in paradise. We got a great show today. We got to housing at Darty. They're going

beyond our number one. We're going to squeeze in on the Chanel Peterson at the top of

the second hour because she has some updates and she's actually going to be in the studio

from the Virgin Islands. We're going to power at Darty and then we got Lisa Mordorce

coming with some news associated with the Caribbean Museum Center for Darts. Dung and

Wes and I think they got some expansion going on so we can talk a little bit. So let's get

right to it. I got Curtis from the Virgin Islands water Virgin Islands housing at Darty here.

And it's my understanding that the boss is supposed to be making appearances morning. That's

right. Introduce yourself and just keep with it. Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning. Good morning to all the listening audience out there. My name is Curtis Lewis.

I am the marketing and communication specialist over at the Virgin Islands housing authority

in the wonderful resident wellness and empowerment department. Good morning. Good morning. So how

you been? Pretty good. Pretty good working hard. Making sure that we have a nice safe

sanitary environment for our residents over at the housing authority to dwell in and making

sure we take care of our people on a regular everyday basis. Let me go through all of

them again. I got content. No. Yes. That's us. Listen to them. Yes. That's us too.

You know what this is? No. What is this? Skinny. Skinny. Okay. I'm the skinnier person.

I'll give you the Harris.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Um.

Peace and God, is that?

That's us, too.

Oh, that.

No, I tried to, you know, uh, peace and God.

I got one in Bavoni.

Bavoni, estate Bavoni.

Bavavoni.

It's seven of them, I think, right?

Or eight of them.

Bavoni.

Two two high raises, I don't know.

That's us.

Two two high raise.

I mean, guessing I'm a white fight for five.

Go ahead.

Okay.

I think we're gonna have to go.

Right now, this is a big video for H H Bergs homelah.

That's just Bergs.

Right here.

Michael J.

Kerwin.

Terrace.

And of course, estate.

Duno.

That's right.

Duno.

And you had a beautiful interview with the director for, uh, housing

choice voucher program, Ms Akihla Anthony.

She was here.

Not too long ago to talk about the right to return.

That's right.

That's right.

You are and the cost. Yes. Oh my gosh. I remember that conversation there. That's a great

conversation. Thanks for listening. You know, I appreciate that. I'm the same crazy, um,

whim. Yes. Well, for e-page rope. Yes. Mali homes in addition. Mali homes. Um,

Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant is us as well. Mount Pleasant. We don't have a light. We don't have

a light. I don't know. We don't have a light. I come in from west to east. Yes. They don't

complain if I do something about it. Are you ideas? Yes. The heights. The heights. I like that. Yeah.

Can I do the water loop? Can I do the water loop? There's freezing buckets in

the water loop. Um, the one rate Joseph James. Joseph E. James.

Yes. You're going good. They're going good. Um, we have an East Kennedy. Yes. John F. Kennedy.

Red breaking over that. I'm not anymore. Yes. Right. Yes.

Um, they got more. Got one more. Mm-hmm. Oh, guys.

Yeah. The legend. Rurios. No, no, no, no. No. Close. Yeah. Close.

Who is it? Big baseball. Uh, think we all picking Jira. Yes. Yeah. I like that. I found

something Jira. I like that. That's their boss and try and look. Yeah. And that covers

everything good morning, sir. Yeah. Uh, so that covers everything. That covers everything.

That covers everything. So we got name and name them. Yeah. Just about 18, uh, territory wave. Yeah.

OK. Good. Um, so, um, that's, that's a lot of responsibility. It is.

responsible for situating microphones. Uh, she what? No. No. Yeah. Yeah. Your

You know, come here and tell we hope to run here.

No, sir.

No, man, we're good with that.

So, good morning, Miss Cassius.

Good morning, good morning, Virgin Islands, good morning.

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.

Engine here, got to set that up on our camera store.

We're in, check, we're in.

Okay, I apologize for that.

You mind your own, progress Cassius, good morning.

How are you?

Good morning, never.

How are you?

I'm doing well, very well.

I'm happy to be here and analyze this.

Good morning, Virgin Islands.

How are we doing?

It's good Thursday morning.

That's what I'm talking about.

And you got somebody you want to introduce to the audience?

Yes, I'm introducing the great, the ultimate.

We have been waiting for almost a year and a half

to bring him up here to see you, Neville,

but you have been persistent.

And I have kept my word.

Our ED, our executive director at the Virgin Islands

Housing Authority, Mr. Dwayne Alexander,

is here in studio with Mr. Neville James

to get deep into where we move in forward with

and how we're going to look and keep our authority

striving into the future.

Good morning, Mr. Dwayne Alexander.

Pleasure to meet you.

Good morning, sir.

