First-Class U.S. Postage Paid , NY Permit No. 4119

Vol. 38, No. 3 www.nyc.gov/nycha MARCH 2008 NYCHA ADOPTS PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR 2008 By Eileen Elliott THE HOUSING of New York City and while we contribute to the deficit include: AUTHORITY (NYCHA) BOARD do have to make tough choices, the cost of operating 21 State and ADOPTED A $2.8 BILLION we have nearly 70 years of being City-built developments, which FISCAL YEAR 2008 PRELIMI- the first, the biggest and the best. amounts to $93 million annually; NARY OPERATING BUDGET We’ll get through this. We’ve an increase in non-discretionary ON JANUARY 23rd. The budget been through hard times before.” employee benefit expenses of $40 includes a $195 million structural million; $68 million for policing deficit, resulting in large part Chronic Federal services; and another $68 million from chronic Federal under- Underfunding for NYCHA-provided community funding. Before adopting the “NYCHA has lost over $611 and social services. budget, NYCHA Chairman Tino million in Federal aid since Hernandez vowed that the 2001,” said NYCHA Deputy Victories Housing Authority will continue General Manager for Finance “In many ways, NYCHA is to take aggressive action in the Felix Lam in his budget presenta- a victim of its own success,” coming year to preserve public tion at the meeting. He added that said Chairman Tino Hernandez, housing in New York City. the last time public housing was referring to the fact that NYCHA fully funded was in 2002. has managed to maintain its level Commitment to For 2008, the Federal subsidy of service despite nearly seven DISINVESTMENT The graph above shows the decline in Public Housing NYCHA receives will again be years of underfunding. federal allocations for public housing nationwide. “The NYCHA Board will pro-rated, meaning that NYCHA The Housing Authority has make the tough decisions neces- will receive an estimated 83 cents already reduced its budget from the State of New York, needed funding stream for these sary to achieve structural balance on the dollar, which will account by over a half-billion dollars and obtaining approval for the 21 developments. (See “HUD and ensure the continued stability for approximately $160 million of ($527 million) since 2003, and cut Section 8 Transition initiative Approves Section 8 Transition and preservation of public its deficit. more than 2,000 positions. from the U.S. Department of Starting at Bay View Houses,” housing in New York City,” said Though chronic underfunding In addition, the Authority has Housing and Urban Development page 3.) This victory was Chairman Hernandez, just before by the Federal government is also achieved victories in (HUD). The Section 8 initiative announced publicly by the Chair- the Board adopted the FY2008 the primary cause of NYCHA’s securing new revenue sources, will allow NYCHA to transition man for the first time at Preliminary Operating Budget structural budget deficit, other including passage of legislation 8,400 units in its 21 State and the meeting. and Four-Year Financial Plan. major components of NYCHA that will increase the Shelter Rent City-built developments into the “Public housing is part and parcel operations that are not funded and Allowance NYCHA receives Section 8 Program, providing a (Continued on page 4) ARTISTS ‘PICTURE THE DREAM’ AT ACADEMY OF MUSIC

PICTURING THE DREAM Collages made by 20 young resident-artists from the Whitman Community Center commemorating Dr. King in an exhibit at the BAMcafé.

