New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) recently hired Gregory Russ as the new chairman with a salary of over $400,000. Tenants in public housing and city officials are concerned. 

Russ has managed housing before, but never anything the size of NYCHA. In Minneapolis, he managed 6,300 units, and in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he managed 2,700. NYCHA has 400,000 New Yorkers living in 170,000 apartments, which is a difference of 163,700 units from where Russ started. 

“He managed a quarter of what NYCHA has,” said Linda Bailey, a tenant in Gun Hill Houses. “How are you going to manage this? What can you bring to us? What are you going to do for NYCHA besides pocket all the money?”

When asked what Russ could do to deserve a salary so large, Bailey said “Bring these developments up to par, quick, fast, and in a hurry”

Many residents find the salary excessive, considering building conditions are not up to par. Residents are also concerned about how Russ can efficiently manage NYCHA with the allowance of frequent trips to Minnoesta, where his family lives.

“To be the chair of NYCHA is to be the mayor of a large city in the United States, and that’s not something you can do half-heartedly. You have to be on the ground, on call, 24/7. It is one of the most demanding positions in the country,” Councilman Ritchie Torres told the Norwood News. 

Torres would’ve wanted to look elsewhere for a NYCHA chair, pointing out that a successful would be “someone who has experienced managing real estate on a large level, who knows how to cultivate relationships with tenants, [and[ elected leaders.” 

The conditions of Gun Hill Houses are inadequate, according to tenants. There have been complaints of no hot water, no water, no cooking gas for over a month, problems with elevators, paint jobs needing done, an abundance of lingering cats, and more. 

“There’s a lot of things that we need done here. When was the last time they really painted hallways? 1999. Our hallways and stuff need painted. Our elevators need to be updated. Every weekend there’s something wrong with the elevators,” said Erma Grey, a resident of Gun Hill Houses since 1972. “We have a lot of people with walkers, wheelchairs. How are they supposed to get out of their apartment? Are they supposed to be locked in their apartment the whole summer because there’s only one elevator?” 

Not only are these problems present in the buildings, but general maintenance issues are also put off for extended periods of time.  

“If you have a stoppage or something, they tell you they can’t come today, but you have to have an appointment for tomorrow. In the meantime, what do you do?” said resident Charlotte Trafton, who has lived in Gun Hill Houses since 1975. 

Expectations are high for Russ. Not only residents, but even city officials are anxious to see if his work will match his salary.

“We’re paying Mr. Russ more money than previous chairs to do less work than previous chairs,” said Torres.