Nycha and Youthweek 2002
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Vol. 32, No. 8 First Class U.S. Postage Paid — Permit No. 4119, New York, N.Y. 10007 August 2002 NYCHA AND YOUTHWEEK 2002 Chairman Hernandez Opens NAHRO Conference SOWING THE SEEDS OF THE FUTURE GM Douglas Apple Discusses NYCHA’s Response to September 11 the Opening General Session on July 12, Chairman Hernandez described the city’s recovery from the events of September 11. “These extraordinary times have produced extraordinary achieve- ments,” he said. “There is a ‘can- do’ spirit in the city…a real sense of pride on the sidewalks of New York.” The Chairman called the sup- port New York City received from across the country after Septem- ber 11, “deeply gratifying” and expressed NYCHA’s gratitude to Washington, D.C., the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and WELCOME TO NEW YORK NYCHA Chairman Tino Hernandez HUD Secretary Mel Martinez in (left) welcomed delegates to the Opening General Session of NAHRO’s particular. He also thanked HUD 2002 Summer Conference on July 12, at the New York Hilton. Guest Assistant Secretary Michael Liu Speaker NYC Deputy Mayor for Policy Dennis M. and Deputy Secretary Alfonso Walcott (right) thanked HUD for its financial support, and the rest of Jackson. the country for its moral support, after the 9/11 attacks. Mr. Hernandez introduced ho better than the Chair- can use their discretion to evict guest speaker, New York City man of the country’s the family members of those who Deputy Mayor for Policy Dennis Wlargest public housing are found guilty of criminal drug M. Walcott, calling him, “one of authority—Tino Hernandez—to activity. the leading advocates for the welcome more than 1,000 guests In his welcoming remarks to (Continued on page 3) to the New York Hilton for the 2002 Summer Conference of the country’s largest association of HUD ASS’T SECRETARY VISITS NYCHA professional housing officials— FLOWER POWER The New York City Housing Authority’s the National Association of Hous- (NYCHA’s) Department of Community Operations Garden Program ing and Redevelopment Officials Coordinator Howard Hemmings shows young residents from Whitman (NAHRO)? Houses in Brooklyn how to till the soil during YouthWeek 2002. The focus of NAHRO’s four- Mr. Hemmings and the children planted a combination of annuals and day conference, which began on perennials in this flower box, including daylilies, dusty miller, begonias July 11, was, “Uniting Communi- and a small pine tree. YouthWeek is a New York City Department of ties…Resources to Get the Job Youth and Community Development (DYCD) initiative designed to en- Done.” It was a particularly apt gage the city’s youth in constructive, educational and fun activities. All theme for the New York City city agencies that provide services for youth are asked to participate. venue, as noted by NAHRO Pres- NYCHA focused on gardening this year at the Lincoln West Commu- ident Kurt Creager, a city which nity Center in Manhattan, the Whitman Community Center in Brooklyn “after the tragedy of 9/11, provid- and the Betances Community Center in the Bronx. ed us with such excellent exam- ples of how a community can unite and become stronger.” This theme—uniting commu- Inside: nities—was addressed in panel discussions and speeches on a • Mitchel Community Center Opens . page 2 variety of topics over the course U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant of the conference. Topics included Secretary Michael Liu (center) sits in on NYCHA’s July 11 Authority • Educational Opportunities . page 3 Section 3 resident hiring and job Productivity Tracking meeting in the Central Office Board Room. Mr. • First Annual Kid’s Walk . page 4 training opportunities, and the Liu met with Chairman Tino Hernandez, Board Members Earl An- recent “One Strike And You’re drews, Jr. and JoAnna Aniello, and General Manager Douglas Apple • Ridgewood-Bushwick Sr. Picnic . page 6 Out” Supreme Court ruling, just before the meeting to discuss the federal budget and HOPE VI. He whereby local housing authorities was in town for the NAHRO Conference at the New York Hilton. Have A Great 2002-03 School Year! Page 2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL August 2002 Message From The Mayor East Side House Settlement Reopens Join The Anti-Graffiti Effort and Improve At Mitchel Houses In the South Bronx The Quality of Life For All New Yorkers ew York City is in the midst of a multi-agency Ngraffiti cleanup, led by the City’s Anti-Graffiti Task Force. This strategic effort, which began last month, enlists the coordinated efforts of com- munity groups and City agen- cies to remove graffiti as soon as it appears, and punish those who are responsible. The Task Force has already cleaned over 638 lo- cations throughout the City this year. Graffiti is not just an eyesore, it is an invitation to criminals and a message to citizens that we don’t care. Coordinated by the City’s Community Assistance Unit (CAU), the Task