THE WORK OF 20 YOUNG ARTISTS, The exhibit was part of BAM's "The young people were Among the dignitaries The day included songs and AGED 12 AND UNDER, FROM 22nd Annual Brooklyn Tribute to really excited," said Community present to celebrate the life stories by soul and gospel THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., held on Operations’ Eric Cumberbatch, of Dr. King were Senator legend Mavis Staples of the AUTHORITY'S (NYCHA'S) W HITMAN January 21st. The day started with who has been reaching out to Charles E. Schumer, Mayor Staple Singers. There was also COMMUNITY CENTER IN BROOKLYN, a breakfast reception for the cultural institutions in Brooklyn Michael R. Bloomberg, City a special screening of the WAS ON DISPLAY FROM JANUARY NYCHA youth at BAMcafé, led by to create similar opportunities. Council Speaker Christine acclaimed film “At the River I 17TH THROUGH THE 22ND BAM President Karen Brooks "They were able to learn a great Quinn, Brooklyn Borough Stand,” about the Memphis IN A SPECIAL EXHIBIT, "P ICTURE Hopkins. Ms. Hopkins praised the deal about civil rights and human President Marty Markowitz sanitation worker strike in THE DREAM," AT THE resident artists for their impressive rights in a different era, during and Kings County District 1968, which brought Dr. King BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC collages, which were exhibited in a the five weeks they worked with Attorney Charles J. Hynes. to Memphis. CAFÉ, BAM CAFÉ. semi-circle around the room. BAM's teaching artists." PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 7 NEW PROGRAM MAKES HUD APPROVES SECTION 8 FILE FOR THE EARNED STREETS SAFER FOR SENIORS TRANSITION PROGRAM INCOME TAX CREDIT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 2 MARCH 2008 MAYOR’S MESSAGE Approximately 300 Units of Affordable ‘Safe Streets for Seniors’ to Reduce Housing for Sites in East Harlem Traffic Fatalities in 25 Neighborhoods APPROXIMATELY 300 UNITS OF OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WILL BE NUMBER OF NEW YORKERS OVER BUILT ON NEW YORK CITY 65 IS GOING TO NEARLY DOUBLE. HOUSING AUTHORITY (NYCHA)- By 2030, 20 percent of the City’s OWNED SITES IN EAST HARLEM AS residents will be seniors — and PART OF THE ONGOING COLLABO- New York City needs to prepare. RATION BETWEEN THE CITY’S You may already be aware that DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING seniors are the New York City PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT Housing Authority’s (NYCHA’s) (HPD) AND NYCHA, TO BRING fastest growing population, and MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO already make up over one-third NEW YORKERS. The collabora- of NYCHA residents. tion plays a key role in Mayor Early this year I launched Michael R. Bloomberg’s New “Safe Streets for Seniors,” a major new pedestrian safety initiative Housing Marketplace Plan to for older New Yorkers, which will work in conjunction with the new provide affordable housing for All Ages Project that’s re-envisioning what it means to grow older in 500,000 New Yorkers over a New York City. In collaboration with the City Council and the New ten-year period. York Academy of Medicine, the All Ages Project NYCHA will “The cooperative effort determine how best to ready the City for its growing population of between NYCHA and HPD in METRO-NORTH seniors, examining everything from housing to meal delivery to making affordable housing The above rendering shows some of the af- transportation to traffic engineering improvements. continues to grow across the fordable housing planned for East 102nd Street. City,” said NYCHA Chairman Safe Streets for Seniors Tino Hernandez. “While we are Since 1990, pedestrian fatalities in New York City have creating the opportunity for decreased by 62 percent, but senior citizens remain a particularly more affordable housing to be vulnerable group. A study of pedestrian fatalities from 2002 to 2006 built in New York, we are showed that senior citizens—those 65 and over—made up about simultaneously helping to 12 percent of the City’s population but were involved in nearly 39 preserve public housing percent of the City’s fatal pedestrian accidents. through the money raised in Department of Transportation (DOT) engineers have already the long-term leasing of these examined accident histories across the City and identified 25 neigh- underutilized spaces.” borhoods that have both a high density of senior citizens and a high The properties, known as number of pedestrian accidents or injuries, looking at variables like Metro-North, comprise 17 visibility, lighting, drivers’ compliance with traffic and pedestrian six-story walk-up tenement signals and the width of the roadway. buildings on 100th, 102nd and As part of the Safe Streets for Seniors program, engineers will 103rd Streets, all bounded evaluate pedestrian conditions in these neighborhoods from a by First and Second Avenues senior’s perspective and make engineering changes such as extend- in . ing pedestrian crossing times at crosswalks and shortening crossing Phipps Houses — one of distances, altering curbs and sidewalks, restricting vehicle turns, and the nation’s