Vol. 36, No. 10 www.nyc.gov/nycha OCTOBER 2006 IT’S STILL HURRICANE SEASON! Helpful Information If A Hurricane Hits

HURRICANE SEASON BEGAN ON JUNE 1ST AND WON’T BE OVER UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH. ACCORDING TO ’S OFFICE OF EMER- GENCY MANAGEMENT (OEM), THE CITY’S DENSELY POPULATED AND HIGHLY DEVELOPED COASTLINE MAKES IT AMONG THE AREAS MOST VULNERA- BLE TO HURRICANE DAMAGE. OEM predicts that in a major hurri- cane, storm surge could put some parts of New York City under more than 30 feet of water! Although no major distur- bances are predicted for the remainder of the 2006 Hurri- cane Season, the New York A HEALTHY START Approximately 1600 young NYCHA residents City Housing Authority (NYCHA) from 36 Community Centers around the City participated in the Fifth is working with OEM to make Annual Kids Walk at Clove Lakes Park in Staten Island on August sure that NYCHA staff and res- 16th. The purpose of the walk was to promote exercise and idents know what to do if a hur- educate participants about fighting obesity. Many of the Community ricane hits. Centers sported colorful banners at the start of the 2.5 mile walk, EYE OF THE STORM (Photo Courtesy of New York City’s Office of like Williamsburg’s shown above. (Continued on page 4) Emergency Management) UNIVERSAL PICTURES FILMS ‘AMERICAN REGISTER TO VOTE! Election Day is November 7th and the New York City Housing Authority GANGSTER’ AT MARLBORO HOUSES (NYCHA) encourages all residents to play a role in the democratic process By Eileen Elliott by exercising your right to vote. However, in order to vote, you must IT WAS ANYTHING BUT BUSINESS AS USUAL AT NYCHA’S MARLBORO HOUSES IN THE GRAVESEND SECTION OF BROOKLYN ON register by October 13th if you aren’t registered already. THE WEEK OF AUGUST 14TH. AFTER UNDERGOING SOME SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS, A FEW OF THE MOSTLY UNOCCUPIED To quality to vote in New York City, you must: HIGH-RISES IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVED AS THE SET FOR A NEW FEATURE FILM BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES, “AMERICAN GANG- STER.” Based on the life of the infamous 1970s kingpin, , who sold drugs from his beat up • Be a citizen of the United States (Includes those persons born in old Chevrolet on 116th Street in Harlem, the film features as Lucas and Russell Crowe Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands) as Richie Roberts, the courageous undercover Newark detective who brought him down. • Be a New York City resident for at least 30 days As reported in the Journal ear- • Be 18 years of age before the next election lier this year, there’s nothing new • Not be serving a jail sentence or be on parole for a about filming on NYCHA property. felony conviction The “Law and Order” television series frequently uses NYCHA • Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court locations, and last year Manhat- • Not claim the right to vote elsewhere tan’s Fulton Houses served as a (outside the City of New York) setting for the film “The Inter- preter,” starring Sean Penn and Although you can register any time during the year, your form must be Nicole Kidman. But according to delivered or mailed at least 25 days before the next election for it to be NYCHA’s Media Services Tech- effective for that election. nician Andy Nagy, who together with Maryetta Johnson serve as Registration forms are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and the liaisons between the movie Korean atwww.nyc.gov/html/vac/html/register/register_to_vote.shtml studios and the Housing Author- You can also call the Board of Elections at (866) VOTE-NYC ity, “There’s never been anything (866-868-3692) to receive a registration form in the mail. on a scale like this.” MAKING THE SCENE A crowd gathers at the entrance of a Newark Nagy said that, according to Call 311 to find out about Voter Awareness Month events. housing development in one of the scenes of “American Gangster,” the production crew, the film’s which was filmed at Marlboro Houses in Brooklyn. (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 FIRST HOUSES CELEBRATES SPECIAL HALLOWEEN TIPS FROM ATTEND A DOMESTIC ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY! POLICE CHIEF JOANNE JAFFE VIOLENCE CONFERENCE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 2 OCTOBER 2006 MAYOR’S MESSAGE BRONX RESIDENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT HOSTS ‘DISASTER