The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found Syracuse Housing Authority Board Chair Ryan Benz has an “apparent” conflict of interest and requested comprehensive details of his business dealings, HUD wrote in a letter to Benz on June 30.
The finding came five months after SHA Executive Director Bill Simmons filed a complaint against Benz with HUD.
HUD emailed the letter to Benz, Simmons and SHA attorney Brad Hunt. Benz confirmed to Central Current he received the letter. He provided HUD with additional information on July 7.
In a statement to Central Current, Benz said he has worked cooperatively with HUD to answer their questions and will continue to provide the federal organization with information.
“I remain confident that the additional information being provided will answer the remaining questions, and I look forward to bringing this matter to a close so that my full attention, and the Authority’s, can remain focused on serving the residents of Syracuse,” Benz said.
Simmons, who announced his surprise retirement last week, accused Benz of having a conflict of interest with the housing authority’s billion-dollar redevelopment of public housing on the city’s Southside.
The HUD letter is the first signal that the conflict among Simmons, Benz and the SHA board could extend beyond Simmons’ tenure as executive director. The housing authority has become embroiled in yet another conflict related to the redevelopment of public housing.
A year ago, the project’s centerpiece — the creation of the Children Rising Center — was paused after funding meant to subsidize the project was lost. Allegations of uncertainty around missed deadlines, lack of transparency and infighting among board members and housing authority officials have marred Simmons’ final year of leadership. Two mayors, city officials and other stakeholders in the project have questioned his leadership of the project.
Jalyn Clifford, who is set to take over as SHA’s acting executive director on Saturday, declined to comment for this the story. Simmons did not respond to Central Current’s request for comment.
SHA Vice Chair Rickey Brown expressed support for Benz. In a statement to Central Current, Brown wrote that he believes Benz “has been forthcoming and transparent by all accounts and (I) look forward to his continued sound fiscal and administrative stewardship. He’s a tremendous leader.”
Benz’s personal and professional relationships with Andy and Charlie Breuer, owners of Hueber-Breuer Construction and Braxton Capital, create “an apparent conflict of interest under federal procurement standards,” HUD wrote. Hueber-Breuer was hired by developer McCormack Baron Salazar to be a general contractor for the redevelopment of public housing.
Hueber-Breuer is involved with three phases of work in the neighborhood:
- Almus Olver Tower
- The demolition and ground-up rebuild of McKinney Manor
- Brownfield remediation and a ground-up rebuild on the vacant parcel of land across from Almus Olver Towers
In February, after Commissioner Patricia McBride insinuated Benz pushed for SHA and its developer to use Hueber-Breuer Construction to help redevelop public housing, Central Current obtained emails through a public records request. Those emails seemed to undercut McBride’s allegations. It showed that Hueber-Breuer, a company that is potentially at the center of the controversy, was hired by SHA’s development partner in April 2024 — nearly 11 months before former Mayor Ben Walsh appointed Benz to the board.
But HUD found that Benz’ previous work with the Breuers constituted a conflict.
“Because of Hueber’s and Braxton’s involvement, Chairman Benz is to recuse from any discussions, resolutions or other activities associated with the East Adams Project / CNI Grant, to avoid the appearance of impropriety.”
HUD called another review of the situation, completed by Hunt, “incomplete.” Hunt, who also represents the board, reviewed Benz’ conflict of interest forms and financial disclosures in March following Simmons’ complaint. He sent a legal opinion to HUD, clearing Benz of any conflicts.
Since details of Simmons’ allegations were unclear, Hunt wrote in his opinion that he had sent an email to Simmons on March 5 asking for materials and information Simmons sent to HUD. Simmons never responded to Hunt’s request, Hunt has said.
Hunt’s legal opinion only addressed SHA’s developer McCormack Baron Salazar hiring development company Hueber Breuer as a general contractor before Benz was appointed as board chair.
HUD also found that Benz has a conflict on discussions involving the housing choice vouchers given to tenants living at Moyer Carriage Lofts. The Moyer Carriage Lofts were developed in 2020 by Benz’s Redev CNY in partnership with Housing Visions. Housing Visions, which has the majority ownership interest, is now in charge of managing the property.
