Since 1994, Homes for America has bought and rehabbed about 45 properties that were sold to low- and moderate-income people through a lease-to-purchase program that the organization offers only in Annapolis, McFall said, calling the project "a sort of gift to our hometown." McFall has advocated that public housing be managed by the private sector, as well as redevelopment of public housing and creation of more opportunities for low- and moderate-income people to own homes.
But Robert Eades, a community activist and former public housing tenant, said that, having known McFall for about six years, he questions her motives for redeveloping public housing.
"The same idea that they're trying to push on people now is the same thing these banks did - giving people the opportunity to become homeowners of a house you can't afford, knowing down the road you're going to lose that house," said Eades, 52.
McFall defends the work of Homes for America, saying that "the whole national scene has been to move our public housing to public/private ownership."
"You can serve the same people in better ways," she said, noting that private companies have the staffing and expertise that the government often does not to manage the housing projects. She insisted that her goal is to improve the conditions of public housing in Annapolis, not rip it down.
Eades contended that McFall's interest lies in helping developers, many of whom contributed to her campaign. According to the latest campaign finance filings in July, McFall had raised more than $56,000.
Last year, one county Democrat criticized McFall for taking a $2,500 contribution from a developer who planned to build at Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole, a project that drew attention because some thought it would take business from the city's downtown. The Democrat also questioned why so many of McFall's contributors were developers and out-of-towners.
McFall has denied that her run for mayor is for any reason other than improving Annapolis.
Besides public housing, among McFall's priorities is "running the city in a professional manner." If elected, McFall said, she would have a city administrator, allowing the mayor to focus on policy.
"I think the city has not been well-run," McFall said. "You need another level of manager."
One reason she created the group Citizens for a Better Annapolis was to prepare reports to present to the city on various issues, including crime, "to show Annapolis that decisions are based on fact and logic."
