Residents Talk, and NYCHA Listens Message from Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye

First-Class U.S. Postage Paid New York, NY Permit No. 4119 NYCHA Vol. 44 No. 4 www.nyc.gov/nycha May 2014 Message from Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye On May 5, Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled NYCHA will develop a preservation and development plan that will be “Housing New York,” a plan to invest thoughtful and transparent. Starting from the ground up, we will listen to $41 billion to build or preserve 200,000 residents, using your input to create our approach and putting your needs affordable apartments across all five at the forefront of every decision. In partnership with you and a variety boroughs over the next 10 years. This of City agencies, elected officials, and community leaders and partners, ambitious plan is the largest ever in our we will ensure the success of “Housing New York.” Journanation’s history. It will provide housing The Mayor’s plan involves bothl preserving and developing housing. for at least a half million New Yorkers, For NYCHA, that means creating a thoughtful, practical approach which is more than the entire population which makes the best use of our resources and connects NYCHA to its of Atlanta. To help accomplish its very surrounding communities. Our efforts will support our mission to better important goal, 13 City agencies and more than 200 stakeholders – including maintain your homes. We also will focus on supporting the unique and NYCHA, affordable housing advocates, and elected officials – contributed growing needs of seniors. I know that our collaboration will guarantee to the plan’s development. “Housing New York” outlines more than 50 the long-term success, health, and vitality of our neighborhoods. initiatives that will assist families in all communities and from every walk of Everyone understands the importance of home. NYCHA is vital to life by accelerating affordable construction, protecting tenants, and delivering the future of New York City; together, we will be an essential part of more value from affordable housing investments. In addition to making our our City’s future. Stay tuned for more details. I look forward to our City stronger by revitalizing neighborhoods, the housing plan will generate continued partnership. approximately 194,000 construction jobs and almost 7,100 permanent quality jobs. Please visit nyc.gov/housing to learn more. NYCHA is a crucial part of the Mayor’s housing plan. In line with our work to reset NYCHA’s relationship with residents and other stakeholders, INSIDE Residents Talk, and NYCHA Listens THIS ISSUE With reporting by Eric Deutsch ive Presidents of Resident Associa- Ftions – one from each borough – looked out at the sea of faces in front of them. What they saw was a room full of NYCHA senior staff members, all ready to hear what they had to say about living in public housing in New York City. One of those Resident Association (RA) Presidents, Carol Wilkins from Ravenswood Houses in Queens, knew why they were asked to come to the meeting. “We’re the CEASE THE GREASE PROJECT ones who live here in the trenches Concludes in Baruch Houses Sewers and see what’s going on day-to-day,” » see page 3 she said. “We don’t go home at 5:00, we come home and do the job when TAKING OUT THE TRASH the employees go home. It’s good for Residents Can Help Keep Developments them to hear our ideas.” Clean » see page 3 Ms. Wilkins joined Florence Gross- man (New Lane Houses in Staten NYCHA Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Natalie Rivers (far left) starts a FISCAL YEAR 2015 ANNUAL Island); Patricia Herman (Lincoln panel discussion with five Resident Association Presidents on March 27, 2014. From left to right are Carol Wilkins (Ravenswood Houses), Keith Ramsey (Eastchester Houses), Lisa Kenner (Van Dyke PLAN Houses in Manhattan); Lisa Kenner Houses), Patricia Herman (Lincoln Houses), and Florence Grossman (New Lane Houses). Public Hearing and Town Hall Meetings (Van Dyke Houses in Brooklyn); and Scheduled » see page 4 Keith Ramsey (Eastchester Houses in NYCHA staff. The panel was part of weaknesses. “NYCHA’s employees the Bronx) on the panel discussion NYCHA’s ongoing efforts to engage do an admirable job trying to service EAT RIGHT, LIVE LONGER on March 27. Moderated by NYCHA residents so it can get their opinions to the residents as a whole,” he said. First NYCHA Healthy Food Summit Executive Vice President and Chief inform its future. “Sometimes it might not be the fast- » see page 8 Administrative Officer Natalie Rivers, Mr. Ramsey was pleased to see est, and sometimes people might the five RA Presidents spoke about the NYCHA working to improve residents’ fall through the cracks, but they do a PUTTING IN YOUR OWN AIR current state of the Housing Authority quality of life, and to have the op- good