First-Class U. S . Postage Paid New York, NY Permit No. 4119 Vol. 40, No. 2 www.nyc.gov/nycha FEBRUARY 2010 First Annual Cops & Kids Awards and Recognition CeremonyBy Eileen Elliott in Staten Island WHEN POLICE OFFICERS SEE GROUPS OF TEENS ROAMING THE STREETS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THEIR ASSUMPTION WILL BE THAT THE YOUTH ARE UP TO NO GOOD. So it was for Police Officer Dane Varriano and his partner of the 120th Precinct in Staten Island as they cruised past five teenagers strolling through Mariner’s Harbor Houses at two o’clock on Thanksgiving morning. As told by Depart- ment of Community Operations Senior Program Manager Raymond Diaz at the First Annual Cops and Kids Awards and Recognition Ceremony on January 7th, what could have been an unpleasant confronta- tion dissolved into friendly greetings when Officer Varriano recognized the young men. “Those are my guys. Everything’s cool,” the Officer explained to his partner. “These are the kids I play ball with.” The anecdote perfectly illus- dedicating yourself, and over long sweated with the kids during flag trates the goal of the NYPD periods of time that commitment football; and ultimately, what I Community Affairs’ Cops and Kids really does pay off.” started to see were relationships Program, which seeks to build Serving as Master of Cere- being built.” relationships between police offi- monies for the evening, Mr. Diaz One of those officers, NYPD cers and community youth thanked the many dedicated Community Affairs PAL Liaison through organized recreational people involved including Deputy Kerry Hylan described some hesi- activities — in this case, bowling, Inspector John Denesopolis from tancy on the part of the youth flag football and basketball. the 120th Precinct, NYCHA’s when the program began in KEEPING THE PROMISE WPIX Anchor James Ford (left) with Approximately 225 youth Deputy General Manager Hugh Staten Island last year. NYCHA Chair John B. Rhea at Highbridge Gardens in the between the ages of 13 and 19 Spence, Staten Island Borough “Last year was our first year Bronx, where WPIX taped part of a half-hour program cele- from all six Staten Island Commu- Management Director Carolyn working with the Housing brating 75 years of public housing in New York City. nity Centers participated in the Jasper and Resident Association Authority. We had flag football joint collaboration between the Presidents Brenda Charles and all developments partici- NYPD, NYCHA, the Police from Mariner’s Harbor, Sylvia pated....When we went to NYCHA Feature Airs On WPIX Athletic League (PAL) and other Cunningham from South Beach, Richmond Terrace Houses the By Eileen Elliott community organizations, for the Eunice Love from Richmond kids didn’t want to get in the police duration of the program from Terrace and Geraldine Parker van. They wanted us to make it WPIX CHANNEL 11 RANG OUT 2009 WITH A HALF-HOUR FEATURE CELE- October through December. from Stapleton Houses. look like we cuffed them so their BRATING 75 YEARS OF PUBLIC HOUSING IN NEW YORK CITY, ENTITLED, “We’ve been able to preserve In addition to the first- and friends wouldn’t see, but after a “KEEPING THE PROMISE —THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW YORK public housing in New York City second-place award winners, the couple of games they were CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY.” The program, which aired on Sunday, largely because of programs like 13 police officers from the 120th looking for the cops they would December 27th, was hosted by James Ford of the WPIX Morning this,” said NYCHA Chair John B. and 122nd Precincts who volun- play with.” News. It captured the vitality of what Mr. Ford referred to as “North Rhea to the crowd of well-wishers teered as coaches received “This is the essence of the America’s largest landlord” through interviews with NYCHA’s Chair gathered in the West Brighton Awards of Appreciation. Cops and Kids Program,” Mr. John B. Rhea, Board Member Margarita López, prominent former Community Center. “Although “The officers that are part of this Diaz added just before joining we’re going to celebrate the 46 program committed themselves Chair Rhea to hand out the residents, current residents and NYCHA staff, among others. who receive awards tonight, it’s 110%. These officers all came awards. “So that when our officers At the heart of the story is Klein spoke about their experi- really not about whether you every day,” said Mr. Diaz. patrol they have a relationship NYCHA’s success in maintaining ences growing up in public came in first or second; it’s not “They worked with the kids; with our young people and public its nearly 174,000 apartments housing. Current residents like showing up one time and wanting they laughed with the kids; they housing becomes an environment in 336 developments through Council of Presidents Chair things to happen. It’s about really gave the kids