Housing Official Used Low-Income Housing Funds For Personal Work On Home: Hudson County

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — The director of a government-funded housing authority in Hudson County used town contractors and government funds to perform work at his private home for more than two years, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Gerald Sanzari, 63, of River Edge — the former executive director of the North Bergen Housing Authority — was charged with two counts of third-degree theft by unlawful taking, said the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said that on various dates from January 2022 to June 2024, he used city vendors to perform work at his private home, paying them more than $20,000. The money came from an account belonging to North Bergen Renaissance Urban Renewal, a component of the North Bergen Housing Authority.

Cities throughout the United States have federally funded housing authorities designed to run low-income subsidized and senior housing, but over the last few decadaes, as the federal government pulled back on control, some agencies have suffered from local corruption.

Each housing authority is run by a paid executive director and staff, often overseen by an unpaid board of commissioners who are political appointees, with general oversight from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

With affordable housing at a premium, the wait lists and buildings are supposed to be run according to strict federal guidelines.

The North Bergen Housing Authority manages 985 units of low-income housing meant for people with disabilities, seniors, and those with low incomes.

Reports last September said that Sanzari resigned as director due to health issues.

He was earning $190,000 per year in his position before he left, NJ.com reported last September. Also that month, a fired Housing Authority employee filed a lawsuit saying that Sanzari had used low-income housing funds inappropriately, among other accusations.

Last November, the township referred the matter to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.

Sanzari was arrested this week at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Secaucus and released to await his first court appearance, which is tentatively scheduled for for Aug. 26, prosecutors said.

In 2018, NBC News published a series of investigative reports into alleged corruption in town and in the Housing Authority.

Local Officials Respond

On Tuesday, North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco said, "The actions of Gerald Sanzari represent an egregious violation of the public’s trust. The moment Township officials learned of any misconduct, the matter was immediately referred to the appropriate state authorities. At the time, we had no idea of the scope or scale of what had occurred, but we trusted the investigative process to uncover the full truth.

"[New] Executive Director Julio Marenco moved quickly and aggressively to overhaul operations, implementing sweeping reforms to close gaps, strengthen oversight, and ensure full accountability. He has worked side-by-side with law enforcement throughout this investigation, leaving no stone unturned to protect public resources and restore integrity to the Housing Authority.

"The Township of North Bergen stands firmly behind the decisive actions Executive Director Marenco has taken to reform operations and rebuild public trust. Our residents deserve an honest, transparent, and accountable government. While we are outraged by the criminal behavior that has now come to light, we remain committed to ensuring this never happens again.”

Marenco said, on behalf of the North Bergen Housing Authority, "When I accepted the role of Executive Director, I did so with a clear understanding of the serious challenges facing the Housing Authority in the wake of my predecessor’s resignation. From day one, I made it a priority to review all operations, strengthen internal controls, and restore transparency and accountability to the NBHA.

"As the extent of Mr. Sanzari’s misconduct has come to light, we have worked closely with law enforcement and the appropriate state agencies to
ensure a full and thorough investigation. I want to assure our residents and the public that under my leadership, the NBHA has implemented stricter oversight policies, new financial safeguards, and a commitment to ethical management.

"We are deeply disturbed by the betrayal of trust committed by Mr. Sanzari, but we remain focused on moving forward, restoring confidence in the Housing Authority, and continuing to provide quality, affordable housing for the residents we serve."