2 NYCHA officials resign following lead paint report

Three senior officials of NYCHA have resigned or been demoted following serious allegations this week that the head of the city's housing authority lied under oath about completing lead-based paint inspections.

As News 12 has reported, a report by the Department of Investigation alleges that NYCHA signed off on documents saying its apartments had been properly examined and inspected for lead-related dangers, when the inspections had in fact been bypassed. 

Brian Clarke and Jay Krantz have both resigned over the office's false paperwork that was filed. Luis Ponce, a NYCHA senior vice president, has been demoted as well.

"The DOI's report represents a genuine collapse of credibility within the Housing Authority and the only hope for restoring public confidence in the leadership of the Housing Authority is an independent monitor, says" Bronx City Councilman Ritchie Torres, who oversees the council's public housing committee.

Olatoye has not stepped down despite calls for her to resign over the matter.

Mayor Bill de Blasio - who appointed Olatoye - says he support her, and says calls for her to step down are purely political.

Councilman Torres' office is planning a public hearing on the lead paint scandal in early December.