high-fives during of protection, of friendship, years of federal disinvestment Reginald Bowman spoke about getting engaged, participating and the bowling tournament; they of communication.” while other cities have aban- the general public’s mispercep- doned and even destroyed their tions about public housing public housing. residents, and Garden Competi- “There is a huge commitment tion award-winner Marion to preserving public housing Dolphus told how NYCHA’s here in New York,” Chair Rhea gardening program has enriched explained as he strolled through her life. Nicholas Dagen Bloom, the grounds of Highbridge a professor at the New York Gardens in the Bronx with Mr. Institute of Technology, who Ford. “But it really goes back to published a book about NYCHA the beginning. Public housing last year, “Public Housing that was built to be sustainable. Worked,” described the condi- It wasn’t built as temporary tions that led to the creation of housing. ...The idea of public housing in 1934, spurred supporting and sustaining fami- by the reformers who were lies has also always been a big “distressed over the permanence part of NYCHA’s philosophy and of the tenements.” it still goes on today.” Those tenements and their RECOGNIZING WINNERS Left to Right: Sergeant John O’Connor joins South Beach Flag Former residents like Bronx associated ills, including inade- Football Champions Melvin Askew, Arique Dross, Brian Zayas, Chairman John B. Rhea, Sal District Attorney Robert Johnson quate plumbing, vermin, fires Morando, Nicholas Brown, Dominik Mazzone and Deputy Inspector John Denesopolis for this and Schools Chancellor Joel photo at the First Annual Cops and Kids Awards and Recognition Ceremony in West Brighton. (Continued on page 5) PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 U.S. CENSUS 2010: UPDATE ON THE MIXED FINANCE RED HOOK HOUSES I IT’S IN OUR HANDS MODERNIZATION PLAN CELEBRATES 70 YEARS! THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 2 FEBRUARY 2010 MAYOR’S MESSAGE 2,330 Section 8 Vouchers Terminated NYC Census 2010: It’s In Our Hands IN LIGHT OF SEVERE FUNDING CUTS TO THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY’S (NYCHA’S)SECTION 8 LEASED HOUSING PROGRAM, NYCHA IS UNABLE TO HONOR 2,330 VOUCHERS THAT IT HAS ISSUED. Leased Housing ONE EXCITING AND IMPORTANT Department Assistant Deputy General Manager Gregory Kern sent a letter to all 2,330 affected INITIATIVE THAT IS TAKING PLACE ALL voucher-holders on December 30th, notifying them that their vouchers would not be ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR IS processed, while emphasizing NYCHA’s commitment to help those affected and their families. CENSUS 2010. The U.S. Constitu- tion mandates that every person, NYCHA’s current Section 8 tenants are not at risk. regardless of legal status, living in NYCHA’s Citywide Section 8 $58 million instead of the The 2,330 affected voucher- the U.S. and its territories be voucher program is the largest anticipated $10 million. At holders will be given priority counted every ten years. in the nation, with 101,559 the same time, the demand to have their vouchers restored In mid-March the shortest active Section 8 residents and for Section 8 has been extra- should Section 8 funding Census form in history will be over 29,000 landlords. ordinary over the past year become available. mailed out to 3.5 million house- Participants in the Section while turnover last year was NYCHA, along with ACS, holds in NewYork City.The form will be addressed to you as “Resident” 8 program, also known as half what it was in 2008 (3% the Department of Homeless at your NYCHA apartment and will come with a stamped return enve- the Housing Choice Voucher instead of 6%). Services and the Human lope.The Census form will ask questions about each person living in your program, pay a reasonable When funding was cut Resources Administration, is home, such as name, how they are related, sex, age, ethnicity, and race. share of their income in rent in May, NYCHA took several working collaboratively and And for the first time, the form will be mailed in Spanish to census tracts each month to a participating steps to preserve funding for aggressively to identify alter- with a high percentage of Spanish speakers. A language guide will be landlord, and NYCHA makes up those most in need, issuing native housing assistance. available as well, explaining how those speaking other languages can the difference. The subsidy vouchers only to families In the meantime, DHS is obtain a form in their native language. The form should be filled out and paid to the landlord is usually under duress: these included offering advice and counseling mailed back immediately, but no later than April 15, 2010. between 30% of the household victims of domestic violence, on alternatives to shelter for All information on the form is strictly confidential under Federal law income and the contract rent.