How did I become the bad guy?

Here's the 30 second update on my life:

A while back my company was asked to manage another retirement community about a mile away from the one where I work. During this process the executive director was let go. My company was asked to step in during the interim, and my boss and I have been overseeing the daily operations for a couple of months now. Professionally it has been an amazing experience. I am involved with the budget, I oversee the 45 employees, and on a daily basis people are coming to me to make executive decisions. I even attend meetings with the board of directors, president, and senior vice presidents. A few weeks ago my boss told all the employees and residents that I have full decision making authority and to always go to me first. It's a little overwhelming because somehow I'm still supposed to keep up with my responsibilities as resident services director of the old place too. My cell phone rings constantly.

I love my new responsibilities. It's a rush to go into work and be the highest ranking employee there (when my boss isn't around). But don't worry. It's not all going to my head. This job has a way of humbling me. Back at my old job I walk in and the residents give me hugs, they tell me they love me, that they miss me, and I feel needed and useful. My new job is a different story. I have my fans. There are those that love to see me and think I am the answer to all their problems. On the other hand to others I am the one that is evicting them for non-payment, I am the person responsible for the layoff of their friend, and I am the guy who is trying to change everything when it was "fine" the way it was. I sometimes want to scream, "You don't understand. I am the GOOD guy!" I want to bring my residents from my old place over so they can vouch for me. In reality I know that it will take time to build their trust and that with my new responsibilities I will not be liked by everyone. That's a hard thing to accept. I'm not used to being the bad guy. Today I was helping a resident and she said, "It's good to see that you actually have a heart." I was hurt. How could she know me for two months and not know how much I love older adults and that I got into this field to make a difference?

With the new job, much of what I do is administrative. My mom commented, "I miss the stories about cute old people." I do too. They're still there, but it's different. Here's one from my first day on the job.

Male Resident: (angrily) Oh. I know who you are! You're the one that got the executive director fired and are now trying to take over.

Me: Actually that's a common misconception here. In reality all personnel decisions were made by your board of directors. My company does not have that decision making power. We were just invited to manage in the interim to make sure that things run smoothly here.

Male Resident: So I guess it's not your fault she was fired...Well do you know what really makes me upset. They sent a KID! You don't know what it's like to be a 90 year old man.

Me: You know, you're right. I don't. I hope I do someday, and in the meantime you'll have to tell me what it's like and what your needs are so that I can see how we best meet them. But let me tell you about myself. I have my masters degree in gerontology from USC. I have been working as the director of resident services over a retirement community with over 200 residents. Before that I was an intern there where I actually lived within the community. So you're right. I don't know what it's like be a 90 year old man, but I do know what it's like to live in a retirement community.

Female Resident: Would you lay off him? Would you really want the place run by a 90 year old? They hire the young kids because they have the energy to do this stuff so give the kid a chance.