largest and oldest narrowing roadways. not-for-profit developers, The first five pilot locations include some neighborhoods with owners and managers of public housing developments. They are: Brooklyn’s Brighton affordable housing — is the Beach, the of Manhattan where many NYCHA lead developer for the creation developments are located, the Fordham/University Heights neigh- of a total of 339 units, approxi- borhoods in the Bronx, Flushing/Murray Hill in Queens, and New mately 300 of which will be The Housing Authority Dorp/Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island. permanently affordable to a 74years of Public Housing range of households earning Journal in New York Cityy Traffic Fatalities Already Lowest On Record up to $42,540 for a family of The final 2007 traffic fatality data shows that traffic fatalities in four and up to $29,760 for a New York City have already dropped to the lowest level since single person. The remaining ESTABLISHED 1970 • CIRCULATION 200,000 records started being kept in 1910: 271 traffic fatalities Citywide units will be affordable to a mix last year, down more than 30 percent since 2001. Pedestrian deaths Published monthly by the New York City Housing Authority of incomes: between $56,700 Department of Communications in 2007 were also at an all-time low, at 13, which is 13 percent and $70,900 for a family of 250 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007 fewer than previous lows in both 2004 and 2005. Tel (212) 306-3322 • Fax (212) 577-1358 four or between $39,700 and The lower fatality rate has been achieved through a combination of nyc.gov/nycha $49,600 for single people. stepped up enforcement of traffic laws by the NYPD— focusing on NYCHA will receive an Michael R. Bloomberg...... Mayor drunken driving, speeding and seat belt use; improved driver behavior annual payment under the Tino Hernandez...... Chairman and vehicle safety, such as the widespread use of seat belts and terms of a long-term ground Earl Andrews, Jr...... Vice-Chairman air bags, and DOT outreach efforts through programs like Safety City, lease for the property. These Margarita López ...... Board Member which have educated tens of thousands of children and seniors. Vilma Huertas...... Secretary proceeds will help modernize We consider safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers a Douglas Apple...... General Manager and preserve public housing matter of public health — like smoking or obesity — that deserves Sheila Greene...... Director, Department of Communications throughout the City. Eileen Elliott ...... Editor our full attention. And while the final 2007 traffic fatality statistics The sites, which were Heidi Morales...... Editor, Spanish Edition were nothing short of incredible, we will continue to find new ways once Federal Housing Admin- Tischelle George ...... Online News Editor to bring them down even more. Allan Leicht ...... Staff Writer istration foreclosed properties, Our Safe Streets for Seniors program is the largest program of its Deborah Williams ...... Staff Writer were given to NYCHA in the late kind ever undertaken in the nation, and it’s appropriate that it targets Peter Mikoleski, Kevin Devoe...... Photography 1980s by the U.S. Department the most vulnerable New Yorkers throughout neighborhoods in all five If you are interested in placing an advertisement in the Journal, please of Housing and Urban Develop- boroughs. It will ensure that New York City remains one of the most call our marketing representatives in Marketing and Revenue Operations ment (HUD). In 1990, NYCHA age-friendly cities in the country as it serves to reduce senior fatalities at (212) 306-6616. The inclusion of any advertisement in this Journal completed rehab work on the at busy intersections across the five boroughs. does not constitute any endorsement by the Housing Authority of the ad- properties and has since vertiser or its products or services or any other representation by the Michael R. Bloomberg Housing Authority with respect to such products or services. (Continued on page 8) THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL MARCH 2008 3

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE HUD Approves DEBORAH’S DIARY By Deborah Williams Section 8 Ready, Set, Work — was the theme of the day at the Celebrating Resident Leaders LaGuardia Community College NYCHA/ROSS Transition Starting end-of-program ceremony held on January 30, I’D LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY 2008. NYCHA’s Department of Resident TO COMMEND THE MANY NEW at Bay View Houses Employment Services (RES) and The YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY Workforce Education Center at LaGuardia (NYCHA) RESIDENTS WHO HOLD IN AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT Community College collaborated to develop RESIDENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THAT WILL HELP TO REDUCE THE the Resident Opportunity for Self Sufficiency If you are new to public NEW YORK CITY HOUSING (ROSS) program which offers training to become housing and not familiar with AUTHORITY’S (NYCHA’S) BUDGET Certified Nursing Assistants (C.N.A.), Emergency Medical Resident