Meet the new boss …

The failing North Las Vegas Housing Authority has a new boss -- its old boss.

The city government is going to take over management of the federally subsidized agency that provides housing for the poor. Over the years, the authority has failed to adequately address a variety of financial and administrative shortcomings, culminating in this fall's crisis surrounding the crumbling Casa Rosa apartment complex.

Many units were in such bad shape they posed safety and health hazards for residents. The city had to loan the authority $100,000 to relocate 21 families. With the authority lacking the funding to repair or demolish the complex, Chief Executive Officer Don England resigned. The housing authority's board wants the city to take Mr. England's place at least temporarily.

The plan must be approved by the North Las Vegas City Council, but there's no suspense surrounding the vote.

Four of the City Council's five members serve on the housing authority's board as well.

"You have housing authority board members who will now vote as City Council members, in essence taking over their own board," said Councilwoman Shari Buck, the lone council member who doesn't also serve on the housing authority board. "I just don't have a lot of confidence in the housing authority board."

Why should anyone? City oversight of the authority has been nonexistent for years. And now it's going to run the place?

The first step will be predictable: throwing piles of cash at an agency that already burns $13 million per year.

"I think the housing authority will need some infusion of monies from the city in order to get in a more solid financial situation," North Las Vegas City Manager Gregory Rose said last week. The city's goal is to do just enough housekeeping to entice the larger Las Vegas Housing Authority to absorb all operations.

But that would waste precious resources before shifting the burden onto a different group of taxpayers. The North Las Vegas Housing Authority isn't worthy of assistance from any entity. And the idea that the same band of elected officials who ran it into the ground can be entrusted with its revival is ludicrous. It should be shut down, once and for all.