Nycha Residents Head to Washington, D.C
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Vol. 32, No. 6 First Class U.S. Postage Paid — Permit No. 4119, New York, N.Y. 10007 June 2002 NYCHA RESIDENTS HEAD TO WASHINGTON, D.C. HUD’S Budget For Fiscal Year 2003 At Issue By Eileen Elliott n May 22, 2002, over 800 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents boarded 21 bus- es and headed to Washington, D.C. to rally against the proposed $417 million cut in the U.S. De- Opartment of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Capital Funding Program for Fiscal Year 2003. They were joined by some 200 residents from public housing authorities in Buffalo, New York, Bal- timore, Maryland, Cleveland, Ohio, Georgetown, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico. Because there was no room large enough to accommodate them at the Capitol, the group converged at the nearby Hyatt Regency Hotel. There, in the words of Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) Executive Director Su- nia Zaterman, who also attended, they raised their voices, “loud, insistently, again and again.” As the residents found their York City Congressional delega- would be a reduction of $63 mil- seats in Ballroom A of the Hyatt, tion, and to 35 housing authorities lion from the Fiscal Year 2002 al- more often than not, they seemed around the country to rally their location of $402.4 million. unable to resist the urge to tap the support. Cheers went up as Ms. Lamb microphones set up on the floor, “The proposed $417 million re- told the residents, “We want you or murmur the words, “testing, duction in HUD’s Capital Fund- to know that we’re in this togeth- testing,” into them. A simple ob- ing Program will directly affect er, because public housing is pub- (Left) Julio Barreto, Jr., Director of Legislative and Program De- servation but one that implies, the much needed repairs, renova- lic housing all over the world.” velopment for the National Association of Housing and Rede- perhaps, a deeper truth — that tions, and basic maintenance of She added, “And there is no velopment Officials, more commonly referred to as NAHRO, ad- these are people whose voices our buildings — our homes,” greater public housing authority dressed public housing residents at the Hyatt Regency in have not been heard. Ms. Lamb wrote. than the New York City Housing Washington, D.C. on May 22. Mr. Barreto grew up in NYCHA’s NYCHA’s Citywide Council of In the proposed budget, NY- Authority.” Edenwald Houses in the Bronx. (Right) Citywide Council of Presidents Chairwoman Gerri CHA’s federal subsidy for capital Although most of the New Presidents (COP) Chairwoman Gerri Lamb organized the event Lamb spearheaded the effort. Ms. projects would be reduced by York City representatives were with the help of the COP, NYCHA Deputy for Resident Relations Lamb wrote to President George nearly 16%. The proposed 2003 fighting a battle on the House Joyce Harrison and COP Liaison Keith Mitchell. W. Bush, all members of the New allocation of $339.5 million, (Continued on page 2) Seeing Stars At NYCHA’s 32nd Annual Talent Show By Eileen Elliott he audience of enthusiastic New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents settled into a rapt silence just seconds after Aquilla Taylor of Brooklyn’s Red Hook Houses took the stage at the Bor- Tough of Manhattan Community College’s Tribeca Performing Arts Center on May 5, 2002. The young Ms. Taylor looked unassuming enough in a yellow T-shirt, a denim skirt and sneakers, and she made it seem so effortless as she crooned an Alicia Keys’ song into the microphone. But by the time her song was over there was no doubt, at least in this listener’s mind, that a star was born. For her efforts Ms. Taylor re- ceived a standing ovation, and the coveted first-place prize in the 6-13 age category at NYCHA’s 32nd An- nual Talent Search Competition. The 20 finalists who took the “There are all kinds of talent in Gowanus Houses, won second stage that warm spring afternoon the world,” said NYCHA Chair- place in the 6-13 age category. were the best of the best, the man Tino Hernandez. “Everyone “Little Hector,” as he is also crème de la crème of NYCHA has his or her individual ability, known, sang with a gravity be- resident talent, culled down from but we have a special wonder and yond his years, against a dramatic a total of 256 acts. For these delight for those who step out background of clouds and sky. singers, dancers and musicians, onto a stage, for you put your tal- The blue-satined dancers, “No FIRST-PLACE WINNERS (top to bottom) Vocalist Aquilla Taylor the show was the climax of ten ent to the ultimate test in the most Name Necessary,” from Queen- of Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn, and Vocalist Julio Reinoso of weeks of intensive rehearsals un- of public of ways.” sbridge Houses in Queens came in Gowanus Houses