Mayor Says She's 'Absolutely' Satisfied With Graziano Housing Leadership

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Despite a petition run by a national women's group boasting more than 30,000 signatures calling for Baltimore housing commissioner Paul Graziano's ouster, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake not only refused that call. In an interview on Maryland's Morning News Thursday, she defended Graziano's work, saying she's "absolutely" satisfied with the work Graziano's done.

"I can say that everything I've asked the commissioner to do, he's done an oustanding job," Rawlings-Blake said.

The petition run by the Washington group UltraViolet asks for Graziano's departure over the sex for repairs scandal. The city recently reached a class action settlement with victims. While details haven't been released, each plaintiff sought $10 million. They claim maintenance staff demanded sexual favors for work on their apartments.

“This city turned their backs on its most vulnerable women who were forced to choose between getting life-saving and overdue repairs or giving into the demands of sexual predators," Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, said in a release. "Women living in Baltimore public housing won't be safe until there is someone else in charge."

Rawlings-Blake, however, questioned if the petition represented the opinions of those who actually live in the city's public housing. She said Graziano had the support of the housing authority tenant's council.

"They're really tired of people playing politics with their lives," she said. "They know that if someone fires Graziano, somebody will be putting a mic in front of their hands."

She said that Graziano is less of a problem for Baltimore's public housing than drastic federal funding cuts.

"When you have a significant reduction of funding, it doesn't matter whether it's for a high rise for seniors or in your own house," she said. "If your budget is cut by 80 percent, your ability to maintain your quality of life is significantly reduced."