Associations, you DEFICIT, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT Technicians (E.M.T.), Pharmacy Technicians, Security Guards, and should know that Resident OF HOUSING AND URBAN Food Service workers. Thirty-six NYCHA residents registered for Associations are organizations DEVELOPMENT (HUD) HAS and completed their training, which ran from August 16 through which are dedicated to improving APPROVED A PLAN TO TRANSITION December 13, 2007. the quality of life in NYCHA 8,400 units in 21 State and Anzehela Sharrif, a resident of Coney Island Houses, who has developments and the surrounding City-built development into the been employed as a home attendant for the last eight years, was neighborhoods. Most NYCHA Section 8 program. diligently searching for an affordable Certified Nursing Assistant developments have Resident Associations, also known as Tenant The transition will start at program to upgrade her skills and find a higher paying job. Her Associations, Resident Councils or Tenant Councils. Resident Brooklyn’s Bay View Houses, chances of finding affordable C.N.A. training were looking bleak Associations work with NYCHA management at every level, which with OVER 400 UNITS. Bay View until she opened the NYCHA Journal and discovered an gives residents a real voice in the operation of their developments. Houses is one of 21 NYCHA advertisement for the LaGuardia Community College Each Resident Association Executive Board, which is elected developments built by the City NYCHA/ROSS C.N.A. program. Overjoyed, she called and by Association members, typically consists of a president, and the State that do not receive enrolled. Anzehela has passed not only the C.N.A. training vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and sergeant-at-arms. funding from any government requirements, but she has also passed the State Board Last year was a banner year in terms of Resident Association source. These developments were Certification exam and is now a Board Certified Licensed elections and it is my pleasure to welcome the newly elected built in the 1950s and 1960s and Nursing Assistant. Resident Association Presidents and their Boards. Of the estimated have been operating as public Anzehela said, “Training wasn’t easy for me and I couldn’t have 250 Resident Association Presidents, 30 are serving for the very housing ever since. succeeded without my family. My daughter, Vadhiya Sharrif, first time. The Housing Authority is volunteered as my patient stand-in The work of the duly elected Resident Association Presidents now working with HUD’s during my final exam and supported and their Boards, will be key to helping NYCHA address its regional office in New York me throughout my training.” Vadhiya pressing challenges in the coming years and NYCHA will continue City to lay out management explained, “My mother’s native to lend technical support to the resident leadership as they advocate and implementation plans for language is Ukrainian. She speaks for the sustainability of public housing. English but not fluently and has Remember, your Resident Association is your voice. I urge any the remaining 20 develop- difficulty with some words. I help by NYCHA resident who has not joined your development’s Resident ments Citywide. translating those words.” At this Association to do so. To find out how you can join or create your NYCHA first announced its point, Vadhiya’s face seemed to glow Resident Association, contact your local Management Office. plan to transition 8400 units into the Section 8 program back in as she said, “I am very proud of my mother’s achievement. It takes her The Resident Advisory Board April 2006 as part of its two hours to get to LaGuardia from Another resident organization, the Resident Advisory Board seven-point “Plan to Preserve Coney Island and she was willing to (RAB) consists of public housing and Section 8 residents. Its Public Housing.” The Plan was do that without missing a day.” primary function is to address various aspects of NYCHA’s Annual designed to address a structural Anzehela Sharrif and her Anzehela was one of the recipients and Five-Year Agency Plans, which set forth NYCHA’s priorities budget deficit, that was $168 daughter Vadhiya Sharrif of the Perfect Attendance Award. and policies in 18 core areas and chart the course for NYCHA’s million at the time, and is Three cheers and a round of applause to Anzehela and all the short-term and long-term future. RAB members express concerns, currently $195 million. A large participants. I wish you great success! If you are interested in this make recommendations and advise NYCHA management in the part of that deficit has program, please call (718) 482-5168. formulation of the Agency Plans. The RAB’s recommendations are been caused by NYCHA’s considered as the plan is drafted and their recommendations need to stretch its federal Footsteps — You may recall that the February 2008 issue of the regarding the final plan become a part of the submission when the operating funds to cover the NYCHA Journal featured an article about Year Up NYC, an plan is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and operation costs of these innovative program that provides young adults with a unique Urban Development. 