Tell us about yourself.

Thank you for that question.

I am very excited to be here to talk to the audience here

in the Virgin Islands and to tell them

about all the magnificent things that's going on

and taking place at the Virgin Islands Housing Authority.

I've been here a little bit over two years,

which here several years ago, as the deputy executive director

and the chief of staff.

So I'm excited and very thankful to be back here again.

We from Arizona.

Born and raised and filled out for your home

of the former Super Bowl champions.

You have to throw that in, right?

He's a football man.

This is his thing.

We're going to find out what you know about Eagles football.

If you're a real Eagles football man,

you come to the wrong spot, because I'm a sports junkie,

so I'm going to have some fun.

You know how I call Michael?

Oh, come on.

You know what I mean?

One of the greatest Titans in the game,

the greatest Titans receivers in the game.

He's actually a receiver.

He just looked like a Titan because he's so big.

Yes, he is.

What's one of the tallest at one time?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And we'll wear Montgomery since you're a Eagles fan.

We go find out about how outstanding running back.

When I was when I was younger,

I used to be a Dallas Cowboys fan.

That is no longer.

But we hated Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas Cowboys hated you as well.

Yes, he was right about that.

And hated the red skins and hated the giants.

Everybody hated you too.

That's correct.

Yes.

And now you're bragging because you got two Super Bowls

within our 10 years.

I thought I wouldn't have been like the first one.

The first Super Bowl more than the second one.

Yes.

Was it the Philly Philly?

Was it Philly?

She's taking the flip, the quarterback thing

with Nick Folls?

Yeah, Nick Folls.

Yeah, man.

Yeah, man.

So what was it like being an Eagles fan and being a loser

for all these years?

And then finally winning in 2017?

Never winning a Super Bowl.

And then finally getting one in 2017.

Well, we was there at the Super Bowl in 1981.

But we lost to.

The O'Claire is here.

There you go.

Yes, sir.

And then we got back to the Super Bowl back

and I think it was 2000.

In 2005, I guess.

Yes, it was in Jackson.

February, February, 2005.

We lost that game because of the quarterback.

So getting back this time, I was holding on.

Holding on until Nick Folls down there, Philly Special.

Philly Special, that's all I see.

We won that game, so I was very excited about that.

I thought I was going to live my whole life

and never see a Super Bowl because the last time

the Eagles won was in 1960 and there was a championship

that was a Super Bowl era.

That's right.

So you're bringing that winning mentality

to the votes in the Olympics?

How's it not already?

Exactly.

That is correct.

What's the biggest issues?

Well, you were here before in another capacity?

That's correct.

How long was that still?

Almost four years.

That was when.

That's the Robert Graham window?

That's correct.

OK.

And then you caught out and you came back.

Yes, sir.

And what did you see that was different

when you got here that wasn't here before?

Or was it the same thing?

It was pretty much the same thing.

Something's changed, but you can tell that the properties

has been impacted from the two hurricanes in 17.

You can definitely see a change at the properties.

There has been some movement with some of the developments,

but the conditions of the property

has decayed quite a bit.

OK.

No, you are in housing management.

That's what this is, right?

That's pretty much what the gig is, right?

Yes, yes, sir.

And your background set you up to be successful.

What was your background?

Born and raised in public housing and felt off here,

did my summer jobs and public housing back when I was young.

The only way when you were younger.

Yeah, younger.

Yeah, because I'm sort of going on there.

Thank you for that.

You couldn't get much done unless you knew a maintenance man.

So oh, you kept beer in the house.

We used to have to keep beer in the house

to get the basic maintenance task completed.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, but you know, that won't be loud.

I tried to hold myself back right.

But I did that beer was necessary.

To get some access.

That doesn't exactly what they didn't have computer systems

and stuff like they have today, they have the track of and know

exactly what a man is doing on a day-to-day basis.

So it's just who you know, there's no organization.

So we, I spent my whole life through those processes.

And it's only through the grace of God

that I was able to end up getting those summer jobs

as a youth worker and then work my way

and to start new maintenance and system managers.

So you lived in Philly, your entire life?

No, I have not.

I worked in Philadelphia.

I also worked in Miami, Florida, and a housing authority.

When you go to school, when you go to college?

University of Montana.

Oh, yeah?

Yes, we are in the Midwest.

Was that a culture shot?

Leaving big city and heading out

to the western part of the country?

100% culture shot.

It was something I never experienced before.

I didn't even know where the score was at.

I had to look on the Atlas map to find out what it was.

What was it?

Helena?

Which one?

I was just going mute.

What's a mute?

Yeah.

They didn't warn you about me that I'm a nerd.

Did you take it out?

Yeah.

