Housing Commissioner Speaks Out About Sex-For-Repairs Allegations

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The head of Baltimore's Housing Authority spoke to the media for the first time since a federal lawsuit alleging city housing maintenance men demanded sex from women before making repairs.

Derek Valcourt has more on what Commissioner Paul Graziano has to say about the scandal.

"This is totally unacceptable behavior and anybody who engages in it will be dealt with in the harshest terms," he said.

Graziano says he can't disclose the actions he's already taken against the public housing maintenance employees named in this federal lawsuit. Those men are accused demanding sex before repairing deplorable, even life-threatening, conditions inside public housing apartments.

Eleven women say they were forced to live with dangerous mold, no heat and rodent infestations because they rejected the men's advances. Attorneys insist housing officials ignored sexual harassment complaints.

"There's no doubt that the Housing Authority knew. There were complaints in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. Those complaints went all the way up to the second in command," said attorney Carey Hansel.

But Commissioner Graziano claims he had no knowledge of the scandal prior to the federal lawsuit.

"The first place where we got real names, real allegations was September 28th and we have been working around the clock since that point to address these matters," Graziano said.

Public housing residents also blame Graziano for maintenance problems inside homes.

"And I don't think it's good to live like this," said Gilmor Homes resident Tayesha Harrell.

Harrell showed WJZ mouse holes throughout her apartment.

"That disrepair isn't for want of better. Our disrepair is for lack of sufficient federal funding," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Graziano vows millions in repairs are on the way.

"A lot of what we do is Band Aids to patch things up because we just don't have the support out of Washington," he said.

Graziano says the federal government is getting involved in the case. He says HUD inspector general is asking for more information on the allegations and his office is cooperating.

The city state's attorney's office says it is conducting a criminal investigation into some of the complaints.