Vol. 34, No. 10 First Class U.S. Postage Paid — Permit No. 4119, New York, N.Y. 10007 October 2004 THIRD ANNUAL KIDS’ WALK IN THE BRONX Modernization Project at Whitman/Ingersoll music, and dance to greet the One of NYCHA’s Largest Capital Improvement Projects young walkers, warm them up and cheer them on along their mile and a half trek around the track. Then, after a healthful lunch, games and activities filled the afternoon, along with educational and informational materials and face painting by Harborview Arts Center Artist-Consultant and pro- fessional clown Mimi Martinez. “Do you want to have this kind of fun next summer?” NYCHA Vice Chairman Earl Andrews, Jr. asked the assembled young peo- ple. After the loud and unsurpris- ing positive response, Mr. Andrews promised that NYCHA would do everything it could to find the funds to make Kids’ Walk On August 13th, NYCHA’s Chairman Tino Hernandez joined res- happen again. That message was idents and elected officials for a tour through Ingersoll Houses, reinforced by Board Member highlighting four model apartments. Shown here (front row, left Young residents from NYCHA’s Summer Camp program pre- JoAnna Aniello, Deputy General to right) are Whitman Houses Resident Association President pare for their one-and-a-half mile walk in Van Cortlandt Park. Manager for Community Opera- Rosalind Williams, Ingersoll Relocation Vice-Chairwoman Gloria tions Hugh B. Spence, Assistant Collins, Ingersoll Relocation Committee Member Janie Williams, By Allan Leicht Deputy General Manager for Ingersoll Relocation Committee Chairwoman Veronica Obie, ids’ Walk 2004, NYCHA’s third annual summer children’s Community Operations Michelle and Ingersoll Houses Resident Association President Dorothy walkathon to promote physical recreation and combat obesity Pinnock, and Director of Citywide Berry. In the back row (left to right) are Tetra Tech Construction Kfor youth in public housing, gathered in the vast fields of Van Programming and Contract Man- Managers Sal Panico and Antonio Figueroa, Council Member Cortlandt Park in the Bronx under a cloudless sky on August 17. Con- agement Ernesto Lozano, who Letitia James, Chairman Tino Hernandez, and Whitman Reloca- tion Committee Chairman Edward Carter. State Senator Vel- verging from all five boroughs, over 1,500 young people from summer was master of ceremonies for the brief program. manette Montgomery and Assembly Member Joseph Lentol camps at 35 community centers became role models demonstrating the also came to see the model apartments. benefits of exercise and good nutrition, or in the words of Guy Parkins, Banners created by each commu- nity center summer camp illustrated a seventh grader of Edenwald Houses in the Bronx and member of the By Eileen Elliott the theme of the day: “Eat Right, delegation from the Baychester Community Center, “To show people he New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA’s) Walt Whit- Feel Tight!” “Keep in Shape! Exer- man and Raymond Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn are in the midst how to eat right.” cise!” “Join the Carrot Club!” “Eat of a major $83 million renovation that is one of the largest cap- NYCHA’s Department of Community Operations Coordinator Keir Good in the Neighborhood!” T Nelson, Community Operations, and Bronx Borough Administrator ital improvement projects ever undertaken by NYCHA. Jacqueline Howard, delivered a stream of nonstop encouragement, (Continued on page 4) Originally named Ft. Greene take to complete the renovation. Houses, Whitman/Ingersoll’s 16 The 1,970 families that do not high-rise and 19 low-rise build- have to move have the option of ings encompass 41 acres, and its relocating if they choose. MARTIN LUTHER KING TOWERS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS! 3,462 apartments are home to The renovation is necessary not New York City Housing Author- 7,473 residents. In one of the only because of the age of the ity Vice-Chairman Earl Andrews, more challenging aspects of the developments — 60 years — but Jr. (left) joined Martin Luther project, 1,492 families will need also because the apartments were King Towers Resident Associa- tion President Ruby Kitchen to be relocated during some part originally designed only as (center) and Manager Paul Lev- of the five years it is expected to (Continued on page 5) elle to celebrate the Harlem development’s 50th Anniversary on September 11th. Originally named Stephen Foster Houses Inside: after the American composer, King Towers was completed in • New CCTVs for Lower East Side . .page 2 1954 during a period in which NYCHA built its greatest num- • Resident Employment Services . .page 3 ber of dwelling units as a result of the Housing Act of 1949. The • Making Sure Your Halloween Is Safe . .page 4 development was renamed in honor of the Reverend Martin • Resident Domestic Violence Conferences . .page 5 Luther King, Jr. in 