HA Chair Hernandez Leaving to Run Drug Treatment Agency

Housing Authority Chairman Tino Hernandez announced Nov. 21 that he is resigning to take a post in the private sector after seven years in the job, during which massive Federal aid reductions forced him to cut jobs and services.

TINO HERNANDEZ: Going back to old agency.

Mr. Hernandez announced his resignation with Mayor Bloomberg, while appearing on WOR Radio's "The John Gambling Show with Mayor Mike." He is taking a position as CEO at Samaritan Village, Inc., a not-for-profit substance-abuse treatment provider in New York City, where he had previously worked before entering public service.

Will Stay to Year's End

Speaking at the City Council during a budget hearing, Mr. Hernandez said that Samaritan Village was a "nationally renowned" organization that was "near and dear to me." After the retirement of its long-time president, Mr. Hernandez was approached for the CEO position and said he was given the Mayor's blessing, with the caveat that he had to remain at HA for the rest of 2008.

"As is customary with this administration, [the Mayor] has appointed an acting chairman ... that will be Ricardo Morales," said Mr. Hernandez. "As is also customary, the administration will conduct a national search for a new chairman of the Housing Authority." He said that it had been "a privilege and an honor" to run the agency, and that he was "very confident that I leave the Housing Authority in good hands."

Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd, who represents many HA employees, said that he thought Mr. Hernandez's move was voluntary despite the troubles the agency has encountered. "To tell you the truth, I don't think it has anything to do with ... recent funding problems," he said in a phone interview, referring to the announced budget cuts for 2009. "I think Tino is passionate about the things that he does, and this was probably a decision that was made a while ago ... I think this is one of the things he really wanted to do in his life."