DAY’ The Fight Against Illegal Guns Continues Tenant Participation Activity Funds Used For Emergency Preparedness By Deborah Williams PUBLIC SAFETY IS AN ISSUE THAT IS A IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, WOULD YOU KNOW HOW TO PROTECT TOP PRIORITY IN EVERY CITY IN YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY? AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBORS WHO AMERICA. TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ISSUE, MAY HAVE COME TO DEPEND ON YOU? These were the types of questions ON SEPTEMBER 7TH I TOOK THE FIGHT that weighed heavily on the mind of Clay Avenue Resident Association AGAINST ILLEGAL GUNS TO THE CON- President Maria Forbes of Claremont Consolidated, in the Morrisania GRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS IN section of . WASHINGTON, D.C. I’D LIKE TO TAKE With the horrific events of President were a great benefit, as THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME September 11th, the Hurricane she had many “Resident Associa- EXCERPTS OF MY REMARKS THERE Katrina disaster, and the constant tion connections” in the commu- WITH YOU. threat of terrorist attacks on New nity that helped her spread the Last year, 322 people were killed York City, compounded by what word about emergency prepared- by guns in New York City and 3,951 she described as her community’s ness. guns were seized during arrests. “lack of preparedness” during the “I called a resident meeting that Still, New York is the safest big city 2003 Blackout, Ms. Forbes said she included the other three Resident in the nation. Today, crime is at a became “obsessed” with the idea of Association Presidents who repre- 40-year low. emergency preparedness. sent Claremont Consolidated,” If the laws of our nation were vigorously enforced, illegal guns That obsession manifested itself said Ms Forbes. Those Resident would not flow freely onto our streets and innocent people would not on August 17, 2006, when Ms. Association Presidents — Elsie die as a result. This is not just the case in New York. Across the country, Forbes hosted Clay Avenue Houses’ Deans of 110 Teller Avenue, Mar- illegal guns are the common denominator of urban crime. It’s a national Emergency Disaster Awareness cella Brown of 1162 Washington problem that requires a national response, but Congress has been Day, at Clay Avenue and 169th Avenue and Fraennie Pollock of mostly silent. Street, in lieu of the traditional sum- the 1020 College Avenue Senior NYCHA Emergency Services And so if Congress will not lead the charge against illegal guns, then mer Family Day Celebration. Rep- Building — were all more than Department Deputy Director the mayors of America’s cities must — and we are. In New York, we resentatives were available to eager to join Ms. Forbes in the task Barry Jennings with Clay Avenue have developed a three-pronged strategy for fighting illegal guns: distribute information and answer of preparing for emergencies. Resident Association President tougher enforcement, new legislation, and innovative litigation. Let me questions about emergency pre- Maria Forbes on “Disaster Day.” briefly touch on each. paredness from the Community Funding And Supplies which had collaborated on the Through Operation Impact – a program that identifies areas of the Emergency Response Teams The six resident leaders decided ATN training, Richard Brouil- city with the highest incidences of shootings, we’ve been able to reduce (CERTs), the American Red Cross, to pool their federally allocated lette. Mr. Brouillette was able to crime by flooding the area with teams of veteran and rookie police New York City’s Office of Emer- Tenant Participation Activity obtain another $3,000 in funding officers. The program has been an enormous success, but it is only part gency Management (OEM), the (TPA) funds, giving them a total through a NYC 1 grant to be used of our strategy to take illegal guns off the street. FDNY, NYPD, NYCHA’s Emer- of $34,000 to purchase emergen- for additional supplies for the Four years ago, many of those arrested for illegal possession of a gency Services Department, the cy equipment. That equipment Claremont Consolidated resident loaded firearm were getting off with probation, even though the law Alzheimer’s Association, Neigh- included six generators, 150 cots, leaders. He presented each Resi- called for a minimum jail sentence of one year. To change this, we cre- borhood Health Providers, and 