NYCHA Western Queens Residents This Issue Get First New Credit Union in 30 Years VOL
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First-Class new york city housing authority U.S. Postage Paid New York, NY Permit No. 4119 DES W IG NYCHA E N NYCHA N N N E E Vol. 40 No. 4 www.nyc.gov/nycha April/May 2010 E W E U W U S I S S I Journal S INSIDE NYCHA Western Queens Residents THIS ISSUE Get First New Credit Union in 30 Years VOL. 40 NO. 2 www.nyc.gov/nycha It’s been a long time coming! For the past five years the collective focus in Western Queens has been on giving public housing residents the opportunity and support to set and reach their financial goals. This vision finally mate- rialized on Monday, April 26th, when under a shower of rain and well wishes the East River Development Alliance (ERDA) JournalFounder and President Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, joined by new y ork city housing authority Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City Housing THE MAyor’s Message Authority (NYCHA) Chairman, John B. Rhea, and a multitude NEW FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER serving of elected officials, community activists, local business owners your needs and NYCHA residents from nearby developments, celebrated » read more on page 2 the opening and ribbon cutting of the ERDA Federal Credit Union (ERDA FCU). (l-r) Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, resident Theresa Jackson and Chairman Rhea The ERDA FCU is the first credit union to be chartered in are the first shareholders in ERDA’s Federal Credit Union. New York City in a decade, and the first new credit union in residents in Queens who took responsibility for their financial Queens in 30 years. In a neighborhood where the majority well-being.” of residents rely on check cashing establishments for most Mayor Bloomberg, who is a staunch supporter of public of their financial transactions, the ERDA FCU not only aims housing and who has introduced many citywide initiatives to to instituteNew a change York in the way City people do bankingHousing but also helpAuthority New Yorkers become financially self-sufficient, praised promote ownership and savings. ERDA’s efforts and proclaimed that “it is a great day for “This credit union will serve as an anchor in this community people of Western Queens. This is your credit union. You and will give people financial freedom so they can reach their have worked hard for it and now it will work hard for you,” the Chair’s Message dreams,” said Bishop Taylor. “This was built by public housing continued on page 2 as i’ve said many TIMES BEFORE, NYCHA residents are the Authority’s most important partner.NYCHA » read more on page 3 Federalization Finalized www.nyc.gov/nycha VOL. 40 NO. 2 NYCHA closes n the Rutgers Houses JournalCommunity Center, on an I historic deal, early New York morning, explains plan residents, reporters, community particulars to advocates and city planners filed into the room, each residents readying for the news. The announcement, made the morning of March 15th by NYCHA Chairman John B. NYCHA TALENT SHOW HITS THE Rhea, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Governor David A. TOP 40 » read more on page 9 (l-r) Chairman Rhea, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, HUD Director of the Paterson, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, U.S. Senator Office of Public Housing Mirza Negron Morales, and President of the Citywide Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Council of Presidents Reginald Bowman sign federalization agreement. NYCHA ANNOUNCES ITS SAFETY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and a delegation of preserving all of New York City’s public housing. & SECURITY Task Force... New York City and State officials, was for “the single “Today we are finalizing an agreement that will » read more on page 4 most important day for the preservation of public dramatically improve the quality of life for more than housing in New York’s, and maybe even the nation’s, 400,000 residents of public housing,” Mayor Bloomberg FAST FACTS history,” said Secretary Donovan. told the assembled audience. NYCHA’s 21 previously unfunded State and City Since the intense effort to federalize the 21 Queensbridge Houses in built developments and their more than 46,000 developments through a Mixed-Finance Modernization Queens are the largest public residents, were they a stand-alone entity, would rank Plan, the largest in American history, began six housing development in the third in size, behind NYCHA and Chicago. By securing months ago, Chairman Rhea has stressed that the on-going federal capital and operating subsidies for accomplishment is a testament to three principles: country. those developments, as well as laying the groundwork Preservation, Innovation, and Collaboration. South Beach Houses on for additional funding down the road, the Authority “Federalization tells a story of collaboration and Staten Island were completed stopped the siphoning of funds from NYCHA’s other innovation to ensure public housing endures for the March 20th, 1950. 