21 developments. combination of technical and professional skills, college credits, an RAB members are responsible for keeping residents in each Stay posted for more news as educational stipend, and corporate apprenticeships to enable them development/district informed of the Plans’ development at both the rollout continues. Bay View to move on to higher education and full-time employment. On the draft and final stages. There are 80 plus members of the RAB, residents who are interested January 29, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Manhattan, Year consisting of 45 elected Resident Association Presidents and five in transitioning over to Up NYC held its graduation ceremony. Andrew Sherman of Section 8 representatives, and their alternates. Section 8 should contact their Wagner Houses, in Manhattan, was a member of the graduating I’d like to extend a special thanks to all of the resident leaders development office to be placed class. Andrew told me he learned about the program from his who look out for the welfare of your communities and keep on a waiting list. brother, John Sherman, who graduated from the program and NYCHA on course. I know we will have a challenging and Residents who opt for the secured full-time employment with Merrill Lynch. John said, “I am productive year. Section 8 vouchers will have all following in my brother’s footsteps because, like him, I too am of the flexibility of any Section 8 graduating and have been offered a full-time position with Merrill Tino Hernandez voucher holder, which means Lynch as a Senior Specialist in the Derivatives Department.” they can remain in their existing Andrew has earned 16 college credits at Pace University and plans apartments or use the voucher to to attend Baruch College to earn his bachelor’s degree in business. find a new apartment in the With a warm smile, Andrew said, private housing market with a “Year Up NYC put me in contact participating Section 8 landlord. with the right people and now I have Section 8 vouchers are portable a better life. This program is Visit NYCHA’s Website and can be used to relocate to fantastic and I recommend it to all.” another Section 8 apartment Congratulations. Good luck on the anywhere in the job and I wish you well in all your at: nyc.gov/nycha to get or U.S. territories, as well future endeavors. To find out more as in New York City. NYCHA call NYCHA’s Department of the latest NYCHA news will continue to own and Resident Employment Services at Andrew and John manage these units just like (718) 250-5904. Sherman of public housing. Wagner Houses THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 4 MARCH 2008

THE NYCHA NOT WANTED LIST What You Vending Machines for NYCHA In this issue we continue our editorial policy of publishing the names Need To THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY (NYCHA) IS WORKING of individuals who have been permanently excluded from our public WITH A VENDOR TO INSTALL 148 VENDING MACHINES IN NYCHA housing developments. This list is part of NYCHA’s effort to keep Know About DEVELOPMENTS AND AT CENTRAL OFFICE LOCATIONS. This new residents informed of the Housing Authority’s ongoing effort to Elevator revenue-generating initiative will bring NYCHA a improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers in public housing and guaranteed $1,000 a year per machine. to allow for the peaceful and safe use of our facilities. Here follows a Safety “The rollout is being phased in now in staff office list of the people excluded after hearings were held on August 23, locations and in the field,” said NYCHA’s Office of Business and 30, September 6, 13 and 20th, October 4 and 18, 2006, and Following these simple tips can help keep you, your family, and Revenue Development Assistant Director Susan Vairo. November 15 and 22, 2006. Please note: These exclusions are Beverage vending machines will be placed in 58 based on NYCHA’s Administrative Hearing Process and should friends and neighbors healthy developments in the five boroughs, primarily in not be confused with the Trespass Notice Program under Mayor and safe. Bloomberg’s Operation Safe Housing Initiative. —Keep your elevator clean. Community Centers. “The vendor did a detailed study to Remove all personal belongings decide which locations for the machines would be most REMEMBER, when you leave the elevator, profitable, based on historical sales and knowledge of the IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ON including any scraps, etc. beverage industry in New York City,” Ms. Vairo added. HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY, PLEASE CALL The cost is $1.50 for a 20 ounce beverage. Residents, — Don’t prop the elevator door YOUR MANAGEMENT OFFICE OR NYCHA’S as well as staff, are encouraged to call the toll-free number SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT AT (212) 306-8595. open unnecessarily. Propping the door open will damage the set up by CC Vending, Inc. to request refunds or repairs: Prohibited as of August 23, 2006 elevator mechanism and cause 1-800-761-0810. Christopher Smith Case 8611/06 