The Air Force is showing welcome concern over complaints with military housing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson visited the base last week to meet with military families who have complained about mold and other issues. She and area members of Congress, who have cast a spotlight on the problem, need to strengthen the government's hand in ensuring that private-run housing operators provide safe environments for service families.
The visit by the Air Force's top civilian official came after several families told the Tampa Bay Times that they had suffered health problems from being exposed to mold in their on-base homes. When last week's "listening session" began, one resident expressed fears of retaliation for speaking out; the secretary quickly asked the base command staff to leave so families could speak freely. During her appearance, Wilson told an audience of about two dozen people that she believes there has been a lack of transparency between the 6th Air Mobility Wing - MacDill's host unit - and the private housing provider. The families told Wilson the company was not fully briefing base officials about the scope of the problem.
Nearly a dozen families have relayed complaints to the Times about problems with mold, rodents, shoddy construction and a housing maintenance staff that responds slowly, if at all, to residents' complaints. While the base commander, Col. Stephen Snelson, has given base personnel repeated assurances that they should feel free to come forward, the top-down environment of the military world can be intimidating. In many cases, only the spouses have agreed to speak on the record with the Times. Green Beret Sgt. Maj. Jason Collins and Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. Blaine Jones, two senior enlisted leaders at MacDill, said they came forward recently so that other families won't have to suffer through the problems theirs experienced.
Since 2007, MacDill's 527 homes have been run by Harbor Bay at MacDill, a partnership between Clarke Realty Builders and Michaels Management Services. Michaels executive Ronald Hansen, whose company also operates housing at other bases, denied there was any effort to hide problems.
That remains to be determined, and the Pentagon and Congress need to send a message. As the Times' Howard Altman reported, mold at MacDill isn't new. In 2014, U.S. Rep Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, introduced language in the defense spending bill calling for the Pentagon to conduct a report for Congress on the prevalence of black mold in buildings located on military bases. The Senate didn't approve the measure. But more Florida lawmakers are now taking up the cause. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor; Vern Buchanan, R-Sarastoa; and Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, have inquired about the MacDill complaints and explored ways to give base commanders more leverage with housing operators. Castor also has raised the issue of mold and other problems at MacDill in meetings with the Air Force secretary.
Commanders need more authority over private housing companies operating on their bases. And housing operators should be required to respond earlier to complaints and requests for inspections and repairs. The good news is that the momentum for reform seems to be reaching a critical mass. But it will take follow through from the Air Force secretary to deliver on the expectations for improvements.