NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye To Step Down
Shola Olatoye, the embattled New York City Housing Authority chair is slated to step down from her post today according to several reports.
Olatoye first came under fire after last year when reports confirmed the public housing chair falsely signed documents confirming annual lead inspections. The incident preceded a series of NYCHA administrative and operational setbacks including failed boilers and reports that confirmed more than 80 percent of the 400,000 NYCHA residents experienced heat or hot water outages during the 2017-2018 winter season.
Olatoye is expected to announce her resignation today immediately following a tour of the Ocean Bay Bayside apartments in Far Rockaway, according to a press release from the Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office. Reportedly, the mayor will appoint Stanley Brezenoff as the interim chair.
Public Advocate Letitia James called for Olatoye to resign immediately following the lead controversy but was met with opposition from the mayor who has repeatedly defended Olatoye.
James released a statement last night thanking Olatoye for her commitment and service but reiterating her initial stance of a “fresh start” for NYCHA.
“It is time to move forward and open a new chapter at NYCHA, one that continuously puts the needs of tenants first,” said James.
“While this change will not cure all the problems that have been plaguing NYCHA for years, a reorganization of its management structure, including financial transparency and government accountability, will go a long way in improving operations and conditions,” added James.
Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced an independent monitor would oversee NYCHA funding, including the latest $250 million set aside in the 2019 budget. The money comes in addition to $350 million state funding promised to NYCHA in the past.
Public housing continues to be a key campaign platform for the governor and his Democratic rival Cynthia Nixon, both of whom visited NYCHA recently.
In December, Olatoye came under fire once again when she faced lawmakers during the city’s first Committee on Oversight and Investigation hearing. The NYCHA head faced several hours of intense scrutiny from a number of councilmembers including Committee Chair, Ritchie Torres of the Bronx and NYCHA Committee Chair Alicka Ampry-Samuel of the 41st council district which encompasses Brownsville, Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights.
Today Ampry-Samuel said Olatoya’s resignation does not solve the problem.
The Brooklyn lawmaker and former NYCHA staffer, whose district houses 26 NYCHA developments, also thanked the embattled chair but welcomed a renewed and unobstructed managing of NYCHA.
“As Chair of Public Housing, we will continue to work with the mayor, the governor and the residents of NYCHA to ensure this latest departure does not disrupt some of the recent verbal commitments made in funding allocations, plans for needed repairs and system installations,” said Ampry-Samuel.
“Her resignation doesn’t fix the decades of problems caused by disinvestment, but will hopefully end political distraction and allow leaders to be focused on real solutions,” added Ampry-Samuel.
UDATED – Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier today that Stanley Brezenoff will serve as Interim Chair of the New York City Housing Authority, succeeding Shola Olatoye who will depart the post at the end of April.
“The Housing Authority that the Chair inherited four years ago faced bankruptcy, an inability to make basic repairs and an alarming surge in violence. She was a change agent from Day One. Crime is down. Repairs are faster. Finances are stabilized. And NYCHA is putting record investment from the City to work making life better for the 400,000 New Yorkers that call NYCHA home. We’re grateful for her service,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement to the press. “With a proven track record of transforming large agencies, I’m confident that Stanley Brezenoff will help to continue our progress while we search for a new chair.”
