Housing chief gets no reports of worker threats

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2002 | 11:02 a.m.

The Las Vegas Housing Authority's top administrator has received no responses to a memo penned more than a week ago encouraging employees to report threats they received in relation to a controversial public relations contract.

In the Oct. 3 memo, acting executive director Parviz Ghadiri granted whistle-blower protection to employees who were allegedly warned to keep quiet about a contract involving Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera.

"At this time there is no investigation," Ghadiri said Monday. "As of today, not one employee has either called or sent a letter."

The public relations contract has become the focal point in Democratic candidate Herrera's tight battle with Republican opponent Jon Porter for the state's 3rd Congressional District seat.

Las Vegas City Councilman and Housing Authority chairman Michael McDonald announced in September that employees approached him and reported they had been harassed about the contract made public eight months ago.

McDonald made his announcement at the same time a Republican operative leaked a new Housing Authority report outlining how Herrera landed a contract that paid him $50,000 for public relations work.

McDonald has declined to say who is harassing the employees or identify the victimized workers. McDonald, who vowed to investigate the secretive threats and protect employees, did not return phone messages Monday.

Ghadiri conceded Monday he has never heard of threats directly from employees.

"They didn't really tell me it was threats," Ghadiri said. "There were rumors this was happening so that's why I put the memo out. We can't accept this type of attitude."

Ghadiri said he learned of the threats from McDonald. McDonald, a Republican, has angrily rejected the notion that his announcement was politically driven. He said even his political career has been threatened by prominent campaign contributors.

Herrera did not immediately return a phone message left Monday.

Democrats, however, have publicly questioned the timing of the threats.

McDonald's fellow housing board member, Democrat Bob Forbuss, has suggested the report, which offers no new information, was released to stir up more publicity about the contract before November's general election.

During a yearlong period ending in February, Herrera received $50,000 for public relations work he performed for the housing authority.

After the deal was questioned by Housing Authority financial officers, a request for proposals was issued for the contract. Herrera in November secured part of the contract even though he never submitted a bid.

Ghadiri's memo urges employees to outline threats they have received in writing or to visit Ghadiri's office. It also says names will be kept confidential.

"We will not tolerate any kind of harassment and we are granting whistle-blower status to any employee reporting any such threats," the letter says.

Ghadiri said he is taking the alleged threats seriously.

"I have to know," he said. "This is not fun. This is not a game. This should not be some sort of gimmick."