Helena, actually, Helena is a capital city.

Helena is a capital city.

That's the first city I've known in mind.

I studied all the capitals, all that stuff.

That's a nerdy site.

So normally, when I go to Montana,

I usually fly in the buildings and drive down.

To Livingston and go through Bozeman and the Northern

Temple.

The western part of America is arguably

the most beautiful part of America.

Yes.

You saw it.

What's the big mountain out there that

has a volcano there, something?

Well, that's in Washington.

Mount St. Helens.

Yes, yes.

That's in Washington.

That's in Washington.

OK.

So you come to paradise now.

Yes.

What was the first time you came here?

The first time I got here was in 2027.

No.

Then I got in here yet, 2070.

Seven.

You said 2027.

27, then you got in here yet.

2077.

2077.

Yes.

That's the receive a ship window.

Yes, sir.

We agree on all that stuff.

And you were here for four years, you said?

Yeah, almost four years.

Almost four years.

Yes.

And then you came back again, when?

Because you left in 11.

Thereabouts came back when.

February, 2024.

So that 13-year window, more broadening of your scope

and your profession, and you came back.

No, you met an awesome leadership group.

Yes.

How do you not screw it up?

So as being a sportsman, most football teams,

or any team, have good talent.

But it's to coach the axi, put them together.

And I'm a coach, so how about that?

Prime example, some of the best teams you see out there

is they need a good coaching.

So in coaching, you have to learn how

to be able to add some cohesiveness to the team effort.

And then you have to learn how to lead, motivate,

and inspire.

Folks, to put the differences on the side,

to move forward, to be able to get that championship.

Are you a micromanager?

I can if I have to be, because some situations definitely

a lot of attention.

But for the most part, I tried to meet with my staff

on the weekly basis and coach them and give them some assistance.

And how do I help move the obstacles in a way so they can?

Do you see the next Dwayna Alexander

in the group of deputies that you have right now?

Oh, what out of doubt?

We have some of the most talented people in their industries.

We have some very good talented people there.

And it shows, and they work, and the new crop of folks

that's coming through are definitely talented.

We have some very solid talent in the Virgin Islands.

So at the deputy level, you're not concerned about the successor.

The succession plan has released a leadership.

It's there.

It just might have a whole amount of them

and making sure that they're a productive unit,

so that the sum of the whole makes for a productive Virgin

on his house in authority.

And in teaching a vision, because the industry today

is totally different than when I was several years ago.

And how it was several years ago,

it's totally different than when it was 20 years ago.

So the knowledge and skills that you might have had 10 years ago

is not applicable today.

So you have to make sure that folks

are on the right track because the whole housing industry

has changed.

So it's just not just public housing anymore.

You have to have some real savvy knowledge

when it comes to real estate ability.

So the new crop of executive directors

or the new crop of leadership has to be strong in real estate.

That's the biggest need for Virgin Islands housing.

Aside from units.

Aside from money?

Always money.

Yes, it's always money.

And units, we have an inventory shortage

at every level of housing in the Virgin Islands right now.

We do.

We do, because, and I often say this quite often,

when you look at the housing authority, back in the 90s,

we had 4,127 units.

So if you think about that, what do we have now?

We have a little bit less than 2,500.

That's a significant drop.

Yes.

So.

That's about 40% drop.

Yes.

So underneath HUD, a fair cloth,

we have the capacity of 4,000 units, 4,000, 4,127.

So we want to, underneath our reposition

and prayer, we want to replace the existing stock

that we have, moving forward, whether it's a gut rehab

or adding new units altogether.

But it won't be new units, because we

need to be able to get back at some point to 4,127,

for us to really say we really increase the housing stock.

And it's very important today, more so than it was yesterday,

because there's a very serious need for low-income housing.

You hear some of the pundits out there constantly

talk about affordable housing.

And affordable housing and the true layman's term

doesn't necessarily mean low-income housing.

So when you say affordable housing, that's normally, of course,

110% of the area median income, which

can go up to 140% of the area median income.

We got to take a break right now.

Yes, sir.

I dedicated this segment completely.

You have not in the business of ignoring your deputies.

Yes, sir.

So when we come back, they'll be dominating from here.

I know.

OK.

All right?

That's a good show.

We got the right housing authority.

We got Mr. Curtis Lewis.

We got Emmanuel Wang Papu.

Perez Cassius here in the studio, along with the Madame

himself, Duane Alexander, executive

version of his housing authority.

We'll be back right after this.

OK.

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Okay, so I'm back clear, I'm going back on the air now.

Okay, I got, um, guess, telling me what they're going to do

when they come in place to do that, okay?

Now home.

Yeah, yeah.