150 blankets, 50 emergency “Go dent Association President with a ated specialized Gun Courts, with prosecutors and judges specially World Vision, an international relief Bags” from the American Red check for $500 in a ceremony on trained to handle gun cases. The Gun Courts have been an enormous organization. Cross and office equipment. June 19, 2006. success — increasing sentences and, together with Operation Impact, (See page 4 for more on Go Bags.) leading to a significant reduction in crime. How It Began Knowing that the supplies they CERT Training The second part of our strategy has been to push for new legislation It all began in May 2005, when purchased weren’t nearly enough Shortly thereafter, at another that further increases the risk of possessing an illegal weapon, and that Bronx Borough President Adolfo for the entire community, Ms. Community Board planning meet- will strengthen our ability to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Carrion introduced the issue of Forbes reached out to the Director ing, Ms. Forbes discovered a flyer This year, we won passage of a state law that increases the mandatory emergency preparedness, and the for Civic Participation of the non- that Mr. Brouillette left announcing minimum for illegal possession of a loaded gun to 31/ years. Now, the 2 Empowerment Institute’s “All profit Citizens for New York, (Continued on page 6) message couldn’t be clearer: if you commit a serious crime, you’re Together Now” (ATN) training pro- going to do serious time. gram at a Community Board #4 We also adopted a new local law this year — the first of its kind in planning meeting. The Empower- The Housing Authority the nation — that creates a registry for gun offenders. Gun offenders 72 ment Institute is a 25-year-old years are four times more likely than other felons to be arrested for a homi- nonprofit that specializes in com- of Public Housing cide. So now, in New York City, they will be subject to similar require- Journal in New York City munity behavior. Its ATN program ments as sex offenders who must register with local authorities. This teaches people how to create “dis- will send a clear signal that the police are watching, and that any false ESTABLISHED 1970 • CIRCULATION 200,000 aster resilient” communities. “That moves will land them back in prison. led me on the path to emergency Published monthly by the New York City Housing Authority The third part of our strategy is innovative litigation that holds gun Department of Communications preparedness awareness,” Ms. dealers accountable for following the law. This spring, we identified 250 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007 Forbes said. Tel (212) 306-3322 • Fax (212) 577-1358 15 dealers in five states whose guns ended up at crime scenes on New That path led Ms. Forbes to par- nyc.gov/nycha York City streets far more frequently than guns purchased at other ticipate in a three-day ATN train- Michael R. Bloomberg...... Mayor shops, which is a good indication that those dealers were selling ille- ing program in June 2006, along Tino Hernandez...... Chairman gally. We conducted undercover buys with hidden cameras at these with two other Claremont Consol- Earl Andrews, Jr...... Vice-Chairman dealers. We found that some dealers were scrupulous in following the Margarita López ...... Board Member idated Resident Association Presi- law, while others made sales that were blatantly illegal. We sued 15 Vilma Huertas...... Secretary dents, Audrey Henry of Findlay that sold illegally. Their guns had been tied to more than 500 crimes in Douglas Apple...... General Manager Avenue and Lutrell Simmons of Sheila Greene...... Director, Department of Communications our city, including murder. But we didn’t sue to put the dealers out of 1150-56 College Avenue. At the Eileen Elliott ...... Editor business; we sued to force them to comply with the law. Heidi Morales...... Editor, Spanish Edition end of the training the three were Finally, let me say that an important part of our success in reducing Allan Leicht ...... Staff Writer each equipped with a certificate Deborah Williams ...... Staff Writer crime has been enlisting local communities as our partners. If the from the City’s Office of Emer- Peter Mikoleski, Kevin Devoe...... Photography police do not have the confidence and support of a community, they gency Management (OEM), the If you are interested in placing an advertisement in the Journal, please