formerly associated with the thirteenth service interruptions. floor of 2949 8th Avenue, Polo Grounds Towers, —If you are moving, have Manhattan. enough household items ready BUDGET FOR 2008 James Wheelings Case 5552/06 formerly associated with the second to fill the elevator before you floor of 291 East 143rd Street, Patterson Houses, call for it. Be careful to avoid (Continued from page 1) the Bronx. damaging the elevator buttons, These initiatives will lead to incremental increases in revenue and Jonathan Walton Case 5604/06 formerly associated with the fourth walls or doors when loading and yield over $121 million in new monies once they are fully phased in by floor of 826 Columbus Avenue, Douglass Houses, unloading your belongings. Manhattan. Fiscal Year 2011. — Don’t allow young children to Khadija Davis Case 5644/06 formerly associated with the fourth “We have to fight for more funding,” the Chairman said floor of 1052 Teller Avenue, Claremont Consolidated, go into the elevator alone. to NYCHA’s senior staff. “We have to do it at all levels the Bronx. Young children should always of government.” be accompanied by an adult. Eric Maldonado Case 3791/06 formerly associated with the second The FY2008 Preliminary Operating Budget and Four-Year floor of 854 Eagle Avenue, Union Avenue Houses, —Vandalism takes resources Financial Plan are available on the NYCHA Website at the Bronx. away from preventive maint- www.nyc.gov/nycha. Prohibited as of August 30, 2006 enance, as well as inconven- Victor Porter Case 3584/06 formerly associated with the second iencing you and your neighbors. floor of 987 Myrtle Avenue, Sumner Houses, Brooklyn. Call 911 if you witness Monard Jenkins Case 5737/06 formerly associated with the fifth floor elevator vandalism. Marcus Delucien of 290 East 4th Street, Bracetti Houses, Manhattan. —Report unsafe conditions, Russell Williams Case 5853/06 formerly associated with the nineteenth such as jumps, or stops that floor of 433 Lafayette Avenue, Lafayette Houses, Brooklyn. are too high or too low, to the CCC at (718)707- Willie Maisonet Case 5948/06 formerly associated with the fourth 7771 immediately. floor of 16 Mill Street, Red Hook East Houses, Brooklyn. —Remind your family and Jarrett Heyward Case 5901/06 formerly associated with the tenth floor neighbors to always look in of 60 Glenmore Avenue, Howard Houses, Brooklyn. before entering an elevator. Prohibited as of September 6, 2006 Charrise Knight Case 5927/06 formerly associated with the fourth —If you are stuck in an floor of 5704 Farragut Road, Glenwood Houses, elevator, REMAIN CALM, press Brooklyn. the alarm button, and wait for Rachesta Sumpter Case 5933/06 formerly associated with the first floor assistance. If you have a cell of 133-20 Roosevelt Avenue, Bland Houses, Queens. phone, call 911. Don’t try to get Larry Clarke Case 6027/06 formerly associated with the third floor out by yourself. The Fire of 5 Tapscott Street, Park Rock Houses, Brooklyn. Department is trained by the Prohibited as of September 13, 2006 New York City Housing Devon Bryan Case 472/06 formerly associated with the seventh Authority to remove persons floor of 1430 Redfern Avenue, Redfern Houses, Far from stalled elevators. Rockaway. John White Case 6127/06 formerly associated with the ninth floor of 350 East 124th Street, Wagner Houses, Manhattan. Prohibited as of September 20, 2006 Hector Tirado Case 6232/06 formerly associated with the fifth floor of 1225 FDR Drive, Riis Houses, Manhattan. Prohibited as of October 4, 2006 Daniel Solis Case 6542/06 formerly associated with the twelfth floor of 1414 Bergen Street, Albany Weeksville Houses, Brooklyn. Carlief Wright Case 6564/06 formerly associated with the fifteenth floor of 950 Old Broadway, Manhattanville Houses, Manhattan.

(Continued on page 9) THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL MARCH 2008 5 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 6 MARCH 2008

Got Questions? Get Answers

Questions about your Medicare coverage? Prescription Drug coverage? Managed Care Programs? Available help with Part B premiums? Call 311 and ask for a Health Insurance Counselor. This free service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL MARCH 2008 7 File for the Notice of HUD Inspections Earned Dear Residents, Income Tax The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be conducting a physical inspection of your Credit (EITC)! development. The system that HUD developed for these inspections is called the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS). As part Do you make less than of this process, a certain number of residents’ apartments will $40,000 a year? You be inspected. might qualify for as much as $6,000 from If any of the items below are not in good order – contact the Centralized Call Center at (718) 707-7771 to schedule an the EITC, just by filing appointment to have those items repaired. your taxes. To make it easy, the New York City You can assist us by reviewing EITC Coalition partners the following items in your apartment: will prepare your taxes for free at locations Electricity throughout the City. — Your circuit breaker or fuse panel should not have any