So, so, we going to find out about who they're going to be

still yet this morning.

So we can, we said, we're going to be tonight good morning.

Good morning, son.

This is my nila, Prima ballerina's cash this morning.

Good morning.

I'm Mr. Curtis Lewis.

Good morning.

So we can't get about your boss, Mr. Curtis Lewis.

What's it like working for?

Philly, it's, uh, from separating apart from the, the day to day, you know,

we got to get the work done as cool, right?

But the experience and knowledge and perspective, like we, we, we filmed

the podcast yesterday and the, the theme of the podcast was leadership.

But then the perspective that Mr. Alexander brought to it was the people

that are in the leadership position, being a black man, growing up in the

housing community, the board members and the leadership on the board

members are also men who grew up in housing communities.

And the statistics show that usually black men don't normally make it

at all, much less to even be in leadership positions, still working

within the housing communities and uplifting the community.

And normally the influences that we see are negative.

Unfortunately, most times, right?

So to be able to have that perspective of seeing a positive twist on what

you could aspire to be as a young, black African American or Caribbean

person, um, growing up in a housing community is, is, is definitely something

that you could thrive to and strive to inspire to.

So even just being around Mr. Alexander and seeing the way how he thinks

and the way how his brain works and the perspectives of how he looks at

things, it's a, it's a great learning experience, right?

And I mean, what more can somebody like me in the position that I mean

could ask for?

So it's, it's definitely incredible to, to be around an experience and see.

So you heard him when I talk in about sports, right?

Yeah.

And I, you know, I myself did some coaching as well.

And, uh, the best coaches know when to be player coaches and then they

know when to be the boss, right?

It's a balancing act, right?

Or you see him with respect to him, you know, applying the whip when necessary

and being inspirational when necessary.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

I definitely noticed that there's times when it has to come to a point where

the, the way it has to be cracked and, you know, we have to button up and get

things tied, but then it's also times when it, it comes from a more

personable approach where, you know, it's a lot more subtle, more calm,

as you know, teaching experiences versus you and it's time to get out of

it.

No, you have, you have the ability to go to him and tell him how you feel.

Not necessarily what he wanted to hear.

Yeah, I think so.

I believe so.

Mr.

Cassius talking a little bit about Mr. Alexander, working for Mr.

Alexander for me has been like working with a super ball, a super

ball coach, right?

So there's like a high level of intensity of understanding the game.

I'm a sports person in kind of get a ball, but I'm not a sports

person on a major league field.

So even learning the industry, the business, that was Mr. Alexander's first

six months of lessons that understand you are in a business of housing.

And so I had to go back and understand the business.

So when he comes with the playbooks and the play plans, I had to learn

how to even understand what that looks like.

Leadership for me before is more of a, we're growing and adjusting.

Leadership under Mr. Alexander's like, this is the direction.

This is the plate.

We're going out there.

You're going to move the ball to the left.

You're going to move the ball to the left.

This is your position, play your position.

And he talks in those terms, so I had to learn how to get in that

mind frame of strategic approaches when working.

Mr. Alexander, yes, sir, you've been to all the properties so far.

Yes, sir, biggest needs on the surface.

Maintenance issues.

Maintenance issues is a big concern and part of it.

And as this should be because of the age of the properties, you have some

properties that's just 60, 70 years old.

And even in the best maintenance conditions, store needs repair.

I was down in his mic.

It's good there.

Or you needed to move a little bit away.

That's good.

Now how you move it?

OK.

Good.

Yeah.

Yes.

And some of the systems are antiquated.

So we need to upgrade some of the systems.

So maintenance is key and that's been sort of the Achilles heel.

For years in terms of the housing.

That's how the housing authority somewhere in the past gotten and receive a ship

and how the housing authority currently now is in trouble status, which we

believe will be coming out sometime soon.

So that's been the focus.

You're actually playing that condition that you're talking about.

So on scale from one to a hundred, they normally grade you in similar to schools.

If you receive less than 60 year in trouble status.

And if you don't have a plan to get out of trouble status, you end up falling

and receive a status and typically before you know, we received a

status before.

And now we in trouble status and we became in trouble status in 2022.

So our playbook now is the focus on the physical conditions of the properties

so that we can get the properties, physical conditions up so that we can

get ourself out of this trouble status.

While we're in trouble status, it's sort of put restrictions on additional

funding that we can apply for and provide more oversight from the federal

government.

And if we can get ourself out of trouble status, then we can move a

little bit faster towards our goal.

Now talk about your relationship with the local government.

Because even though you're a federally funded entity,

yes, we get 100% of our funding from the federal government.

But there still has to be a relationship with the local government.

Yes, we have a good relationship with the local government.

