Have a Great 2004-2005 School Year!
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Vol. 34, No. 9 First Class U.S. Postage Paid — Permit No. 4119, New York, N.Y. 10007 September 2004 PUBLIC HEARING ON ANNUAL AND NYCHA CELEBRATES 21st “NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME” FIVE-YEAR PLANS AT NYC TECH Mayor and NYPD Commissioner Kelly Come To Harlem River Houses By Eileen Elliott By Allan Leicht he New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA’s) draft Annual or the 21st year in a row, on Plan for the Fiscal Year 2005 was subjected to public scrutiny by the first Tuesday in August Tresidents, elected officials and community leaders at a hearing on F—which happened to be July 15, 2004. On the stage of the Klitgord Auditorium of the New York August 3rd this year — all across City Technical College in downtown Brooklyn, NYCHA Chairman Tino the country law abiding citizens Hernandez, Vice-Chairman Earl Andrews, Jr., Board Member JoAnna “took back the streets” in support Aniello, General Manager Douglas Apple and New York Police Depart- of the National Association of ment Housing Bureau Chief Joanne Jaffe listened as nearly 40 speakers Town Watch’s (NATW’s) National expressed their views. Night Out Against Crime. The Federal law requires housing (“RAB”) have worked together at New York City Housing Authority authorities across the country to eight meetings since the beginning (NYCHA) was no exception. develop — with input from resi- of the year to create the draft plan. NYCHA staff joined officers from dents of public housing and Sec- NYCHA then held a series of five the NYPD Housing Bureau, tion 8, elected officials and the Town Hall meetings, one in each elected officials, Resident Associ- public — a plan that sets forth its borough, to elicit responses from ation Presidents, and most impor- major initiatives for the coming the public. The Public Hearing of tantly, residents, to let criminals year. This year, NYCHA is also July 15th was the culmination of know that neighborhoods are required to prepare a five-year that process. organized and fighting back. plan, in which it sets out a series NYCHA Deputy General Man- That message was especially of objectives that it intends to ager for Community Operations clear at the Harlem River Houses achieve from Fiscal Years 2005 Hugh B. Spence chaired the three- in Manhattan, with the appearance Mayor Michael R. through 2009. The plans must be hour hearing. City Council Mem- of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Bloomberg (above, submitted to the Department of ber Diana Reyna, New York State and Police Commissioner Ray- center) at Harlem Housing and Urban Development Senator Velmanette Montgomery, mond Kelly, who addressed the River Houses, and crowd gathered in the Fred Johnson in Washington by October of 2004. and Assembly Member Scott (at right) with PSA Park adjacent to the development. NYCHA and the 54 members Stringer appeared in person, while #6 Council President of the Resident Advisory Board (Continued on page 5) “Crime rates today are more Leona Draper than 15% lower than they were (center) and PSA #6 three years ago,” the Mayor began. Commanding Officer NYCHA SUMMER FUN CITYWIDE And cheers went up as he pro- Captain Kevin Heslin, nounced, “People living in public also at Harlem River housing have the same right to Houses for the safety as people who live else- Night Out Against where.” Referring to the many Crime. children who were enjoying the face painting, the rides, the burgers and cotton candy, the Mayor said, “We which made media headlines the day before. “We need more support,” want to leave them a better life.” the Commissioner said. “Without you, we simply can’t do the job. We With that, together with PSA #6 need you to remain vigilant. I want to thank you for everything you’ve Commanding Officer Captain done to make New York safer.” Kevin Heslin, the Mayor presented NYCHA Chairman Tino Hernandez joined Commanding Officer of a proclamation to PSA #6 Council PSA #7 Deputy Inspector Brendan Sheerin, State Senator Ruben Diaz, President Leona Draper, which Assemblymen Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Michael Benjamin, and Bronx District stated, “Tonight’s events remind us Attorney Robert Johnson at NYCHA’s John Adams Houses in the Bronx that the struggle for safe, stable (Continued on page 5) communities is paramount, and that success is dependent upon a strengthened bond between our citizens and our exceptional Inside: police force.” The leader of that exceptional • Street Renamed for Vladeck TA . .page 2 police force, NYPD Commis- GREAT CATCH This young NYCHA resident displays the catfish • Sports Legends Visit CampUs . .page 4 she caught at NYCHA’s Fishing Contest at Staten Island’s Clove sioner Raymond Kelly empha- Lake Park on July 30th. NYCHA also held fishing contests at sized the importance of support • Year-Round