missing breakers or fuses. (You should not see any of the wiring or parts What is the Earned inside the breaker or fuse panel.) — All light switches and outlets should operate properly and have Income Tax Credit? cover plates over them. — In apartments with Call-For-Aid units, switches and pull cords The Earned Income should operate properly with pull cord hanging down. Tax Credit (EITC) returns — Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) outlets should test properly when federal, state, and in pushing the test button. New York City, local Smoke Detectors/Carbon Monoxide Detectors government dollars to — Detectors should be installed. There should not be empty brackets qualifying working with missing detectors. families and individuals — Detectors should test properly (beep) when the test button is through either a credit pressed. on taxes or as cash refunds.This income Stove/Oven — Check each burner. Each burner should light individually by helps people cover turning the knob. The oven should work. basic expenses. Refrigerator The EITC will not — The refrigerator door should close all the way. Door gaskets change other benefits should not be cracked or broken. Lights should work. such as food stamps Doors and housing vouchers. — Bathrooms, Bedrooms and Closets–Doors should close and And if you didn't claim latch properly. Door knobs and latches should be in good the EITC in the past, working order. Doors should be free of holes or damage. you can file your taxes for three previous years Windows — Windows should work properly, staying up when opened. Window which could triple your glass should not be cracked or broken. refund. So, if you worked in 2004 and Faucets didn't file taxes, you — Faucets and their parts should not leak when either on or off. could file a return now You should have rubber stoppers for the sinks and tub. and claim this credit. If Exterminator you were eligible for — You should not have any type of infestation condition. the maximum refund each year, that could Thank you in advance for your continued cooperation. mean more than Maximum Maximum Maximum Maximum $15,000 for you and Tax Year Maximum Combined Federal New York New York your family. Call 311 to 2007 Income Credit Credit State Credit City Credit learn where you can Families file your taxes for FREE! with more $34,783 than one $6,367 $4,716 $1,415 $236 (if married qualifying filing jointly) CALL 311 To see if you are child eligible, just refer to the Families $33,241 FOR ALL with one $3,852 ($35,241 chart at right. Call 311 qualifying $2,853 $856 $143 if married for the location of a child filing jointly)

NON-EMERGENCY New York City EITC Tax Individuals $12,590 Coalition preparer to with no ($14,590 $577 $428 $128 $21 prepare your taxes for qualifying if married CITY SERVICES children filing jointly) free. And don't forget to file by April 15th! Investment Income is limited to $2,900. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 8 MARCH 2008 AFFORDABLE HOUSING (Continued from page 2) operated them as Project Based Section 8 housing. Nearly all of the tenants have been relocated and three of the buildings have been already been demol- ished. Recent residents will have the right to return upon completion of construction. Together, HPD and NYCHA have begun con- struction on nearly 800 units of housing on NYCHA- owned land, with plans for over 5,000 additional units.

New York City Police Department Toll-Free Terrorism Hotline Reports May Be Made To: 1-888-NYC-SAFE 1-888-692-7233 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL MARCH 2008 9

Notice to NEW YORK CITY THE NYCHA NOT WANTED LIST Residents (Continued from page 4) HOUSING AUTHORITY Regarding Richard Joyner Case 6578/06 formerly associated with the seventh floor of 215 Cozine Avenue, Linden Houses, Board Meeting Schedule Your Telephone Brooklyn. Service and Shawn Orr Case 2801/06 formerly associated with the fourth floor of 40-11 Vernon Boulevard, Queensbridge Notice is hereby given that the New York City Intercom North Houses, Long Island City. Housing Authority’s Board Meetings take place Kareem Hines Case 6708/06 formerly associated with the sixth floor every other Wednesday at 10:00 AM (unless System of 82-01 Hammel Boulevard, Hammel Houses, otherwise noted) in the Board Room on the 12th Queens. Floor of 250 Broadway, New York, New York. The If you use your Prohibited as of October 11, 2006 remaining meetings for Calendar Year 2008 are household telephone Darnell Brown Case 6574/06 formerly associated with the thirteenth as follows: to talk on your floor of 303 Vernon Avenue, Sumner Houses, building’s intercom Brooklyn. March 5, 2008 Frank Winn Case 6293/06 formerly associated with the sixth floor system and open your of 77 Thompkins Avenue, Tompkins Houses, Brooklyn. March 19, 2008 building’s entrance April 2, 2008 Bobby Lane Case 4614/06 formerly associated with the eleventh door, you have a floor of 1980 Park Avenue, Lincoln Winchester April 16, 2008 telephone entry Houses, Manhattan. April 30, 2008 Mathew Solomon Case 6019/06 formerly associated with the May 14, 2008 intercom system. seventeenth floor of 2698 Eighth Avenue, Drew May 28, 2008 