And I'm very thankful for the governor and Senator James and

assisting us with home ownership, with Williams Delight of all the

senators for the most part have my phone number.

Senator Blight and talked to him quite often.

They told you about Senator James and my relationship.

They didn't tell you about that.

No, sir, we don't look like each other, but that's my sister.

Oh, really?

Yeah, man.

Okay.

Yes, so we didn't want to Williams Delight do.

Okay, yes, right?

Okay, good.

Yes, so you speak with Senator Blight and you have a good relationship with

Senator Blight.

Yes, I mean anytime he needs to call any any senator, he worked in a thousand

authority.

Yes.

You work for him back into it.

No, he worked for me back.

I said you worked with him, not the four parts.

But but you took it to the next level.

Respect.

You worked for you.

So I'm cool with that.

like that, right? So, uh, when you look at sink, oh, let me ask this question, right?

Because on this show, I got a soft spot for seeing John. And I ain't got no properties

in seeing John. No. No. No. That's a delicate situation because seeing John line locked.

So even if you had money and you wanted to construct some kind of property to have a housing

in, uh, presence, right, housing, in seeing John, that is the dicey situation. But, um,

seeing John deserves something. They have the vouchers. The Syngenians, there's people who

live in in seeing John that receive housing choice voucher. Okay. Okay. But there is no physical

property per cent. No, there's no income housing or affordable housing. Okay. Okay. But I would want,

but at least because if we heard of the success stories, the success story that is doing Alexander,

I'm sure that there are those, they might be that success story potential in seeing John,

which are Lewis. If I'm saying I do follow. So, so, um, and I think they deserve at least one

property. We have nine and St. Croix and St. Thomas respectively. And that's pretty much the ratio,

the population ratio right now, 10 to 1 in terms of St. Thomas and St. Croix respectively,

for every St. Johnian, it's like 40, 40 and four and see what I'm saying. So that's just a

suggestion. I can't tell I what to do, but I would want for either to have some physical presence

property, uh, physical property presence, uh, in seeing John, in addition to the housing, uh,

voucher, uh, project. So, um, St. John, I mean, St. Thomas and St. Croix got the same number of

properties, but, uh, St. Thomas is maybe two and a half times smaller than St. Croix. Yes.

Right. So it's even with a more, you know, condensed situation that, uh, how do you,

based on your history and how that stuff, how do you manage all that, you know, population,

density thing and St. Thomas compared to St. Croix where we're flat, long, a lot of room to work

with and I was up because green space property is something people don't factor in with housing,

but you need it. You just can't have people on top of people and top of people next to people.

Yeah, it's a little congested, uh, we worked through it. Um, but I went up, I went back up just

a little bit and talk about what this, um, Cassius was talking about in terms of vouchers.

Okay. It's a shift and how things are moving. And for years, there's always been money

put in play for public housing. And the many years ago, they came out with the Section A program,

which was a certificate program before it became a voucher program. And what happens now,

uh, the shift is pushing more for vouchers than it is for, uh, public housing. And part of that is,

it's just so expensive to build public housing. And it's easier that if you needed a house,

instead of putting you in a community where we're building something and we're providing you

with a subsidy and we have to pay for a manager, uh, a system manager, maintenance person,

we could just basically give you a voucher and let you live anywhere in the 50 states,

including the Virgin Arms and, uh, Puerto Rico. So are you saying that

we've moved past property construction as a priority? And we're getting into how it's easier

to manage monies via the voucher program. What? In other words, might say, John,

physical property dream would, there's a dream and what a cost of properties in general

is a very expensive now. That's true. Uh, and, and folks always sort of put low income people

on the back end of many things. So the typical when we built, uh, just say years ago, uh,

when they built Rio DX, 100% public housing. So now the day for you to build the same type of property,

you will have to have a mix portfolio or a mixed property and use some tax credits. Um, and

even with that, you would have to make, say if you built a hundred, you would probably have to

build 75 of them at market rate rent to allow for the 25 of low income. Correct. You know,

so you can't just build the whole hundred, uh, um, of units of, uh, just public funds,

you know, the money is just not there. And then you have all these investors and, uh,

developers coming in because many years ago, you didn't have these many folks and to the housing

business that you have today. Okay. And I've always said that the strength of, um, this show is my

audience. I just got a text message from Senator Marvin Bladed. Yes. And he had me to know that

the George Simmons housing community was under the Virgin Islands housing authority,

but was converted to home ownership for scene juniors. So, um, that window closed. Yeah. Okay.