Force will continue to show that we do care by attacking graffiti throughout the five OFFICIALLY OPEN (left to right) Deputy General Manager for Community Operations Hugh B. Spence, boroughs, focusing on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx; Borough Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo, NYCHA Vice-Chairman Earl Andrews, Jr., NYCHA Chairman Tino Park, Bay Ridge, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick in Hernandez, East Side House Settlement Executive Director John Sanchez and City Councilman Jose Serrano, Brooklyn; Inwood, Turtle Bay, and Harlem in Manhattan; Astoria, Jr. snip the ribbon to the entrance of East Side House Settlement, marking the community center’s opening. Sunnyside, and Woodside in Queens; and New Dorp, Port Rich- mond, and West Brighton in Staten Island. By Eileen Elliott As an active member of the Mayor’s Anti-Graffiti Task Force, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) relies on strong part- ast Side House Settlement, Assembly, and City Councilman Operations Deputy General Man- nerships to reduce the occurrence of graffiti in its developments. operating at the New York Jose Serrano, Jr. “It’s a great plea- ager Hugh B Spence, Capital Pro- This year, NYCHA’s Citywide Anti-Graffiti Program has expanded ECity Housing Authority’s sure to be here in the heart of my jects Deputy General Manager to include 300 buildings in 67 developments. Quarterly Borough (NYCHA’s) John P. Mitchel district,” Ms. Arroyo told the Joseph Farro, Department of De- Anti-Graffiti Meetings are held with NYCHA managers, police and Houses in the South Bronx, cele- audience. “This is proof that tax- sign and Capital Improvement Di- resident leaders to discuss education, prevention, and alternatives to brated the official opening of its payers’ money is being used the rector David Burney, and Depart- graffiti. newly renovated community cen- proper way.” ment of Construction Director The Housing Authority’s 2002 Anti-Graffiti Mural Project ter on a hot and sunny July 16. NYCHA Chairman Tino Her- Robert Yauch. provides youth with a constructive alternative to graffiti in the form NYCHA and East Side House nandez characterized the reopen- East Side House Settlement of mural painting. Entitled, “Tomorrow’s Vision Through Youthful staff and officials, local politi- ing as “cause for celebration” and Executive Director John Sanchez Eyes” the initiative includes an educational component which cians and community residents sat urged residents, especially young served as moderator. stresses that there is a place in the world for art but not for defacing on folding chairs beneath a blue people to make good use of the fa- “It’s a great place,” said property. This project is taking place in 20 community centers tarpaulin, while the parties in- cility. Mr. Hernandez, was joined Mitchel Houses Resident Associ- around the City. Twelve murals will be selected for a 2003 calendar. volved each gave the new facility by Vice-Chairman Earl Andrews, ation Vice President Isabelle From January to June of this year, 1,500 community service their blessings. The $2.1 million Jr., Board Member JoAnna Aniel- Johnson, addressing the dais. “We workers have been assigned to remove graffiti in NYCHA develop- renovation includes new comput- lo, General Manager Douglas Ap- thank you from the bottom of our ments, through the Alternative Sentencing Program. This collabora- er and game rooms, as well as a ple, Department of Community hearts.” tion between NYCHA and the District Attorneys’ offices in each “college library” stocked full of borough allows first-time quality-of-life offenders to clean up graf- catalogues from colleges all (Continued on page 5) fiti as a form of community service, instead of serving time in jail. around the country, its walls The NYPD will continue to provide the resources for extensive decorated with brightly colored investigations into graffiti crimes and serve as the enforcement arm banners. The Housing Authority In addition to an enormous 68years of the Citywide Task Force which includes representatives from the of Public Housing Department of Buildings, the Department of Business Services, the gymnasium (pre-existing, except Journal In New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Cultural for the new hardwood floor, as Affairs, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the attested to by NYCHA’s Depart- ESTABLISHED 1970 • CIRCULATION 200,000 Fire Department, the Department of Housing Preservation and ment of Community Operations Development, the Human Resources Administration, the Land- Bronx Borough Director Deidra Published monthly by the New York City Housing Authority marks Preservation Commission, the Department of Probation, the Gilliard who confessed that she Department of Public and Community Relations used to attend dances there as a 250 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007 Department of Transportation, and the Department of Youth and Tel.