cannot do their jobs well. By improving police-community relations, Empowerment Institute and the call our marketing representatives in Marketing and Revenue Operations we have also been able to improve the diversity of the NYPD. The most American Red Cross, authorizing at (212) 306-6616. The inclusion of any advertisement in this Journal diverse city in the world deserves the most diverse police department, them to conduct presentations does not constitute any endorsement by the Housing Authority of the and the most effective police force needs to fully represent the com- from OEM’s “Ready New York advertiser or its products or services or any other representation by the munities it serves. Guide” on emergency prepared- Housing Authority with respect to such products or services. ness. Michael R. Bloomberg Ms. Forbes’s 17 years as the Clay Avenue Resident Association THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL OCTOBER 2006 3

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE BOROUGH DIGEST DEBORAH’S DIARY By Deborah Williams First Houses Celebrates The Bronx: He’s the man!— When Erby Mitchell gradu- Its 70th Anniversary! Pelham Parkway Houses ated from James Madison High School and left hosted a Youth Day/Health Fair his familiar surroundings at Marlboro Houses in Brooklyn, he had no idea that one day the TWO YEARS AGO THE NEW YORK on September 9th for more phrase, “He’s the man!” would be used to CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY CELE- than 600 youth from the neigh- describe him. In his new position as Associate BRATED THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY borhood and their parents. Funding for refreshments, a Dean of Admissions at Bowdoin College, in OF THE DATE IT WAS FOUNDED IN Brunswick, Maine, Erby is definitely the man students 1934. However, it was on magician and inflatables for turn to for guidance and parents turn to for support. Erby said he December 3, 1935, that the idea the children to play on came “makes a point of letting parents know that if ever their child has of public housing became a real- from Assembly Member Naomi an issue on campus, they can get me on the phone and find a lis- ity. On that day, Mayor Fiorello Rivera and State Senator tening ear.” H. LaGuardia, New York State Ruben Diaz, Sr. The New York On his high school graduation day Erby had a run-in with the Governor Herbert H. Lehman Road Runners Club was there law, an experience which deeply affected him and indirectly led and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to sign residents up, and rep- him to his academic life in Maine. Erby made it to the graduation dedicated the opening of resentatives from Jacobi Med- ceremony in time to receive his diploma but he said the experience NYCHA’s First Houses in a cere- ical Center and NYCHA’s Social made him want to get, “as far away from New York City as mony on the Lower East Side of Services Department provided possible.” Manhattan. residents with information on Within a few days the mailbox held the ticket to his getaway—a Soon after, in 1936, the first various low-cost health plans. letter of acceptance from St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine. families moved into First Houses Brooklyn: The accompanying $30,000 tuition fee was an obstacle until the – 122 families, to be exact. Jing Fong Restaurant on Eliza- St. Joseph’s basketball coach explained Erby’s financial aid options NYCHA will celebrate that his- beth Street in Chinatown was to him, and offered him a spot on the college basketball team, the toric event and the birth of public housing in America in the courtyard the setting for the Fourth Annual Polar Bears. So Erby packed up everything he had and went to of First Houses on October 21, 2006, with music, food and festivity. Public Housing Leadership Maine. It is worth noting that First Houses was not brand new construc- Luncheon, sponsored by Assem- Feeling homesick and out of place at St. Joseph’s, Erby said he tion. Rather, the buildings were an adaptation, a reconstruction of the bly Member Vito Lopez. The remembers his advisor, Lynn Davey, helped him through a rough original tenements they replaced, transforming those tenements from August 30th luncheon was held period and as Erby put it, “challenged me to do more than play the unsafe, unhealthy, airless, overcrowded structures into secure, clean, to honor NYCHA Resident role of the exploited athlete.” Davey helped