Hamilton Houses, Manhattan. June 11, 2008 With a telephone Christopher McGirt Case 189/04 formerly associated with the second June 25, 2008 entry intercom system, Lawrence McGirt floor of 10 Paladino Avenue, Wagner Houses, July 9, 2008 if you switch to a Manhattan. Prohibited as of October 18, 2006 July 23, 2008 cable, fiber optic August 6, 2008 Shawn Jamison Case 6717/06 formerly associated with the sixth floor August 20, 2008 system (FIOs), such as of 50-20 31st Avenue, Woodside Houses, Queens. September 3, 2008 that provided by Joseph Greene Case 6434/06 formerly associated with the fifth floor September 17, 2008 Verizon, or cellular of 5995 Shore Parkway, Bayview Houses, Brooklyn. October 2, 2008 (Thursday) telephone service Brain Cumberbatch Case 6795/06 formerly associated with the first floor of 1630 Pacific Street, Albany Houses, Brooklyn. October 16, 2008 (Thursday) provider, you will find October 29, 2008 Alex Nazario Case 6807/06 formerly associated with the seventh that your intercom no floor of 1682 Seward Avenue, Soundview Houses, November 12, 2008 longer works. This is the Bronx. November 26, 2008 because the telephone Jerome Mitchell Case 5071/06 formerly associated with the fifth floor December 10, 2008 is no longer connected of 51 Hill Street, Stapleton Houses, Staten Island. December 24, 2008 Hector Quinones Case 6863/06 formerly associated with the sixth floor to the telephone lines of 50 Debevoise Avenue, Cooper Park Houses, Changes to the schedule will be posted on NYCHA’s which carry the Brooklyn. Website at nyc.gov/nycha and in the NYCHA Journal intercom connection. Prohibited as of November 15, 2006 to the extent practicable at a reasonable time Randy Quesada Case 7517/06 formerly associated with the fifteenth before the meeting. floor of 300 Cherry Street, LaGuardia Houses, To correct this Manhattan. condition you should These meetings are open to the public. Rayshawn Case 7394/06 formerly associated with the eleventh contact the Centralized Thompson floor of 1430 Bergen Street, Albany Houses, Pre-registration of speakers is required. Those who Brooklyn. wish to register must do so at least forty-five (45) Call Center (CCC) at (718) 707-7771 so the Tyrell Brown Case 7541/06 formerly associated with the second minutes before the scheduled Board Meeting. floor of 77 Hill Street, Stapleton Houses, Staten Comments are limited to the items on the agenda. Housing Authority can Island. Speakers will be heard in the order of registration. have a dedicated Roger Murray Case 6110/06 formerly associated with the ninth Speaking time will be limited to three (3) minutes. intercom telephone floor of 1408 Webster Avenue, Butler Houses, the The public comment period will conclude upon all installed in your Bronx. speakers being heard or at the expiration of thirty apartment. This will Martin Bradley Jr., Case 7608/06 formerly associated with the second (30) minutes allotted by law for public comment, floor of 682 Ralph Avenue, Reid Apartments Houses, correct the condition Brooklyn. whichever occurs first. and ensure you have a Anibus Rivas Case 7588/06 formerly associated with the third working intercom. floor of 45 Jackson Street, Vladeck Houses, Copies of the agenda can be picked up at the Office Manhattan. of the Secretary at 250 Broadway, 12th floor, New Angel Toro Case 7640/06 formerly associated with the third floor York, New York, no earlier than 3 PM on the Please ask your service of 1358 Washington Avenue, Astoria Houses, the Friday before the upcoming Wednesday provider NOT to Bronx. Board Meeting. remove the original Joseph Ruffin Case 7931/06 formerly associated with the first telephone line as Tracy Ruffin floor of 21 Mill Street, Red Hook East Houses, Any person requiring a reasonable accommodation Germaine Ruffin Brooklyn. NYCHA will need that in order to participate in the Board Meeting, should Prohibited as of November 22, 2007 contact the Office of the Secretary at (212) to hook up the Charles Cherry Case 7704/06 formerly associated with the eighth 306-6088 no later than five (5) business days before intercom telephone. floor of 5210 Broadway, Marble Hill Houses, Manhattan. the Board Meeting. Grant Fleming Case 7710/06 formerly associated with the second floor of 131 Jersey Street, Richmond Terrace Houses, Please visit our Website at nyc.gov/nycha Staten Island. or contact us at (212) 306-6088 for additional information. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL 10 MARCH 2008 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL MARCH 2008 11

A Fond Farewell to Photographer Kevin Devoe.... You may have seen him from the corner of your eye at a Community Center Ribbon Cutting, at the NYCHA Talent Show Competition, or at one of a thousand events at some point over the past 13 years. He has helped bring the Housing Authority into focus with his outstanding photographs — NYCHA photographer Kevin Devoe...former NYCHA photographer. Sadly, Kevin is moving on. Together with his colleague, Pete Mikoleski, Kevin has played an invaluable role documenting the many NYCHA happenings over the years. Please help us wish him the best of luck...He will be missed.

NYCHA Photographer Kevin Devoe