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Resident leader praises nominee William Rodríguez’s housing experience at confirmation hearing
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Summary
Mirtha Colón Pellecier, representing area public-housing residents, testified in support of William Rodríguez’s nomination as Secretary of the Department of Housing, citing his work with federal housing programs and responsiveness during the pandemic. The commission closed the hearing and invited a written statement.
Mirtha Colón Pellecier, a leader of public-housing resident organizations, urged the commission to support William Rodríguez Rodríguez’s nomination as Secretary of the Department of Housing, saying his long experience with federal housing programs and responsiveness to residents make him qualified.
Colón Pellecier told the Comisión de Nombramientos that residents have consistently participated in confirmation processes and that it is important to understand a nominee’s background. She recounted Rodríguez’s public-sector experience and involvement with programs tied to federal funds for public housing, saying his work included legal support for programs described in her testimony as “sección nueve” (public housing) and “sección ocho.” She also referenced programs the nominee worked with that serve people experiencing homelessness and veterans.
"Ha escuchado nuestros reclamos de querer ser parte de la solución y no el problema," Colón Pellecier said, describing Rodríguez as someone who has listened to residents’ concerns and advanced proposals such as local leadership training. She added that Rodríguez "ha demostrado con sus acciones la sensibilidad y firmeza necesaria" to work with community members, particularly during the pandemic when, she said, he helped secure resources through government and private-sector alliances.
In a narrative of his career the witness provided to the record, Colón Pellecier said Rodríguez worked in 2010–2011 as an attorney handling legal documents related to federally assigned funds for housing programs; she said he was named director of acquisitions and procurement in 2012, later practiced privately in commercial litigation and construction matters, served on a 2016 transition committee, was appointed subadministrator of public housing in 2017, became administrator of public housing in 2019 (serving until December 2020), and was designated secretary of the housing department in January 2021.
The commission’s presiding official thanked Colón Pellecier for her testimony, noted that the nominee was present and listening, and asked her to submit her written "ponencia" by email so it could be included in the committee report. Colón Pellecier said she had difficulty obtaining the correct email address and asked for assistance; the presiding official offered help and suggested she contact the commission if she could not send the document.
The hearing concluded without a formal vote; the presiding official closed the vista pública for the nominee at the recorded time shown in the record.