No, I'm good. I'm good with that. No, I'm good with that. I'm good with that. I don't have a problem

with that. All right. And I know. I'm sorry. And I would add that when you asked about the

government, he was instrumental in making sure that we got $3.4 million for the playgrounds. No,

I don't, yes. That's my man. Yes. That, that, that, that do this, that do this. Nice. You know,

I'm saying this is year 12. You know, I remember when he was first, when he first got at the,

I just said, and, you know, he's been reelected five times since then. So that speaks, uh, for

itself, personnel's housing authority here, uh, in the studio, the hurricanes set us back

as a territory. And the housing authority dealt with a lot of that damage, right? No, the,

the tutu high raise, that's so much significant damage, right? Arguably the most damage

out of all the properties. That's just an opinion. That's, it's not a fact, all right? How are we

coming along with that? Well, good question. And thank you for that. Um, we have taken you on a good

show. So you can get this question. I like to tell people that this is a, this is a house. That's

it. We have a state do know that we're working on right now that you come up for many years. Uh,

that development is currently up right now. Um, million dollars a unit, man. Not,

this is not, not actually, but when you look at the cost for the big thing over a million dollars,

a unit, green, you got green lot of green thing going on there. And, and, and thank God that

the money is coming together to get these units together together, because they find them

find money everywhere else in the United States to build units. Why not build here in a

virginity? So you, you're taking up and so what? No, no, no, no, no, no, taking us so what? No, no,

no, no, no, we're doing business, you're taking a so what we deserve it here in a virginity.

That is correct. Let us get something new here in a virginal is every other state is getting

new properties and new developments. Why can't we have our share here in a virginity? Thank

you for looking out for the boys and girls here in a virginity. We've got a call in the

link. Good morning, caller. How are you? Good morning, caller. Good morning, hello.

I'm good morning to your guests morning with with your voucher program is there any

Information that you could get so that we would know

Maybe being a homeowner. Let's say if I want rent my house out to section 8

How many people are eligible and do you get to pick who they are

The size that they want how how does it work rather than I have no idea

So as a homeowner you got people that need a house. I got a house that maybe you could have

How do I know who what when where whatever?

Thank you very much that word excellent question. Thank you sir

Yeah, and thank you. Thank you for that question

It depends on how many bedrooms you have there we pay based on the bedroom site

But it's always a good process to reach out to our

HCV program which is led by mr. Kayla Anthony and they always looking for landlords to welcome through the orientation

process so they know exactly what they do to be able to put their property on the program

And we look always looking for landlords. So it's a based family the bedroom size bedroom size. Yes. Okay

Uh, anything else you mean?

Yeah, but how do you know what the demand is?

The demand is dear lord

I'm sorry

It's there, but

Is there a demand for a three bathroom four bedrooms? How do you know?

How does a homeowner who might not even have any idea about just know that you know rather than airbnb or a renter

Let me let me deal with aio

How do you know hold on a second?

We'll we'll take a break

Right and we'll come back and we'll let that question irony with

Director Alexander

Mr. Cassius and mr. Lewis. I will be back right after this

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All right, based on the question

Suppose and and someone who has

Absolutely no understanding of the the the process

How does it work from jump street when they

Inquire at the version of this housing authority. I have properties available. I got two

Homes one is a three bedroom one is a two bedroom. What happens after that a contact

Section a hcv house and trade voucher program. That's a cell phone number. Yeah, just cell phone number is three four zero seven two five

Zero six five five. Okay, if they reach out to our house and trade voucher program

They'll walk them through the process on how to get on to the program and someone from your agency will come to the the property

To look it over

Validate all that stuff. That's correct. And then the the cost is based on a formula that's developed in house with the housing authority

Yes, sir. Why you smiling? Yeah, because you know exactly what you talk. I used to work in procurement. Yeah, so I know that you know

I know a little bit of stuff. You know what I'm saying? So um, so the answer is

From the collar it wouldn't be a problem all the s2 is reach out to the housing authority and they'll make all the information available for him

That's correct or him or her and then

They will make have to make the decision is that enough for me right because there's a there's a there's a flipping there right

Of decision-making okay the callus online callus down. Okay, good. So thank you to remember for the excellent question

Right now talk about the property management that you're dealing with you got 18 right name and

um

This is supposed to be you

positive about it right

3407250655 right that's another right so um

You got nine different properties on St. Thomas nine on St. Croix, but they're different

Yes, right and they require a different level of maintenance attention to detail all that stuff

You need employees right now. You show down employees right now

Because you said maintenance is a priority. So what has been happening

um

As we have been developing

some of these

New properties or

Don't rehabs on the new properties example. I am hard

Uh, the new habitant D Jackson that's coming on board. We had staff that worked at those units

And now that private management is coming in they are we stored George those in our portfolio

So they haven't lost any jobs or anything along that process and what we have embarked on the training years ago