313 developments and concluded the first phase of a families of New York,” Chairman Rhea said in a recent major effort toward addressing its budget deficit and address. continued on page 4 2 April / May 2010 The Housing Authority Journal Message from the Mayor The New Family Justice Center — Serving Your Needs In a recent address, NYCHA Chairman John B. Rhea attributed the Housing by immigration attorneys who can help Authority’s latest successes — such as finding a creative way to attract more victims apply for federal remedies under federal funds — to doing things the “old fashioned, New York way: by work- the Violence Against Women Act. The ing together.” I couldn’t agree more. attorneys have already assisted more than Throughout our City’s history, we New Yorkers have defied the odds and 2,500 victims with immigration concerns accomplished great things by joining forces and doing together what would and applications for visas and permanent be impossible to do alone. That dedication to the power of teamwork has legal status. Clients also have the opportunity to meet with Family Court attor- never been more alive than it is right now. neys who can assist them with child support and custody proceedings. For instance, we are continuing to provide assistance and resources to vic- At the centers, clients can participate in programs that include English as tims of domestic violence. Over the past eight years, our efforts to combat a Second Language, job readiness, résumé preparation, and financial literacy domestic violence have helped cut family related homicides by 20 percent. workshops. The centers also offer: counseling for victims; children’s counsel- But we’re not stopping there. ing for those who witness violence; safety planning; assistance with filing po- Just last month, Commissioner Jimenez of the Mayor’s Office to Com- lice and probation reports; services for the elderly and the disabled, and help bat Domestic Violence and I opened the Bronx Family Justice Center. The with affordable housing and public benefits assistance. The Bronx center’s Bronx center is part of our overall effort to reduce domestic violence and pro- staff offers services in 15 languages while interpretation services are also vide comprehensive services to victims. Created in partnership with Bronx available in over 150 other languages. District Attorney Robert Johnson, the new center brings together dedicated In New York every day we renew our commitment to making ours the saf- domestic violence prosecutors, civil attorneys, and social service providers est, strongest city anywhere in the world. By working together, we can cre- under one roof to help victims of domestic violence and their families. ate a brighter future for our children and our children’s children. The City’s first two Family Justice Centers, in Downtown Brooklyn and Kew Gardens, Queens, have had more than 80,000 visits to date — that’s more than 130 visits a day. These centers provide, among other things, legal services Michael R. Bloomberg NYCHA Western Queens Residents continued from page 1 Houses resident Theresa Jackson Mayor added before ending his training and financial literacy one who was the very first. congratulatory remarks by saying of the Authority’s major focuses, In addition to offering resi- that just like rain at a wedding proudly smiled and said while dents basic financial services UPDATE means good luck, “I guarantee it looking at the crowd and the to save and borrow, the ERDA y now all NYCHA residents have means a good credit union.” modest store front in front of him Federal Credit Union, a coopera- Breceived the Census form. If you The Mayor also vowed to that now holds the key to a lot of tive financial institution, will give did not complete your Census form and mail it back by April continue fighting in Albany to residents’ future that “this exem- its members ownership stake. 19th, Census takers will come to your door beginning in May, secure $25 million to invest in plifies all that ERDA stands for: “This is a door opener for me,” 2010. They may return up to six times to the same household credit unions for other New York giving resources to families to said Ms. Jackson. “I’m looking to in an attempt to talk with someone in the apartment. They will City neighborhoods. take control of their lives.” open a new salon and this may never ask to enter your home, and they will have an Official NYCHA Chairman Rhea, who Dozens of attendees lined work to my advantage.” Census Bureau I.D. They will ask basic information about each considers enhancing economic up to open their own accounts The ERDA Federal Credit person living in the apartment such as: name, date of birth, sex, prospects for residents by at the ERDA FCU including Union will primarily serve how many people live with you, each person’s ethnicity and race.