Feeding Program . .pages 6 & 7 from the community, especially in Central Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Baisley • Summer In The City . .pages 10 & 11 Park in Queens, and Crotona Park in the Bronx. Fish were mea- the context of the increased terror sured and released back into the lakes they came from. threat against financial institutions HAVE AGREAT 2004-2005 SCHOOLYEAR! Page 2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL September 2004 STREET RENAMED FOR LONG-TIME VLADECK TA PRESIDENT Message From The Mayor New York City’s Schools Need Effective Leaders eventy-seven new princi- pals will take their posi- Stions in September after rigorous training in New York City’s new Leadership Academy. These men and women are the first class to graduate from the Leadership Academy’s Aspiring Principals Program. They are the dedicated and capable leaders we need to turn around New York City’s public schools, so that your child can get the valuable education he or she deserves. Any successful organization COMMEMORATION Council Member Margarita Lopez (far right) joins Vladeck Houses Resident has to have great leadership. That is why we launched the NYC Association President Edward Garcia (back row, second from left), Ruth Winds’ daughter Louise Leadership Academy last year to provide school principals with the Tucker (holding sign, left) and other members of Ms. Winds’ family on July 16th at the street skills they need to make a real difference. The Leadership Academy renaming commemorating the late Resident Association President. provided the aspiring principals with 14 months of training with By Deborah Williams some of the school system’s best principals to help them become innovative and effective leaders. n Friday, July 16, 2004, residents of Manhattan’s Vladeck Houses joined together in the courtyard on An effective principal sets the tone for the entire school, for the Madison Street on the Lower East Side to pay tribute to and commemorate the life of a truly remark- teachers and students. Our goal for the Leadership Academy is to Oable woman. Ruth Victoria Winds, former Resident Association President at Vladeck for more than attract, support, and install the very best principals to make sure that 21 years and dedicated community activist, died on April 12, 2001. But before she died she fought for change each of our schools is one that all of our parents are proud to have and improvements in the quality of life for everyone at the development. their children attend. Friends say Ms. Ruth Winds tion of Madison Street between “This should have happened a The new principals have successfully completed a long and was an outspoken woman who Jackson and Gouverneur Streets— long time ago,” added Mr. Garcia. intense process. They themselves have been students at a very high stood her ground. According to and on July 16, 2004, the street Everyone gathered around for level of educational training, learning from dedicated and gifted edu- Vladeck Houses Manager Juan was renamed “Ruth Winds Way.” the unveiling of the street sign cators. These 77 men and women have attended two intensive sum- Bello, “She was a very straightfor- “There are 160,000 constituents including Ruth Winds’ daughter mer sessions and participated in a residency during the academic ward and honest person who never in my community and this is the Louise Tucker, who received a year in a New York City public school under the guidance of an ran from a good fight or struggle.” fifth time I have changed or co- duplicate street sign as a keepsake. experienced mentor principal. Ms. Winds truly made a differ- named a street,” said Council “Every time I walk onto this The Aspiring Principals Program’s first class is a diverse group of ence in her community. When Member Lopez. The Council Mem- street I will look at that street sign leaders. More than half of the new principals are African-American, passersby look at the façades of ber went on further to explain that and say, ‘That sign there is for my Latino, or Asian, and two-thirds are women. They range in age from the buildings of Vladeck Houses, the decision to rename a street is a mother,’” said Ms. Tucker in a 26 to 59, their average age being 40. Approximately half of the new they have Ms. Ruth Winds to complex one that is not to be proud and emotional voice. principals have supervisory experience in the public school system thank, because to a large degree, it taken lightly. Consent is only This sign will become part of the as assistant principals, coordinators, or supervisors in specialty areas, was her persistence that brought given after a thorough evaluation history of Vladeck Houses and stand and about half of them have experience as classroom teachers, staff the restoration about. of the candidate. “Ruth Winds to remind the community of the late, developers, guidance counselors, or in other pedagogical roles.