It's different than the training today

So we just had about a month ago

Training we had to institute a real estate management with other management companies here and the Virgin Islands

Especially over here in St. Croix

They came to

St. Thomas to participate in

uh

Affordable housing management training through the institute of real estate management

Out of Chicago has been around since the 1940s

So to give them another level of expertise and managing the properties because the properties depend on the knowledge skills and ability of the

Manager to be able to proficently manage that asset

So we have to get we have to change some of the manager's thought process from

We're not just managing the property we managing the asset

And we want to preserve the asset moving forward

Because based on how some of the things that happened over the year

We want to make sure that we get these properties in the best conditions proper

possible so that minimize the complaints and as slow as the money has been coming throughout the years

We want to make sure that we preserve these properties for years to come for

for

Virgin Islanders in the future

Okay, good now

Um is there in all of your years you've worked in

In housing how many years over 30 something years over 30 plus years

Has is there anywhere else outside of

The Marley project that is a beachfront property

To your knowledge nowhere and I worked on a west coast we were in workers uh I worked in Las Vegas

Working very good for cash. Yeah, uh when they formed a three you had three merging housing authorities here to combine them

And I worked in Vegas for about six years

Uh

Work at the east coast. Yes, and there's nowhere like Molly nowhere. That's a that's a beachfront properties

That's a billion dollar property right here. What's work billion dollar property

Wow

So because one of my homeboys told me that

Somebody came from one of the inspectors came from the state said you turned to him and said these people complain about this

Yes, and he said yeah, why not everybody who lives in

In public housing complaint. He said they do they know that they have a beachfront property

Right, so what can we do to build to build in stale confidants in them and for them to feel good about where they at

I

This is now you got me

So we're in the middle

We're in the middle right now of doing a whole um

amenities project, right? I think that's a very important point that a lot of people don't recognize the privileges

To live in areas that's walking distance from schools

Point five miles away from the hospital surrounded by shopping area

Surrounded by one of the most beautiful beaches in the world where you get to see the most beautiful sunset in the world

Every day at an affordable price. So you're going to start to see a lot of our rollout with our marketing coming out where we are highlighting our communities

Next month we're starting with

Kerwin J. Terrace in St. Thomas and Candido Guadalupe in St. Croix

We might not give you a

Comes with our refrigerator air condition on a stove in coven J. Terrace is Michael J

Oh, I know why I don't keep doing that

I let the J in the middle get that's what we're like

But yes Michael J. Terrace Kerwin Terrace

We're going to highlight this a start to highlight the fact that these are great places to live

But also we want people to know live where it's convenient for you

If you know you don't have transportation and you're looking for

Community that has walkability if you're looking for that access to the beach

You like living by the beach there's people like me who like living in the middle of the island

See blasts is great until all your plans is russ

So I don't mind living in the middle of the island, but it is a privilege

If you love living by the beach to have access to living by the beach and so we're on that

right now

Next couple months over the next quarter

You're going to see a whole lot of highlights and amenity highlights of our communities

Celebrating why we're one of the best places to live in the Virgin Islands

Mr. Marketing communication specialists

What we do now to promote

Living within the housing authorities

You know

umbrella

Because

That was there was a negative stigma about that back in the day, right?

But uh the reality is some of the greatest

In the world

Come out to the housing

Development we got doctor. I don't know if you you ever heard this name with

His name was Aubrey Camacho

She was a valedictorian at Central High and in mid 70s

Long before Iobahn

He's a doctor now come out that shabot

Shabot used to be a part of the housing authority, right?

And I think the main building used to be right there across from where the old

Penitentiaries so what we do into

erase that stigma because the best could come from the worst and the

the worst

No, the best could produce the worst best being those who had it and in the liver so talk a little bit about that

I'm breaking that stigma. We're starting an initiative call repair community

And right now we're starting with the resident advisory board members

Which are the resident council presidents and vice presidents of of all the communities

We are mr. Johnny Brown has done a wonderful job establishing resident councils in most of our communities

And now we have also established resident advisory board and we've brought to them the idea of the repair community

starting with the people who

Know and love their community the best and trying to explain the why

Where they live is a place that they would love to call home, right and then also

In starting with the resident of advisory board members expanding it to what I like to call the alumni's right

We have a lot of great people that have grown up and you know

Went on to do great things from the housing communities such as mr. Duane Alexander the sitting right here with us

I was like the director and you know getting his perspective um and in terms of

What that experience was like and why people should consider calling

Living where they live in housing communities home the great things about it all the amenities that

I manually just spoke about right maybe him for you it might be be

Be front property for somebody else it might be there's a great our

sports

Activities and recreations happening here. I also have to take the moment to highlight