Erby fill in some of decent, well-ventilated apartments. This was achieved by demolishing Association Presidents and the gaps in his education and Erby graduated at the top of his class. every third building to reduce housing density and increase light and Tenant Patrol Leaders in the After graduation Erby was offered a position as Admissions air, and rebuilding the remaining structures. The architect Frederick 53rd Assembly District. Resi- Counselor at St. Joseph’s College, which he accepted, and it wasn’t Ackerman gave the buildings new exteriors of industrial-style brick dents from Borinquen Plaza, long after that that he became Director of Multicultural Recruit- and placed the entrances to the eight buildings not in front off the Bushwick, Cooper Park, Glen- ment at Bowdoin College. The inspiration he received there from street, but in the rear courtyard with benches and plants. more, Hope Gardens, Hylan, “being surrounded by black intellectuals” led him to the Harvard Between 1934 and 1935, NYCHA received 3,800 original applica- Independence Towers, Marcy, Graduate School of Education. Now, a Harvard graduate with a tions for the three- and four-room apartments, which rented for $6.05 Sumner, Tompkins and Williams- master’s degree in education, Erby has returned to Bowdoin Col- per room, about two-thirds of what similar apartments cost in New burgh Houses attended. The lege as Associate Dean of Admissions. “It doesn’t matter where York City at that time. Interviewers carefully screened families, and of luncheon was co-sponsored you come from. If you want success, success will come,” said Erby. the 122 new families, 81 moved from dwellings with no private bath- by the Bushwick-Hylan Senior Congratulations, Erby! You are truly, “the man!” Your mother rooms and 20 from apartments that had some rooms with no windows. Citizens Council. tells me you visit her on a regular basis because you don’t want to The first residents of First Houses were barbers, taxi drivers, garment forget where you came from and that says a lot about your char- workers and the like. At the end of the first year, there were no rent acter. You are a role model for all public housing youth. I hear delinquencies and no family was on what was then called “relief.” your brother is now in Maine too and enrolled in Bowdoin. I At the dedication ceremony in 1935, Mayor LaGuardia exclaimed, think that’s great and I applaud you both! “There is sunshine in every window!” That remains true, as First Houses has changed little over its 70 years. In 1974, First Houses was declared a New York City Landmark. In some ways, we’re back to doing it as it was done in 1934. NYCHA is committed to preserving the legacy of First Houses, keeping public housing alive and well for generations to come. Tino Hernandez

Assembly Member Vito Lopez with NYCHA Vice-Chairman Earl Andrews, Jr. in Chinatown.

Manhattan: The Plaza in front of the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building was packed on the evening of September 7th for the last of the popular Harlem SummerStage Concert series. Nearly 3,000 came out to hear Seleno Clark, Chops The Band, the Sugar Hill Jazz Quartet, and five-time Apollo Amateur Night Winner Kyle Rifkin. The concerts are co-sponsored by NYCHA, the Apollo Theater and New York State Governor Herbert H. Lehman, First Lady Eleanor Roo- the New York State Office of sevelt and Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia cutting the ribbon on First General Services. Houses in a ceremony on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1935. (Continued on page 5) THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 4 OCTOBER 2006

THE NYCHA NOT WANTED LIST THE CHIEF’S CORNER In this issue we continue our editorial policy of publishing the names of individuals who have been permanently excluded from our public housing developments. The purpose of publishing this list is to keep residents informed of the Housing Authority’s ongoing effort to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers in public housing and to allow for the peaceful and safe use of our facilities. Here follows a list of the people excluded after hearings were held on September 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2005. Please note: These exclusions are based on NYCHA’s Administrative Hearing Process and should not be confused with the Trespass Notice Program under Mayor Bloomberg’s Operation Safe Housing Initiative.

