Gary Squier: an Inspired Choice

Los Angeles is facing a worsening shortage of affordable rental housing. As many as 300,000 families need decent, low-rent apartments. To tackle that daunting task when federal housing subsidies are dwindling, the mayor has appointed Gary Squier, a knowledgeable affordable-housing expert to head the city’s new Housing Department. It is an inspired choice.

Squier knows housing. He has been an activist and advocate. He started his housing career as a volunteer on Skid Row. He honed his skills while working as a nonprofit housing developer and housing consultant in Los Angeles.

Squier also knows City Hall. He became Mayor Bradley’s first housing coordinator three years ago. While there, he convinced officials the housing shortage was indeed a crisis that would only get worse unless the city built and preserved more affordable housing. He also worked with a special mayor’s panel that recommended the creation of a housing commission and a housing department.

At the mayor’s request, Squier became acting director of the city’s housing authority at an awkward time, shortly after a controversial director had resigned. Squier worked quickly and aggressively to involve more tenants in the management of housing projects, reduce vacancies, improve security, speed up maintenance and double the budget for repairs. After restoring public confidence in the agency, he returned to consultant work in December.

Squier’s most recent appointment, which requires council approval, is the final piece in the city’s comprehensive housing policy. Since January, Bradley and the City Council have put together a strong activist team committed to housing. That team includes a Housing Commission chaired by Chuck Elsesser, a housing expert and former Legal Aid lawyer who continues to work as an aide to state Sen. President Pro Tem David Roberti. The mayor’s current housing coordinator, Michael Bodaken, is also a former Legal Aid lawyer and veteran housing advocate who has brought his expertise to City Hall.

Creating more affordable apartments will take time, money, independent leadership and vision. Gary Squier is a good choice for the job.