The kids over at our ideas and candy to go at the loopade doing wonderful things right now with with um baseball

Right and winning their school leagues and and they also for their club teams and doing great things in one of these kids

My girl go on to be professional players one day and we could also you know

High like them and and explain to or have them explain why you know repping their community is so important

You know and yeah for sure expanding it to everyone that we could get a hold of so anyone who's listening right now from

You know

From public housing who's went on to do great things getting contact with us

You know reach out to me my email is kjluis at vihousen.org

So we can get you to wrap your community

It's awesome

So Miss Alexander what's the what's the color that you're 2026

Gold what do you want if I bring you back here in December that that you want to achieve and you can say

Even if we didn't achieve it we've made strides to that to that them

The focus is to keep moving forward

We want to improve the conditions of our communities

Often tell folks all the time when we when we talk about communities and you just talk about the yesterday

Community when you break that word down is

Community and then the word unity is together

So for us to have a community you have to come together and work together

And when you focus on that if we

Focus on the maintenance conditions of our properties. We have better clients

That we are serving

The others flip side of that is focusing on

repositioning our properties and

Doing these gut rehabs and development. We have a strong team

Out that is working on that now

Then we want to also

Make sure that we leave our doors open the housing authority just don't want to be some

Organization just and heightening the background

Trying to avoid controversy. We want to be the forefront

Property management when it comes to the Virgin Islands. So we want to be out there

We want to leave our doors open for our residents. I have an open door policy. I expect all the other employees have an open door policies

We have town meetings

Every single month in our communities. We want to know what the problems are for the most part

We do know what they are, but we want to be there to help everyone get past this hump

Miss Perez

We still we still miss Cassius

We still Lewis if you'll go to about the leadership right now. I was in authority

I feel very good about the leadership, but I feel even better about the plan right

High performing by 2030 is something I tell you I lawn sports and kind of gay test

So that's why I love my competitive spirit, too

So this motion has me excited because it's not just like a destination is already determined for us

It's a statue that I've never heard associated with us before

So to be a part of that kind of work right now for me high performance

To be a part of the team that gets the Virgin Islands housing authority be recognized and a national scale as a high performing authority

Which will open up the doors for us to be able to gain more more people asset more building asset

And then of course more self-determination of how we want to operate without the federal oversight

Oh, yeah, never lie in I and I tried in this is this is clear

We've got a good coach behind of us. We got a strong team

You know the leadership team at VHS like none other I walk in a alongside sisters

I'm brothers who've been doing this for a long time

so yeah

Give me my position put me in coach. That's where I'm at right now

Yeah, I definitely believe in the leadership team because the leadership team

I feel believes in us and that's the most important thing

Doesn't matter how great the leader is if the leader doesn't believe in his team that is no way

That it could win

So you good good good, and I've seen the progress in the time that I've been here and the proof is definitely in the put it

So you you dig for me?

duck Peterson or

Or mix area

To one of the greatest coaches in Philadelphia is to win in his coaches Andy Reed

And I think I was saying Andy Reed because I was very impressed over the fact that he gave

Michael Vick a second chance with none other other coaches was given the break but but for right now since we are in March madness

I'm riding

Now I'm not going to John Chenney. I'm going with my former coach

of

Which is Calvin Samson the head coach of Houston. We know what Calvin Samson. Yeah, I know Calvin Samson very well

I was on the 1982 83 championship team with Calvin Samson when he got his first head coaching job

And we just went to the Hall of Fame in 2019 we basketball. We have a phrase here a colloquial phrase yes when somebody

Does what you just did?

The phrase is I kindly beg your pardon

Yeah

We said do it and it's that no

And we got one of our basketball coaches actually work with Calvin Samson

Down our boat

At Michigan State because he was up there with with you know what I'm saying? So you know right you know you

You came to the rates about this morning. You know I'm saying hey pleasure to meet you my man. Yeah, thank you success

Check here. My people don't let me go. I come looking for you. Yeah, you know saying you're gonna be good if I gotta do that

And it's always a pleasure to see you miss our Emanuele

Perez Wang Papu

Cassius and uh called this Lewis

um

Be my king. That's me

From the

From the

Yeah, the great conversation always always a pleasure to have you out here. Okay. All right. Take care the man

Yeah, you don't take care of you. That's right. All right and

All of the employees all your tenants and residents and all that stuff. Yeah, that's the housing authority

Awesome conversation that we'll take a break. We should be here from Chanel Peterson from WAPA the updates and then

Lisa Morthurst from the Kerbin Museum Center for the Austin and the West be back right after this

The views and opinions expressed on analyze this are entirely those of the on-air participants and to not reflect those of the stations board

Management staff or underwriters

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