REMEMBER, IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ON HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY, PLEASE CALL YOUR MANAGEMENT OFFICE OR NYCHA’S SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT AT (212) 306-8595. HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Prohibited as of September 7, 2005 Hello. Halloween is fast approach- Jerome Bailey Case 3441/02 formerly associated with the ing and the New York City Police Tyrone Ruddock third floor of 1102 Longfellow Avenue, Department hopes all Housing Longfellow Avenue Rehab, the Bronx. Authority residents along with your family and friends will fully Moises Valentin Case 6234/05 formerly associated with the enjoy the upcoming festivities. Moses Valentin third floor of 1195 East 225th Street, Keeping you and your loved ones Edenwald Houses, the Bronx. protected is of paramount impor- Christopher Torres Case 6248/05 formerly associated with the tance to us. To help achieve this we Chris Torres fourth floor of 1734 Madison Avenue, Taft have prepared the following tips to Houses, Manhattan. keep your family safe and secure. Shawn Mazyck Case 6328/05 formerly associated with Please take the time to include Clinton McCullum the tenth floor of 175 Alexander Avenue, these safety checks on your to-do- Steven Mitchel Houses, the Bronx. list. Have fun and be safe. Mann-McCullum Joanne Jaffe Tyrone McCullum Chief of Housing Prohibited as of September 14, 2005 Jose Cruz Case 6293/05 formerly associated with the eighth floor of 205-207 Alexander Avenue, Mitchel Houses, the Bronx. WHAT IS A GO BAG? (Continued from page 1) Cordell Johnson Case 6294/05 formerly associated with the Hurricane A collection of items you fifth floor of 312 Osborn Street, Brownsville What can you do to make sure that you are prepared? may need packed in an Houses, Brooklyn. Please follow these simple tips from OEM. First: Determine if you easy-to-carry container George Santiago Case 6843/04 formerly associated with the live in an evacuation zone. NYCHA developments that are most vul- such as a backpack.The twelfth floor of 370 Bushwick Avenue, nerable are those located in the Rockaways or Coney Island. You bag should be easily accessible Bushwick/Hylan Houses, Brooklyn. can call 311 (TTY: 212-504-4115) or log onto nyc.gov/oem and in case you need to leave your Terreal McClean Case 6363/05 formerly associated with the check the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder. home in a hurry. first floor of 708 Kingsborough 7th Walk, Kingsborough Houses, Brooklyn. If you do live in an evacuation zone: A GO BAG SHOULD Leonard Best Case 9662/04 formerly associated with the — Prepare a disaster plan with other members of your household that INCLUDE: third floor of 5705 Avenue H., Glenwood outlines what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate Houses, Brooklyn. Copies of important docments, if a hurricane strikes. Plan to stay with friends or family who live out- an extra set of keys, Wilfredo Alicea Case 6434/05 formerly associated with the side evacuation zone boundaries. If this is not an option, know where second floor of 1100 East 165th Street, Credit/ATM cards, $50 to the nearest evacuation center is and go there. Again, you can find out $100 in cash in small Bryant Avenue Houses, the Bronx. by calling 311 or logging onto nyc.gov/oem. Joseph Hamm Case 6435/05 formerly associated with the denominations, bottled water — Keep a “Go Bag” ready. A Go Bag is a collection of items you and nonperishable food, a fourteenth floor of 140 West 104th Street, may need to grab in a hurry in case you have to evacuate. The bag Douglass Houses, Manhattan. flashlight, a battery-operated should be easily accessible and packed in an easy-to-carry container AM/FM radio and extra Prohibited as of September 21, 2005 such as a backpack. See the sidebar to the right for items which batteries, medical information Carl Moore Case 6418/05 formerly associated with the should be included. and medications, a first-aid kit, third floor of 471 Swinton Avenue, Throggs — Assemble an Emergency Supply Kit in case you are asked to Neck Houses, the Bronx. contact and meeting place shelter in place (stay at home). See the sidebar for contents of an information for your household Justin Dent Case 6524/05 formerly associated with the Emergency Supply Kit. sixth floor of 427 West 26th Street, Elliott- and a small regional map, Chelsea Houses, Manhattan. childcare supplies or other If you are asked to evacuate, do so immediately! If you are going to special items. Shanaya Nelson Case 3547/05 formerly associated with the an evacuation center, pack lightly, and bring your Go Bag, a sleeping second floor of 740 Gates Avenue, Stuyvesant bag or bedding, medical supplies and equipment, and let friends or Gardens, Brooklyn. AN EMERGENCY relatives know where you are going. SUPPLY KIT Prohibited as of September 28, 2005 SHOULD INCLUDE: Cornell Sullivan Case 6533/05 formerly associated with the A Word About Pets: Make sure your disaster plan addresses what Enough food and water for at eleventh floor of 595 Trinity Avenue, Saint you will do with your pet if you have to evacuate. Plan to shelter your Mary’s Park, the Bronx. least three days.You should pet at a kennel or with friends or relatives outside the evacuation have one gallon of water per Jonathan Arias Case 6748/05 formerly associated with the area. Pets are allowed in evacuation centers, however dogs must person per day, ready to eat eleventh floor of 510 East 156th Street, be wearing a leash and muzzle and small dogs or cats must be in a Bronxchester Houses, the Bronx. non-perishable canned foods cage or carrier. You must also have proof of shots. and a manual can opener, a Bishawn Turner Case 9812/05 formelry associated with the first First Aid Kit, a flashlight, a floor of Garvey Houses (Group A), Brooklyn. Stay informed: If a hurricane is expected to hit, stay tuned to TV whistle, a cell phone, and per- and radio broadcasts, access NYC.gov or call 311 (TTY: 212- sonal hygiene items. 