Transparency, Accountability, and Tenant Safety at the Northampton Housing Authority

Jerry Halberstadt Thu, 01/01/2026 - 18:55

Paul Borneo drafted the following letter to Northampton Mayor Gina Louise-Sciarra on behalf of several signers, leaders of tenant organizations at Northampton Housing Authority (NHA) on October 17, 2025. We publish it as part of our documentation of the positive impact of complaints made by NHA staff to the Executive Office of Housing and Livability and the resulting changes in the residential community.

Subject: Call for Transparency, Accountability, and Tenant Safety at the Northampton Housing Authority

Northampton Mayor 
Gina Louise-Sciarra
210 Main Street 
Northampton, MA 01060

On behalf of the tenant organizations at Forsander, Salvo, and Cahill Apartments, we want to thank you for ensuring that former Chair Maureen Carney is no longer on the Northampton Housing (NHA) Board; that step has opened the door to needed reform.

Together with the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants (Mass Union) we ask you to keep that momentum going - quickly and decisively - for the sake of elderly, disabled, and low-income tenants who rely on on safe housing and fair governance. We write to express our deep concern over the ongoing lack of transparency, accountability, and ethical governance within the Northampton Housing Authority. 

Recent events—including the suspension of public comment, unaddressed health and safety hazards, and ongoing discrimination against tenant representation—have eroded public trust and jeopardized the wellbeing of hundreds of residents across NHA properties. 

We therefore respectfully request the following actions: 

  1. Appoint Jim Nash and Remove Jim Brooks Expedite the appointment of Mr. Jim Nash, whose paperwork has been completed and approved, to replace Mr. Jim Brooks, whose Governor’s appointment expired over a year ago. This overdue transition will restore legitimacy and fairness to the NHA Board.
  2. Address Conflicts of Interest on the NHA Board and Remove Vice-Chair Patricia Healey Given ongoing ethical concerns and her repeated alignment with individuals under investigation, we request Ms. Healey’s removal from the NHA Board to ensure impartial governance.  Please initiate a formal conflict of interest investigation of current board members, including Patricia Healey. 
  3. End the discrimination against the Tenant Board Members  Ensure the Tenant Board Members receive the same materials, on the same timeline, and are allowed to function fully with all participation rights as all other Commissioners. 
  4. Commit to Tenant-Centered Board Appointments Over the longer term, prioritize candidates who are independent, ethical, and tenant-focused to rebuild trust. 
  5. Restore Public Comment at NHA Board Meetings Immediately reinstate the public comment period to ensure tenants and community members can speak openly and without retaliation, as guaranteed under state open meeting laws.  People affected by decisions must be heard. 
  6. Release Results of the Whistleblower Investigation and Increase Transparency Across the NHA Tenants and the public deserve transparency regarding the findings of the ongoing investigation into the former Executive Director and any related personnel actions and tell the public what corrective actions will follow. Adopt a proactive disclosure policy so tenants don’t have to file records requests for basic information. Post agendas, full board packets, contracts, investigations, and votes online in a timely manner     
  7. Remediate Health and Safety Hazards Immediate inspection and correction of long-standing code violations, including: 
    -   Lack of ventilation at multiple NHA sites; 
    -   Presence of mold and asbestos; 
    -   Excessive mechanical noise and poor air quality; 
    -   Unsafe relocation practices following maintenance or environmental incidents.
  8. Recognize the Cahill Apartments LTO Official acknowledgment and support of Cahill Apartments’ tenant organization to ensure residents are represented in decision-making and resource allocation.     

Broader Concerns & Why This Matters Now

Residents have documented years of mismanagement of public funds, neglect of property maintenance, and unethical behavior by staff and leadership. These failures have left vulnerable tenants—many elderly or disabled—living in unsafe, unhealthy conditions. 

We view this as not only a Northampton issue but part of a larger pattern across Massachusetts housing authorities where tenant rights are routinely dismissed.  Northampton can and should set a statewide example by embracing transparency, integrity, and community partnership. 

At the same time, residents are alarmed by spending choices and delays.  For example, paying the inactive executive director while critical building systems go unfixed is hard to justify to tenants living with noise, mold, or failing ventilation.  We also note ongoing reports of rents exceeding the 30% of income rule; these need prompt audit and correction.

Finally the NHA needs a greater operating subsidy, but new dollars must be paired with transparent governance, tenant participation, and strict accountability so funds reach repairs and services - not bureaucracy.

A Constructive Path Forward 

We ask for a meeting within two weeks with the Mayor and the city’s Liason to NHA to map a timeline for the above actions, including:

• A board appointment schedule for Jim Nash;
• A written plan to restore tenant/public comment;
• A date to publish the findings of the investigation into the Executive Director Cara Leiper; 
• A policy memo guaranteeing equal information access and full participation rights for the Tenant Board Members;
• A recognition vote date for the Cahill LTO;
• A facility work plan (ventilation/mold/asbestos) with milestones and funding sources.

We are ready to collaborate in good faith.  Tenants will do our part- documenting maintenance problems, sharing data on rent discrepancies, and participating constructively in meetings—if city leadership ensures an open, ethical process.

We invite your offices to respond publicly and promptly to the tenants’ concerns and to outline a plan for corrective action.  Together, we can rebuild trust, repair homes, and restore the integrity of public housing governance in Northampton. 

Thank you again for the steps you’ve already taken.  Please help us finish the job.

In solidarity, 

[Signed for] Northampton Local Tenant Organizations (LTOs): 

  • Cahill Apartments LTO 
  • Walter Salvo House LTO 
  • Forsander LTO 

With the support of: 
Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants (Mass Union)

 

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