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Housing Commissioners Resign, Replaced After CBS Investigation

By David Goldstein

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Another commissioner has resigned, and one has been replaced, after our CBS2 investigation exposed possible wrongdoing by some members.

It came as a blow to the L.A. Housing Authority -- two commissioners gone Thursday, which totaled three in the past week and four in the past month, since our series of investigations.

Vice Chairperson Maria Del Angel abruptly resigned after 13 years on the board. She did not give a reason, but in February we found documents showing that Del Angel allegedly double dipped on per-diem meal money, getting a cash advance of $390 for a trip to Washington ant then charging a nearly $250 dinner on her Housing Authority credit card.

"You can't take a per diem and then go to a restaurant and charge that can you," I asked Del Angel?

"I guess you're right on that," she said.

The mayor also announced Thursday that Commissioner Tunua Thrash will replaced because he was not reappointing her for a second term.

The announcement came on the heels of the resignation of Commissioner Rayman Mathoda on Tuesday and Commissioner Beatriz Stotzer two weeks ago.

Stotzer resigned days after we exposed that her two sons were living in a city-subsidized public housing complex. The D.A.'s office is investigating.

We have learned the D.A. is also looking at Del Angel's double dipping, as well as fellow commissioner Margarita Garr. The Commissioners oversee public housing in Los Angeles for some of L.A.'s neediest families.

When we began our investigation there were seven overseeing a billion dollars of taxpayer money. At the time of this writing, less than four months later, only three remain.

The mayor announced four replacements Thursday, who will begin immediately, with the hopes of some fresh blood on the housing authority.

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