504-4115). THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL OCTOBER 2006 5

Heating Season Is Here! BOROUGH DIGEST Health Matters... (Continued from page 3) What To Do If You Have Problems with October Is Breast Cancer Heat or Hot Water Awareness Month

THE CITY’S OFFICIAL HEATING SEASON BEGAN OCTOBER 1ST AND WILL LAST Breast cancer kills about 1,260 in New York City every year and still UNTIL MAY 31ST. During this time the New York City Housing Authority 23% of women 40 and older have not had a recent mammogram. (NYCHA) will maintain a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit in each apartment between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM when The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If the out- recommends that women ages 40 and older get a mammogram every side temperature is 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, NYCHA will 1-2 years. Women with a family history of breast cancer should seek extend the heating hours until 11:00 PM. expert medical advice about whether to begin screening before 40 Between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, a minimum of years of age and how often to get screened. Screening mammography 55 degrees Fahrenheit shall be maintained whenever the outdoor is an important way to identify potential cancers at an earlier stage and temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining the temperature in your apartment does not always has been shown to reduce deaths from breast cancer. mean the entire radiator will be hot. The radiator will heat up in sec- GET A MAMMOGRAM! tions sufficient enough to raise the air temperature to the desired range. Hot water will be given 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at The Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) offers mammograms at six a temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. of its facilities at little or no cost. Call 311 and ask for a “mammogram.” If you should experience any problems with heat or hot water and you Patience Higgins of the Sugar live in Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island, call the Centralized Call Hill Jazz Quartet. In addition, there are a number of sites in New York City that offer Center (CCC) at (718) 707-7771 at anytime. If you live in the Bronx or free mammograms to qualified uninsured persons all year round, Brooklyn and experience a problem between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, Queens: through the New York State DOH Breast Cancer Program. Log onto: call your Management Office. Call NYCHA’s Emergency Services Divi- On September 21, 2006, http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/cancer/center/partnerships.htm# sion at (718) 707-7777 if your problem arises between 4:30 PM and NYCHA’s Department of Resi- content to find a location near you. 8:00 AM, or on weekends and holidays. dent Employment Services The information in this article is from DOHMH. Heating Tips (RES) joined the United States Here are a few tips to help with the supply of heat in your apartment: Postal Service to host eBay Day at the Queens Mail Facility 1) Keep all radiators clean and free of dust. You can do this by on 20th Avenue in Flushing. either vacuuming or brushing them. 2) Keep all radiators exposed by not putting any furniture or drapes The three 90 minute sessions in front of them. held throughout the day cov- 3) Use heavier drapes over your windows to keep cold air out; ered the basics for potential Keep them open during the day to allow sunlight in, and close eBay auctioners, including: sell- them at night to keep the heat in. ing items around the house, 4) Keep your top window slightly open to allow some air flow. This photographing the merchan- will help avoid condensation build up since water is harder to dise and uploading the photos, heat then air. writing effective product 5) Dress for the season, keeping plenty of nice warm sweaters description, and setting attrac- around. tive bid prices. For information on more eBay Days, possibly Warning! NEVER USE YOUR STOVE FOR HEAT. This very dan- gerous practice creates a build up of deadly carbon monoxide gas one in your borough, contact which is odorless. RES at (718) 250-5904. Staten Island: NYCHA held its annual Fishing Contest on August 11th at Clove Lakes Park. More than 200 chil- dren from five Staten Island Community Center participated. Awards were given for the longest fish caught and the most fish caught, in four age groups ranging from 6 to 13.

