Pre-Agenda Interview for Appointment of Marita Bradley to Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory Board - February 4, 2026
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Pre-Agenda Interview for Appointment of Marita Bradley to Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory Board
On February 4, 2026, the City Council held a pre-agenda interview for Bill 2026-0027, which proposes appointing Marita Bradley to the Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory Board with a term expiring January 11, 2030. The interview was held at 9:30 AM in Council Chambers.
Discussion Items
- Marita Bradley introduced herself as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Mayor O'Connor, holding a master's degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She highlighted her involvement in the city's affordable housing conversations, including the affordable housing task force and the creation of the Housing Opportunity Fund. She noted her work on affordable housing in District 9, such as the Choice Neighborhood initiative and various LIHTC deals, and expressed the value of the fund for gap financing, rental assistance, and other affordable housing needs.
- Council members acknowledged Bradley's qualifications and her previous role in helping create the fund. One council member reminded that the fund has a 10-year allotment that will sunset in the near future, and asked Bradley to keep the need for continued funding in mind.
Key Outcomes
- The pre-agenda interview was completed. No vote was taken; the appointment is subject to a future council vote. The minutes note that the interview was held.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to the pre-agenda interview for Wednesday, February 4th, 2026 for the Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory. Would the clerk please read the title of the bill? Bill 27, resolution appointing Marita Bradley to the Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory Board with the term to expire January 11th, 2030. Thank you. And so what we'll do now is we will turn it over to Ms. Bradley to introduce yourself. Maybe say a little bit about why you're interested in serving on this what I call critically important board. And then what take questions? Sure. So good morning. I'm Marita Bradley. I am currently serving as the Assistant Chief of Staff or Mayor O'Connor. A master's from the University of Pittsburgh in social work. So I was a part of a lot of the conversations that the city engaged in around affordable housing, including the affordable housing task force, and then ultimately the creation of this fund. And so a lot of the work that in development that occurred specifically affordable housing within District 9 during my uh tenure here, I was able to be a part of. And so the choice neighborhood work, um, the um various lie tech deals and things like that. And so I see the the real value of the housing opportunity fund and it being able to be a key resource in creating um affordable housing, whether it be for gap financing, whether it be for rental assistance. Um I think it's a variety of uh ways, and so in working with uh Mayor O'Connor, we hope to continue to do that that sort of work. Thank you very much. Um we obviously know each other pretty well. Um so what I will say is you're more than qualified to sit on this board. Um, as you've already explained, you were Ryan when we created it. You were you and your former um boss and former colleague of mine were instrumental in helping make this happen. Um you've dealt with a lot of affordable housing within District 9 in your previous role, and I know you will be actively involved in housing throughout the city in your current position. And so I will simply thank you for your willingness to serve. Um the only thing I would ask you to consider is that you may recall we did a 10-year allotment to the fund, and in the near future, we need we will need to consider how we continue funding the housing opportunity fund because it does technically sunset. Um so I would just ask for that to be in the back of your mind. Having exhausted the business of this pre-agenda interview, we are adjourned. Thank you.
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