Tenants at the apartment building receive federal rent subsidies administered by SHA through the Housing Assistance Payment contract, HUD’s review showed. HUD’s Annual Contributions Contract prohibits board members from having a contract like HAP with their housing authority.
Benz will have to disclose his interests in any entity that receives funding from Syracuse Housing Authority, the letter said. HUD wrote that Benz could potentially continue in his role and vote on items related to the redevelopment if the field office waives “the conflict-of-interest prohibition for good cause.”
Meanwhile, Benz must continue to recuse himself from a majority of board discussions to prevent violating any conflict of interest requirements, HUD said. He must recuse himself from conversations that include the East Adams project, the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant, Almus Olver Towers, Section 8 programs as well as any SHA actions connected to the Moyer Carriage Lofts.
Read HUD’s letter below:
This letter responds to the information provided to our Office in February and March 2026 regarding potential conflicts of interest involving Chairman Ryan Benz and the Syracuse Housing Authority’s federally funded programs. Based on the information reviewed HUD has determined that Chairman Benz must fully disclose his interest, association, partnership, stake, share, involvement, ownership, whether business, organizational or personal, in any business, property, venture, investment, or entity that receives funding from Syracuse Housing Authority.
SHA must obtain complete ownership and business relationship disclosures from Chairman Benz to adequately allow SHA and HUD to determine whether additional action, including potential waiver consideration, is permissible.
Chairman Benz is to continue to recuse himself from all matters involving the East Adams Street redevelopment, the Choice Neighborhood Implementation (CNI) grant, AOTowers, Housing Choice Voucher and Project Based Voucher Programs, and any SHA actions connected to the Moyer Carriage Lofts (the Lofts) or entities connected to CNY. This recusal is required to ensure compliance with federal conflict-of-interest requirements and protects Chairman Benz from inadvertently violating any state ethics or other conflict of interest requirements.
Based on documentation submitted to HUD, it appears that Chairman Benz has partnership interests in businesses that have contractual relationships with the SHA and its East Adams Street development project, the SHA’s Choice Neighborhood Implementation (CNI) grant, and Moyer Carriage Lofts ( the Lofts), a 128-unit building that receives federal rent subsidies. Mr. Benz is a member of CNY, a member of the joint venture that developed Lofts.
Our review revealed that Lofts is a new construction project that receives Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) assistance from SHA through a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract.
During our review of the Disclosure Form, HUD noted that Mr. Benz indicated “no” regarding owning, operating, or serving as an officer of an entity transacting business with SHA, its contractors, or its residents. HUD’s Annual Contributions Contract Section 19 prohibits board members from having a contract, e.g., HAP, with their housing authority. Further, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher regulations at 24 CFR §982.161(a) and (b) state the following:
(a) Neither the PHA nor any of its contractors or subcontractors may enter into any contract or arrangement in connection with the HCV program in which any of the www.hud.gov following classes of persons have any interest, direct or indirect, during tenure or for one year thereafter:
(1) Any present or former member or officer of the PHA (except a participant commissioner);
(b) Any member of the classes described in paragraph (a) of this section must disclose their interest or prospective interest to the PHA and HUD.
(c) The conflict-of-interest prohibition under this section may be waived by the HUD field office for good cause.
HUD’s review concludes that Chairman Benz’s personal and professional relationships with Andy and Charlie Breuer, principals of Hueber-Breuer and Braxton Capital, create an apparent conflict of interest under federal procurement standards (2 CFR §200.318(c)(1)) eCFR ::2 CFR 200.318 — General procurement standards.
An apparent conflict is when a perception of conflict exists regardless of whether a person is actually influenced by a secondary interest. Hueber-Breuer and Braxton are directly involved in SHA’s East Adams and CNI-funded development activities. Because these projects are supported by federal funds, Chairman Benz cannot participate in their award (i.e., board resolution approving the award), oversight, or administration (note that commissioners cannot be involved in administrative or program functions at a housing authority that are the purview of the executive director).
