Secretary Ben Carson Visits Columbus Housing On Nationwide "Listening Tour"

Former neurosurgeon and new U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson began a three-day visit to Columbus on Wednesday. Carson is meeting with local officials and touring public housing.

Carson says Columbus can be a model for other cities.

"Columbus is a great city," Carson said. "There are good things happening here from which we can learn."

It’s the fourth stop on Carson’s nationwide “Listening Tour.” He says he’s looking for ways to spend federal funds more efficiently.

According to the Associated Press, Carson says he expects to advance public-private partnerships, extending low-income housing tax credits and providing opportunities for public-housing residents to get jobs at the buildings where they live.

"This is the way we’ve done things in the past: We see a problem and we say, ‘This much money will fix it,'" Carson said. "And frequently it’s not an issue of money, it’s an issue of efficiency, effectiveness, recognizing what you’re trying to do and being able to do it.

Carson says he anticipates few negative effects from President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts to HUD. 

Carson continues his tours of Columbus housing Thursday, and leaves for tours in Lancaster and Chillicothe on Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.