JOURNAL February 2001
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Vol. 31, No. 2 First Class U.S. Postage Paid — Permit No. 4119, New York, N.Y. 10007 February 2001 MLK, Jr. Lives at King Towers Official Opening of Newly Renovated Community Center For Bland Houses By Eileen Elliott n his opening remarks at the James A. Bland Houses I Community Center Ribbon- Cutting Ceremony on January 16, Resident Association President Donald Henton called the newly renovated space, simply, “A place where everyone is welcome to feel at home.” Queens Borough Community Operations Deputy Director Byron Cave served as moderator for the brief evening ceremony during which Chairman John G. Reverend Juanita Pierre-Louis (left) and Mrs. Valerie Pyatt, Coordinator/ Martinez, Queens Borough Martin Luther King Community Center Director, present the history of Community Operations Director King Towers, which was completed in 1954 and originally named for Anthony Richburg and Bland the eminent 19th Century American songwriter, Stephen Foster. Mrs. Houses Manager Regina Chu NYCHA Chairman John G. Martinez divvies up the ribbon that moments Pyatt affirmed that NYCHA and the Resident Association of MLK expressed their wishes that the earlier stretched across the Bland Community Center entrance. Towers remain dedicated to Dr. King’s principles of “Pride, Respect, center serve as the “lifeblood” of Unity, Religion and Family Values.” the community in the days and years to come. Office for the hard work of through October 1999, when the By Allan Leicht Chairman Martinez thanked making the new center a reality. doors were “unofficially” opened he people of Martin Luther King, Jr. Towers praised their the residents of Bland Houses for “Now that you have it, you to the development’s estimated namesake in prayer and poetry. They praised him in song and making the New York City really have to let us know what it 916 residents and the surrounding T speech and dance and drama. From the rousing invocation by Housing Authority (NYCHA) means to you,” the Chairman told Flushing community. the Reverend Doris Tongo, Pastor of the Ark of Safety Fellowship administration aware of their the residents. “So, I want you to Comprising 6,000 square feet, Church, to the Mwamba Family, Pastors of the Harlem Family need for the new center. He then use it and use it and use it!” the center is entered through a Church, who brought the overflow assembly to their feet for a tradi- commended NYCHA’s Depart- The original community spacious lobby/reception area that tional Kenyan dance, the people of the New York City Housing ment of Design and Capital center, located on Roosevelt also serves as home to a tank of Authority (NYCHA) were Martin Luther King’s people on his day, Improvement, Department of Avenue and cradled by Bland’s fish, a dove named Leo, and a January 15, 2001. Construction, Department of five ten-story buildings, was com- foot-long iguana (not including He would have been 72. His Louis, Senior Pastor of the Community Operations, and the pleted in 1953. Renovations the tail) called Lizzie — all began in 1997 and continued life was cut short at the age of 39 Harlem Family Church, per- Queens Borough Management (Continued on page 5) by an assassin’s bullet in 1968. formed by Mahalia and Malcolm And yet, as speaker after speaker Johnson. bore witness, Martin Luther King, The program was entitled Jr. is very much alive in the lega- “Where Do We Go from Here: cy he left. It is a legacy of love, Chaos or Community?” and was hope and nonviolence, as was dra- based on the book by Reverend matized in “Coretta and Martin,” King. a play by Reverend Juanita Pierre- Mrs. Ruby Kitchen, President (Continued on page 3) Inside: • Building on NYC’s Gains • Annual Plan Approved • Recipe Contest The children of Bland Houses join (left to right) Chairman John G. Martinez, Resident Association President Donald Henton, Queens Council of Presidents Chair Connie Taylor, Department of Design and Capital • Job Fair Coming Improvement Director David Burney, Queens Borough Management Director Tommy O’Brien, Bland Manager Regina Chu, Queens Borough Community Operations Director Anthony Richburg, Community Cen- ter Director JoAnn Parks, and Construction Department Acting Director Robert Yauch for the eventful moment. NYCHA Celebrates Black History Month! Page 2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL February 2001 Message From The Mayor HUD Approves Housing Authority’s Plan For 2001 By Allan Leicht Making Our City’s Remarkable YCHA’s plan for 2001, which was developed with the participation of the 41-member elected Resi- Progress Permanent Ndent Advisory Board (RAB), has been approved by the United States Department of Housing and Ur- ban Development (HUD). Known as the Agency Plan, it was the subject of nine community-based town n my eighth State of the City address last month, I