Riches @ Richman: Nanney Pena
Regulators must take a hard look at property managers profiting while residents endure issues in buildings they oversee. This includes day-to-day managers like Leslie Liriano, who I discussed in my last post, and senior leaders like Nanney Pena, Regional Vice President at Richman Property Services, overseeing One East Harlem.
What is striking about Nanney, who has overseen my roach infestation treatments (which have been ineffective to date), as well as the many of the other issues at One East Harlem for most of my tenancy, is that despite the roaches, broken walls, exposed outlet, etc I dealt with as a resident, Nanney in my opinion appears to believe the biggest victim is: Nanney.
Why? Well. Nanney has complained about me accusing staff of discrimination, despite she and her staff being the subject of an open complaint for racial discrimination with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as of June 2025.
She has also accused me of impeding her, thus far ineffective, exterminating services provided by One East Harlem’s contractor because prior to the treatments starting in earnest, I purchased Raid (which hasn’t been used since). A single use of Raid overpowering six (or so) exterminating visits seems…improbable.
Yet, to Nanney, these are the seemingly problematic actions she must deal with. Hopefully the fact she’s still profiting with a paycheck can offset any discomfort she may feel.
While Nanney has expressed her concern about the above-mentioned topics, what she hasn’t done is fully get rid of the roaches in my apartment.
Nanney received letters from a doctor and specialist noting the negative affect the roaches have had on my physical and mental health. She offered an accommodation to switch my apartment in May 2025. The information on documents needed? Not received as of this June 2025 post. When the apartment will be available? Unknown. If the apartments around it can be treated so we don’t have a roach repeat? Not doable. Oh, but the rent will increase. Though the apartment won’t be much different. Oh, and they’ll need to dig through my finances for the second time in less than six months. Better than nothing? I pray, but don’t have extensive enough information (except the higher rent amount, which was readily available, obviously).
Nanney confirmed that there were “market rate” apartments available as I suffered with roaches but was told nothing was available for me. The idea of Richman Property Services allowing a plebe like me to temporarily occupy a market rate apartment to alleviate the roach problem I faced? Simply not possible, it seems.
This all brings me back to regulators. Directors have an obligation to guide the organization towards strict compliance. Regulators should also look to see whether the organizations and executives are acting in overall good faith. Thus, they should take a hard look at whether Nanney’s actions have done that.