1968. Have a Happy Halloween! Page 2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL October 2004 THREE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE GET CCTVs Message From The Mayor By Eileen Elliott New York City Is Setting The Right Priorities orking together with the New York City Housing he recently released WAuthority (NYCHA), Mayor’s Management City Council Member Alan J. TReport for Fiscal Year Gerson has responded to public 2004 (July 2003 to June 2004) housing residents’ requests for indicates that New Yorkers have improved security on the Lower much to be proud of when it East Side by allocating $200,000 comes to City services. The for the installation of small scale safest city in America continues Closed Circuit Television Systems to get safer; our streets are the (CCTVs) in three NYCHA devel- cleanest they have been in 30 opments — Rutgers Houses, Two years; we have made progress Bridges Houses, and 175 Eldridge in educating our children; fewer Street of Lower East Side (LES) I. families entered homeless shel- NYCHA Chairman Tino Her- (Above, left to right) ters for the first time in four nandez joined the Council Member, Resident Association Presidents, NYCHA Deputy Gen- years; traffic fatalities decreased eral Manager for Oper- staff and residents for a press con- and civilian fire fatalities remained at historic low levels. We have ations Services Bobby met New Yorkers’ most pressing needs and are operating govern- ference at Rutgers Houses on Podmore, Chairman ment efficiently and responsively despite the City’s fiscal crisis and August 19th to unveil the new Tino Hernandez, Coun- $3 billion in budget reductions. system there. The state-of-the-art cil Member Gerson, small scale CCTVs, which are Rutgers Tenant Associ- Crime and Safety installed in a total of four build- ation President Eric Major felony crimes decreased for the 13th consecutive fiscal ings in the three developments, Crooke and Vice-Presi- year, dropping by 3% from 147,669 in Fiscal 2003 to 143,268 in record activity in every entrance dent Naomi Greene. At Fiscal 2004. Homicides declined again: For the second consecu- and exit, in the lobby and in every right, Assistant Direc- tive fiscal year, there were fewer than 600 murders in New York elevator. They record 24-hours-a- tor for Operations Ser- City, declining from 599 in Fiscal 2003 to 566 in Fiscal 2004, the day, seven-days-a-week. When an vices Henry Goldstein. lowest since 1963. incident is reported, the NYPD best” with the state-of-the-art cameras, commenting that too often gov- Major crime at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) can then retrieve the images for ernment fails to keep up with technology. developments has dropped by almost 16 % in the last three fiscal follow-up investigations. But per- “We’re going to keep these cameras up, keep them operating and years. The 15 NYCHA developments with over 3,100 closed cir- haps more importantly, the cam- we’re going to work with the Resident Association Presidents and the cuit televisions (CCTVs), installed as part of an earlier initiative, eras have the effect of deterring police to make all of our City as safe as possible.” experienced a 5.1 % reduction in crime. These developments criminals and increasing resi- Resident Association President Eric Crooke thanked the Council Mem- were chosen based on criteria that included a review of crime dents’ sense of safety. ber on behalf of Rutgers Houses. “I’m glad to see we’re getting the sup- statistics and patterns. “It’s great to be back here at port we need,” he said. “Our residents are very happy with the cameras Operation Impact was launched in January 2003 to reduce major Rutgers,” the Chairman said, being there. The only request is that we get them into the other two build- felony crime in selected developments within Brooklyn and the referring to his visit a few weeks ings.” And 175 Eldridge Street Resident Association President Mercedes Bronx. Statistics reflect a combined reduction in crime of almost earlier for the development’s Fam- Ruiz couldn’t have been more enthusiastic as she exclaimed, “I love 16% since Fiscal Year 2003 in these areas. ily Day celebration. “I want to where I live. I love it, love it, love it. Council Member Gerson provided thank Council Member Gerson what we needed most, comfort and safety. We thank you many times over The New Housing Marketplace for his commitment to the resi- Mr. Gerson and Mr. Goldstein who was so kind and so helpful.” The City’s five-year plan to create and preserve 65,000 units of dents of his district. but mostly for NYCHA’s Assistant Director for Operations Services Henry Gold- affordable housing ended its first year with 10,201 units in con- his commitment to the people of stein gave a brief demonstration, showing the different viewing capabil- struction. Under the Plan, NYCHA, working with the City’s public housing.