JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The head of the Jacksonville Housing Authority, Fred McKinnies, had sex with multiple employees and participated in a sex act on public property, according to findings from an Inspector General's Office report.
Hear what some of the Jacksonville Housing Authority board members have to say about this at 10 & 11 on @ActionNewsJax https://t.co/v9NwLeDRLq
— Dani Bozzini (@DaniANjax) October 29, 2019
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A 69-page report lays out allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct dating back to the 1990s.
Fred McKinnies, the CEO for the Jacksonville Housing Authority, was placed on paid administrative leave in 2018.
Since then, the Office of Inspector General substantiated allegations of McKinnies having consensual sexual relationships with multiple employees and participating in a sex act on JHA property.
They also substantiated McKinnies received gifts and had JHA employees complete home improvement services at his home and the whistleblower's home.
The report says McKinnies admitted to having a consensual relationship with the whistleblower for 10 years, between 1999 and 2009.
He also admitted to having a relationship with another woman, named “Witness B,” from 2007 to 2018.
Page 34 includes an allegation that the whistleblower challenged Witness B to perform a sex act on McKinnes in JHA’s main office.
That allegation was substantiated in the report, something McKinnes says he didn’t recall.
Action News Jax reached out to the city for comment and a spokesperson sent this statement:
"Mayor Curry and the Administration are grateful to Inspector General Green and her staff for their thorough work. A number of serious allegations deserved and received an exhaustive investigation. The resulting report demonstrates an organization that has faced a serious deficiency of leadership. The Jacksonville Housing Authority (JHA) has an obligation to serve the people of Jacksonville as a steward of the public trust and to be an agency that respects the need for safe, affordable housing. Under the leadership of the CEO/President, that trust has been broken. At best, JHA has a CEO/President who has fostered a culture of unprofessionalism that reflects poorly on its important mission. At worst, JHA's CEO/President has disrespected its staff and residents with inappropriate and unethical decisions. Either way, Mayor Curry believes the JHA board must terminate the CEO and immediately begin the search for a qualified replacement with integrity who will restore the trust of the City and JHA staff, as well as dignity to the residents who rely on safe, affordable housing. " – Brian Hughes, CAO
JHA said today their interim CEO is meeting with senior advisors. JHA did not return Action News Jax's request for comment.
Action News Jax reached out to the JHA Board to see whether or not McKinnies would be fired.
Board member Richard Weber tells us, "It's really way to early in this whole investigation for me to make a comment on that or anything else."
Meanwhile JHA Chair Roslyn Mixon-Phillips sent out a statement regarding the allegations saying:
Today, the Jacksonville Housing Authority received the City of Jacksonville Office of Inspector General's final report of its investigation into allegations of misconduct by JHA President and CEO Fred McKinnies. Quite candidly, I am shocked, disappointed and appalled at the findings.
The safety of our employees and residents is our top priority, and as the Chair I am taking the OIG's findings and recommendations seriously. I will pull The JHA Board of Commissioners together to address this matter as soon as we can convene a board meeting
It is important to note that the Jacksonville Housing Authority continues to be recognized as a high-performing organization by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Earlier this year, the JHA Board of Commissioners passed several resolutions that strengthened the agency's policies and procedures. This included a prohibition against JHA staff fraternizing with residents during both on-duty and off-duty hours and a new whistleblower policy that gives protection to employees who report wrongdoing.
I am committed to acting on the OIG's recommendations as I continue to focus on our mission of providing safe, clean, and affordable housing and improving the lives of our residents.
We're still waiting to see where the rest of the Board stands.
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