in Brooklyn took home first-place trophies. der the supervision of Production third in the category. Director Karen Elliott. For the au- 6 to 13 Age Category dience of family, friends and Ms. Taylor wasn’t the only star 14 to 18 Age Category well-wishers, it was an afternoon that day. Another Brooklynite, The dance troupe, “Foot Notes” of pure entertainment. seven-year-old Hector Reinoso of from Clinton Houses in Manhat- tan, took the stage by storm with their electric energy, winning first-place in the 14-18 category. Inside: Another dance troupe, “Queens Finest” from Queensbridge Hous- • QuickCheck Screening For Srs. .page 2 es was a close second-place win- • KEEP COOL Energy Program . .page 3 ner in the category, and the Brooklyn rap duo, “Future Flava” • Agency Plan Availability . .page 4 from Breukelen Houses in Brook- • Enforcing the Prevailing Wage . .page 5 lyn came in third. (Continued on page 7) Page 2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL June 2002 NYCHA Residents Lobby Against Budget Cuts Message From The Mayor (Continued from Easy Screening For Senior Benefits previous page) Programs Through QuickCheck floor and couldn’t make it to the Hyatt, the tone throughout the af- ternoon remained upbeat. Con- ow New York City gressman Anthony D. Weiner, Housing Authority (NY- who represents parts of Brooklyn CHA) seniors, as well as N and Queens, addressed the resi- all seniors who live in New York dents directly. City or New York State, can “We have to make sure that we check their eligibility for 11 Fed- preserve the housing stock we eral, State and City benefit pro- have now and we have to build grams online with a new pro- more housing, not just for the gram called QuickCheck. very poor,” Mr. Weiner said. “We QuickCheck is an invaluable can get the bad guys in the caves “one-stop” service for seniors de- of Tora Bora, but we can also signed to reduce the amount of maintain our public housing.” physical exertion and paperwork Led by Representative Charles that can present barriers to ob- B. Rangel, members sent staff to taining essential support services. the Hyatt to show their support. Seniors and their loved ones can access QuickCheck anywhere Congressman Major R. Owens’ there is Internet access — if not in their homes, then in the City’s Chief of Staff Jacqui Ellis com- many senior centers or public libraries. Seniors who live in New mended the residents for making York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments should the trip. “Public Housing is not check with their nearest community or senior center to see if it pro- going to be a dominant theme vides Internet access. until we make it a dominant Programs seniors can screen for include the EPIC program, theme by coming out in num- which provides savings for over half the cost of most prescription bers,” she said. drugs for the elderly; the Food Stamp program, which provides Groups of residents were suc- coupons for low-income households to purchase food; LIFELINE, cessful in meeting with Charles B. which provides discounted basic telephone service for Verizon Rangel, Eliot L. Engel, Nydia M. customers that are low-income, elderly or disabled; and Medicaid, Velásquez and Gregory W. which pays medical bills for low-income persons aged 65 years Meeks, from the New York City and older, including services not covered by Medicare (dental care, Congressional delegation earlier home care, institutional care, prescription drugs, eye glasses and in the day. (Top, left to right) Resident Association Treasurer Carolyn Tol- hearing aids). Julio Barreto, Jr., Director of bert, Janie Halls and RA President Leona Draper were three of If you are a senior and are interested in applying for any of these Legislative and Program Devel- the 26 residents who made the trip from St. Nicholas Houses in programs, simply log on to the Department For the Aging’s Web opment for the National Associa- Manhattan. “We want elected officials to tell President Bush site: at www.nyc.gov/aging and access QuickCheck to see if you tion of Housing and Redevelop- that we don’t want budget cuts,” Ms. Tolbert said. (Bottom, left are eligible. You will be presented with a series of multiple-choice ment Officials (NAHRO), and a to right, standing) COP Chairs Nikki Azure and Connie Taylor questions for any benefit program that you are interested in. Once former resident of Edenwald are recognized by their peers at the Hyatt. you answer them, QuickCheck will then quickly determine your el- Houses in the Bronx, said, “I rec- igibility. ognize that who I am today is be- participate in eight hours of self-sufficiency training a month as a con- If you are eligible you can obtain an application on-line through cause of growing up in the pro- dition of their tenancy—was effectively shelved for one year, thanks QuickCheck, as well as the names and addresses of the certifying jects.” Like Ms.