job.” CONDITIONER? from the resident’s perspective and portunity to talk about his ideas on NYCHA turned 80 years old this Here’s How to Do It » see page 7 took questions from the assembled the Housing Authority’s strengths and continued on page 2 2 May 2014 The Housing Authority Journal continued from page 1 Kenner felt such situations were NYCHA Residents Talk, and NYCHA Listens an opportunity for residents to take responsibility for their development. “We have to Board Meetings get independent training and otice hereby is given that the New York City Housing should not depend on NYCHA NAuthority’s Board Meetings take place as announced on to provide training. We have Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room on the 12th floor Tenant Participation Activities of 250 Broadway, New York, NY (unless otherwise noted). (TPA) funds, we should use The Board Meetings in 2014 are scheduled for: them,” she said. May 21 September 24 November 26 Ms. Herman, partially June 25 October 29 December 31 echoing Ms. Kenner’s call for July 30 resident responsibility, said, Any changes to the schedule will be posted in the Journal “There’s much that must be and on NYCHA’s website at www.nyc.gov/nycha to the extent addressed, and this type of practicable at a reasonable time before the meeting. event is key. You need to listen These meetings are open to the public. Pre-registration at and we need to listen.” least 45 minutes before the scheduled Board Meeting is re- And NYCHA indeed is listen- quired by all speakers. Comments are limited to the items on ing. Mr. Ramsey is confident that the Calendar. Speaking time will be limited to three minutes. this type of dialogue between Patricia Herman, the Resident Association President at Lincoln Houses, speaks The public comment period will conclude upon all speakers be- during a panel discussion with NYCHA senior staff on March 27, 2014. Lisa Kenner, residents and the Housing Au- ing heard or at the expiration of 30 minutes allotted by law for the Resident Association President at Van Dyke Houses, is at left. thority will lead to good things. public comment, whichever occurs first. “If they really want change, Copies of the Calendar for an upcoming meeting are available year, and the residents were tive,” Mr. Ramsey said. “They NYCHA will take what we say on NYCHA’s website at www.nyc.gov/nycha, or can be picked asked what it should focus on can’t only focus on the buildings into account, and people will up at the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 250 Broadway, 12th for the next 80 years. Ideas and repairs, there are residents flock here because they want to floor, New York, NY, no earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Monday included attending more to the who destroy and pillage the live here, not because they have before the upcoming Wednesday Board Meeting. Copies of the needs of seniors and youths; property.” to,” he said. “NYCHA is one of Dispositions of prior meetings are available on NYCHA’s website educating residents more about Another idea mentioned the best places to live in New or can be picked up at the Office of the Corporate Secretary no proper garbage disposal; having was the ways NYCHA supports York City, even with its prob- earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Thursday after the Board Meeting. more of a presence from the the RA Presidents, which led to lems, but we can make it better. Any person requiring a reasonable accommodation in order New York City Police Depart- some disagreement among the NYCHA plans to continue to participate in the Board Meeting should contact the Office ment; and making the develop- residents. Some of them said these conversations as part of the Corporate Secretary at 212-306-6088 no later than five ments safer, livelier, and more NYCHA should provide more of its resident engagement business days before the Board Meeting. controlled. training, such as basic computer activities, to further promote For additional information regarding Board Meeting Calen- “NYCHA has to deal more skills, and more equipment in trust and transparency with dars, Dispositions, dates and times, please call 212-306-6088. with the people who are disrup- the RA offices. However, Ms. residents. New Lights for Ravenswood Houses Check out NYCHA’s Facebook page! With reporting by Zodet Negrón ot a web-enabled smartphone? Now you can access NYCHA’s esidents of Ravenswood GFacebook page and bonus content in this issue by scanning RHouses soon will wake up or taking a snapshot of the QR codes. The QR code for NYCHA’s to a long-awaited change. Facebook page is on the right. The Queens development will Step 1: Download a QR code scanner application obtain a brand new lighting from your phone’s marketplace (many of these system with joint funding “apps” are free to download).

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