Local officials across Alabama are facing heightened scrutiny as concerns mount over the recent influx of Haitian migrants.
Some residents in places like Athens, Enterprise and Sylacauga have voiced frustration with their city officials’ response to the issue, while others have even questioned whether certain leaders were profiting from the situation.
In Albertville, where the immigration issue was first brought to light by 1819 News in August, some citizens have questioned Mayor Tracy Honea’s business practices as a realtor and landlord.
According to online tax records, Honea owns over 50 properties, mostly residential, through Honea Properties, LLC. He told 1819 News that he currently does have Haitian migrants as tenants but clarified that “every applicant for our rental properties must go through the same application process and in accordance with the Fair Housing Act.”
He said he does not receive any federal or state subsidies related to housing migrants and that he has never been a sponsor for an immigrant as part of a federal or state program.
On his Statement of Economic Interests form filed with the Alabama Ethics Commission for 2022 and 2023, Honea reported that he owned five investment properties, apparently contradicting the online tax records. Honea said that was a typographical error and that on his 2021 form, he reported 52 properties, which is more in line with the tax records.
“The number of properties owned question was not on the form until the year 2021. In 2021, the filing was correctly answered,” Honea said in an email. “However, the 2022 and 2023 filings were both affected by a typo. I was not aware of this mistake until you brought it to my attention. Now that we are aware of this typo, we are in the process of filing a revised statement.”
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1819 News asked him about another apparent discrepancy: the form listed two business ventures aside from his position as mayor, while the State Secretary of State’s website showed he was the registered agent or member of at least six LLCs or incorporations.
“The two businesses are correct, and they make up the vast majority of my income, besides the income I received as Mayor,” he said. “The other LLCS and/or Incs on the state website have either already been dissolved or are currently inactive/being dissolved.”
Albertville Police Chief J.T. Cartee said the city’s code enforcement officer had been working hard to address complaints and help migrants understand local laws. While some people have been given citations, Cartee said most have willingly complied with addressing code violations. He said he had investigated complaints of multiple families living in one house but found that not to be the case in those instances.
The chief spoke highly of the mayor and council’s efforts to navigate the immigration issue, as did Jeff Lamour, a local Haitian American businessman working with the city’s code enforcement officer to help communicate with the Haitian community.
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on X and Facebook.
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