Baltimore Housing Commissioner Resigns, Effective in January 2017

Baltimore Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano has submitted his letter of resignation, effective Jan. 6.

Mayor Catherine Pugh said she wanted to "change direction" when asked about the move Tuesday at a press conference.

"I just need someone who understands my vision — that we are building communities," said Pugh.

Many residents of Baltimore and tens of thousands of women's rights advocates have called for the resignation of Graziano, under whose watch the city negotiated an $8 million settlement after more than a dozen women alleged they had to perform sex acts for critical repairs to be completed at their homes in subsidized housing.

At Tuesday's media briefing, Pugh told reporters that her goal was "housing equality," so one part of the city was not getting more resources or different treatment than another.

During her campaign, Pugh said that she wanted to make changes in the way that the city approached housing and development. Less than two weeks after her inauguration, Pugh made good on her promise.

Graziano tendered his resignation following negotiations with the city for an undisclosed amount, and the agency will be split into two parts — housing/community development on the one hand and the housing authority on the other — according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

Graziano was appointed the Baltimore City Housing Authority's executive director and Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development commissioner in 2000. Before that, he was the CEO of the New York City Housing Authority.

According to WBAL, Graziano was paid $220,000 a year.

Photo of Paul Graziano courtesy of Baltimore City Government.