Daylight Savings Time Ends At 2AM On October 29th! Don’t forget to set your clock back one hour...and it’s a good time to check or change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors too! THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 6 OCTOBER 2006

2006, she received a call from ble in case of an emergency, such ‘DISASTER DAY’ OEM, which runs the CERT pro- as the physically disabled and peo- ‘AMERICAN GANGSTER’ gram. On June 21, 2006, 55 ple with language barriers, and are (Continued from page 2) NYCHA residents began the prepared to assist. (Continued from page 1) there was still room for some that his organization was partner- CERT training. On August 30, “Just because we are in New director, , spotted the bell-bottomed, fringe-vested ing with OEM on the CERT pro- 2006, 35 NYCHA residents com- York doesn’t mean we can’t have a development over the winter, and NYCHA residents to make their gram. pleted the training, an occasion Hurricane Katrina here,” said thought the colored panels on screen debuts. NYC CERT teams are groups of commemorated by a graduation Lutrell Simmons. the breezeways evoked a sense “The coordination between neighborhood and community- ceremony at 1195 Clay Avenue. Ms. Forbes said she is confi- of the 1970s, and the Newark the development’s management based volunteers that undergo an dent that with the new Mayoral “project” where the real action and the Capital Projects Depart- intensive, 11-week training pro- Ready For Anything initiative offering CERT training took place decades earlier. ment came off seamlessly,” gram in disaster preparedness and Now in each building of the to all Community Planning Luckily Marlboro is in the mid- said Capitol Projects Assistant basic response skills. After com- Claremont Consolidated Resident Boards throughout the city, even- dle of a substantial renovation, Deputy General Manager Con- pleting training, these teams act to Association district, you will find tually the majority of New York- so the buildings needed for the stantino Sagonas. Mr. Sagonas support their local communities a Floor Captain and a CERT team ers will receive training. shoot were mostly unoccupied. and his staff worked with Uni- by assisting the various emer- fully trained and ready to be acti- If you are interested in taking Among the renovations, a new versal Pictures to make sure gency agencies that prepare for vated by OEM in case of an ATN training, please call the lobby and fake basketball court that the structural changes Uni- and respond to disasters. emergency. Empowerment Institute at 845- were constructed. The cars that versal had to make to create Ms. Forbes contacted Mr. Floor captains keep a list of 657-7788, or visit the All Together normally lined the street were the set wouldn’t cause any dam- Brouillette and in early June of those who would be most vulnera- Now website at www.empower- temporarily relocated and age to the buildings or property. mentinstitute.net. For information replaced with cars from the The policy of charging film

on the CERT training program, period, and 300 “extras” were companies for shooting on please call 718-422-8935 or visit brought in to depict a crowd that NYCHA property is a relatively

the Office of Emergency Manage- gathered outside of the building recent revenue generating ini- ment website at www.nyc.gov/oem. when the police were trying to tiative. In addition to the fees KL apprehend Lucas, inside. paid, Universal Pictures has The Screen Actors Guild also donated $5,000 to the requires that a certain percent- Marlboro Houses Resident age of extras belong to the Association. actors’ union, Actors’ Equity, but Why did the filmmakers decide to shoot the film in New York City? Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s “Made In New

NEW YORK CITY HOUSING Resident Employment Services York” incentive program probably AUTHORITY Announces had something to do with it. “Empowerment through Employment” Made In New York offers great tax incentives for film and televi- Job Fair sion studios, through the City’s Department of Television, Film Career Resource Information Expo and Broadcasting. Oh, and did I mention that Den- zel Washington plays Frank Lucas? Unfortunately, the scenes that would have been filmed at Marlboro were cut from th October 26 , 2006 the script, so no Denzel sight- by invitation only ings. But you can see him on the For more information please contact our hotline number big screen when “American Gangster” is released next year. 718 250-5904 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL OCTOBER 2006 7 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 8 OCTOBER 2006 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL OCTOBER 2006 9 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 10 OCTOBER 2006

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL OCTOBER 2006 11