Un-bridal-ed rage as HUD big begins
A TRUMP FAMILY event planner arrived in New York on Monday to begin piloting the biggest regional housing office in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As first revealed by the Daily News, Trump appointed Lynne Patton — a longtime loyalist with zero housing experience — as administrator of HUD’s Region II overseeing New York and New Jersey.
Patton (photo) arrived early Monday at the agency’s lower Manhattan office, where she will be paid $160,000 to oversee 400 staffers managing billions of taxpayer dollars as the Trump administration seeks to cut housing aid.
Prior to Monday, Patton’s primary experience was serving as a Trump family event planner, arranging celebrity appearances at Trump golf events and helping plan Eric Trump’s wedding.
As The News reported June 15, Patton attended the Quinnipiac University School of Law for two semesters but listed a “J.D.” from the school on her LinkedIn page with the cryptic addendum “(N.A.).”
In an interview with The New York Times published Monday, Patton admitted she’d only attended for two semesters and blasted as “misdirected discontent” criticism of her appointment that exploded after The News story hit.
That criticism continued Monday after Patton officially began her new job, with multiple local politicians questioning her credentials.
City Councilman Ritchie Torres (DBronx), chairman of the Public Housing Committee, called her “the fusion of rightwing ideology with Trumpian nepotism” and “the latest demonstration that Donald Trump is attempting to sabotage the most crucial safety net of affordable housing in New York City — which is NYCHA.”
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) said, “I still don’t see how Ms. Patton is qualified for this position,” and Rep. Grace Meng (DQueens), who demanded that Trump remove Patton’s appointment after the News story hit, stated, “Although Ms. Patton may say she is ‘best suited’ for this position, I think a candidate with actual housing or government experience may be better suited for this role.”
On Monday HUD stated that Patton had worked as an American Red Cross “Mass Disaster Shelter Supervisor” in Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Red Cross officials could not immediately confirm that.
In announcing Patton’s appointment, HUD Secretary Ben Carson — who also has no housing experience — implicitly acknowledged her lack of housing background, stating, “Her energy and enthusiasm for executing HUD’s mission will be supported by a tremendous team of housing experts in our Region II office who have served the area for years.”