Chairman Benz’s comments in the development meeting about his friendship with the Hueber brothers illustrate that he has a personal relationship with the Bruer brothers that he is willing to use to facilitate/influence communication inter alia. Furthermore, despite assertions by Chairman Benz and SHA Counsel to the contrary, the fact that the OHB joint venture is still legally active, coupled with Mr. Benz’s prior Shoppingtown business dealings with the brothers, demonstrates an ongoing professional relationship. Because of Hueber’s and Braxton’s involvement, Chairman Benz is to recuse from any discussions, resolutions or other activities associated with the East Adams Project / CNI Grant, to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Given limited information on Mr. Benz’s real estate holdings and business dealings, SHA and HUD must secure full and complete disclosures. Furthermore, the SHA Legal Opinion only addresses MBS and the Breuer brothers; thus, is incomplete.
Timeline of events:
- August 2022: Benz became part of OHB Redev LLC, a single purpose entity to redevelop the former Shoppingtown Mall into a housing and entertainment complex. Six people, through five separate development companies, were involved in the proposed redevelopment of Shoppingtown Mall. One of the entities was owned by Andy and Charlie Breuer, two of the three owners of Hueber-Breuer Construction.
- Through 2023 and 2024: Following title litigation and eminent domain proceedings handled by the Onondaga County IDA, the project remains dormant through these years.
- March 2025: Ryan Benz was appointed as a board member amid ongoing scrutiny over Simmons’ leadership at SHA.
- April 15, 2024: Syracuse-based architecture firm Ashley McGraw recommended Hueber Breuer and two other construction companies — Hamilton Stern Construction and Welliver — to McCormack Baron Salazar as a potential general contractor for two projects: the rehabilitation of Almus Oliver towers and the redevelopment of public housing.
- April 26, 2024: McCormack Baron Salazar emailed Simmons and other SHA employees informing them about changing their general contractor. They chose Heuber Breuer.
- March 20, 2025: Developer Ryan Benz elected to Syracuse Housing Authority board by former Mayor Ben Walsh.
- October 2025: The Onondaga County IDA approved an agreement that led to the project being stopped due to lack of site control.
- Nov. 4, 2025: Mayor Sharon Owens won the mayoral election, and further emphasized the need for Simmons’ removal in a gaggle with reporters.
- Nov. 20, 2025: Following former Board Chair Calvin Corriders Sr.’s resignation, Benz was elected as chair.
- Nov. 20, 2025: Benz filed his annual conflict of interest statement where he denied having any ownership or connection to entities that carry out transactions with SHA. This disclosure was recorded after OHB Redev LLC had become defunct, Benz emphasized. SHA counsel and counsel at Fox Rothschild both agreed that there is no business relationship between the two entities, he added.
- January 2026: During a sitdown interview, Owens reiterated to Central Current that Simmons needs to be removed.
- Jan. 27, 2026: Owens appointed another ally and affordable housing expert Douglas Reicher to the board.
- Feb. 17, 2026: Simmons sent an email to HUD alleging Benz’s conflict of interest despite not addressing such concerns in the past.
- Feb. 18, 2026: HUD sent a memorandum asking Benz to recuse himself from discussions pertaining to the East Adams project and the CNI grant.
- Feb. 19, 2026: Benz defended himself against Simmons’ allegations before leaving the board meeting.
- Feb. 24, 2026: Emails obtained by Central Current appear to undercut allegations made by Board Commissioner Patricia McBride accusing Benz of an improper business relationship with Hueber-Breuer Construction, the general contractor for three phases of work in the neighborhood redevelopment project.
- March 19, 2026: SHA Counsel Bradley Hunt clears Benz of any conflicts of interest after reviewing disclosure forms. However, Benz continues to recuse himself from meetings pending HUD approval.
- May 25, 2026: SHA Vice Chair Christopher Montgomery steps down from the board.
- May 26, 2026: Mayor Sharon Owens appoints Monica Williams, yet another ally, to the SHA board; the board has a majority in Owens’ allies if they wanted to fire Simmons.
- May 28, 2026: Board Commissioner Rickey Brown is appointed as SHA vice chair while Simmons denies any pressure to leave.
- July 2, 2026: Simmons announces surprise early retirement at board meeting while Deputy Executive Director Jalyn Clifford is selected to take over as an acting executive director effective July 11.
- July 9, 2026: HUD’s opinion five months after the allegations started seeks more clarification while asking Benz to continue to recuse himself.
- July 10, 2026: Simmons’ last day at SHA but he will continue to provide insights until August for a smooth transition.