outlined the hall meetings from April through June 2000 and a public hearing held last August. Following that hear- initiatives my administration will pursue during its final year in ing NYCHA revised its draft of the plan and submitted it to the RAB for one last review. Under the law, Ioffice to make New York City’s remarkable progress over the if HUD makes no objections to the plan within 75 days of submission, the plan can be considered to have past seven years permanent. been approved. That came to pass on December 26, 2000. What was once considered the crime capital of the country In 1998, Congress passed the new federal law, and now allows the other requirements of New has been the safest large city in Quality Housing and Work limited pet ownership in its de- York City law, such as licensing, America for the past five years. Responsibility Act (QHWRA). velopments. The program will go leashing, cleaning up after their Since 1993, there has been a This law requires housing author- into effect shortly, and will not pets, and so forth. And each 64% reduction in murder, and a ities, working with their residents, affect residents who live in devel- household (other than in senior 57% reduction in overall crime. to issue comprehensive plans for opments specifically for seniors. developments) seeking pet own- And overall crime in New the future — a five-year plan that Residents will be allowed to ership will be required to pay a York City Housing Authority describes the long-term goals of own either one dog or one cat. one-time, non-refundable pet- (NYCHA) developments has the authority and a one-year plan They will be required to register ownership fee of $100. dropped too — by more than that addresses activities for the their pets with the Authority, and These are just three features 6% last year. Efforts are under coming year. provide veterinary proof that the of the 2001 Annual Plan, which way to make sure crime drops Highlights of the most animal has been neutered and covers 17 areas of management. even more in 2001, with the significant aspects of the 2001 inoculated. A veterinarian must The complete plan is available on installation of Closed Circuit Annual Plan follow: also certify that the animal will NYCHA’s Web site at: Televisions (CCTV’s) slated for eight more NYCHA develop- weigh 40 lbs. or less when fully nyc.gov/nycha. ments, and stepped-up police presence in five — Morris Houses in RENT grown. Pet owners must meet all the Bronx, Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, Ravenswood Houses in Queens, Wagner Houses in Manhattan and Van Dyke Houses There will be no change in the in Brooklyn. way NYCHA determines rent In addition, we are launching public safety programs to target during the coming year. The career criminals. Because a great deal of crime in any city is caused Authority will, however, review Community Service by repeat offenders, one of the most effective ways we can reduce the ceiling rent program to deter- and prevent crime is to target those individuals with outstanding mine if the amounts charged Exemptions warrants and those who have violated parole. Operation Discover to higher income families are will commit $4 million and add 600 new police officers over the sufficient to cover operating The following is a summary of some of the exemptions to HUD’s next six months — doubling the size of the warrant squad — with expenses, and how they compare eight-hour per month Community Service requirement. Please note: 300 of these officers assigned to the task immediately. to rents charged in other afford- the Community Service requirement does not apply to Section 8 In addition, I’ve created the Parole Violator Task Force to catch able programs. In any case, federal residents. people who violate the conditions of their parole. The Task Force law provides that no family residing will expand our Joint Absconder Warrant Squad (JAWS) Citywide, in public housing shall pay more • Individuals who are under the age of 18 or over the age of 62; and work to improve communications between City and State than 30% of their income for rent. • Those who are blind or disabled and unable to perform law enforcement officials to speed up the apprehension of parole community service; violators. COMMUNITY • Primary caretakers of persons qualifying under the blind or In the area of education, I’ve announced a number of additional SERVICE disabled exemption; proposals to further enhance instruction and upgrade school • Residents who work at least 30 hours per week; facilities and equipment. The City and the Board of Education have Under QHWRA, certain resi- • Residents who are in school or in job training; established, for the first time, programs of weekend instruction, for dents of public housing are • Residents who are exempt under City welfare regulations from students who need extra help in science, math and English.