First-Class U.S. Postage Paid New York, NY Permit No. 4119 NYCHA Vol. 42 No. 5 www.nyc.gov/nycha June 2012 NYCHA Citywide Basketball Tournament Gets Some Fashion Sense Hip-Hop Fashion Hook Houses – all NYCHA housing,” Label ENYCE said NYCHA Chairman John Rhea. ENYCE-5 Star Apparel approached Donates 3,000 NYCHA to make the donation after seeing an online YouTube video showing Uniforms the history of the Authority’s basketball YCHA youth who took to the court leagues. The donation included shorts, Nfor this year’s Citywide BasketballJourna jerseys and a sling bag with NYCHA l Tournament did so in style. ENYCE, the and ENYCE logos. hip-hop fashion label, donated more “We are excited to be part of such than $250,000 to provide 3,000 ballers an important program of my home town with uniforms. The donation is the New York City,” said ENYCE’s-5 Star first time that NYCHA had a sponsor Apparel Group President Albert Pardo. underwrite the cost of the uniforms “It is important that today’s youth have NYCHA youth wear uniforms donated by the hip-hop fashion label ENYCE at NYCHA’s annual Citywide for the 45-year-old tournament for the opportunity to play in organized Basketball Tournament on May 5, 2012. (Photo credit: Lloyd Carter) residents. ENYCE, licensed by Oved sports and if we can help them achieve Baychester Houses and Forest Houses JHS 168 in Queens; and the Stapleton Group-5 Star Apparel, has committed this in any way, we will. We look forward in the Bronx; in the girls categories, they Community Center in Staten Island. to being the uniform donor for the to our continued partnership with were Atlantic Terminal, Farragut Houses At the final championship games, 170 tournament potentially through 2015. NYCHA with not only basketball but and Williamsburg Houses in Brooklyn, players from 24 teams joined their family, “This partnership with ENYCE is an with all sports.” and Pomonok Houses in Queens. Each friends and Chairman Rhea to participate investment not only in our residents and This year’s tournament kicked off player received a championship trophy. in a half-time contest of foul shots, layups our community; it also is an investment at the Manhattanville Community Games this year also were held at the and three-pointers alongside a team of in the history of a relationship between Center in February, and ended with Mitchel, Melrose and Sonia Sotomayor girls in the 11-and-under age category, basketball and players like Kareem the championship playoffs at the new Community Centers in the Bronx; the alongside NYCHA staff. The Chairman Abdul-Jabbar from Dyckman Houses, Polo Grounds Community Center in Williamsburg and Red Hook Community and his team won, with the winning shot Rod Strickland from Mitchel Houses and Manhattan on May 5. The winning Centers in Brooklyn; the Hammel made by fifth-grader DeJanah Williams the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony from Red teams in the boys categories were Community Center and Parsons Beacon- continued on page 4 INSIDE Former Mets Greats Help Brighten THIS ISSUE King Towers Community Center NEW CO ALARMS: Big NYCHA Effort to Install in Buildings » read more on page 5 JOBS AT BARCLAYS CENTER Will Benefit Brooklyn Residents » read more on page 6 DADS AND SONS Former Mets Mookie Wilson and Ron Darling help paint the King Towers Community Center at a Brush With Kindness event held by NYCHA, Citi, the New York Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi and Habitat for Humanity-New York City on May 24, 2012. Bond Over Basketball » read more on page 6 By Eric Deutsch SUMMER FOOD SERVICE ne of them has maintained “Moooookie!” Ron Darling and in Manhattan on May 24. PROGRAM Ohis ties to the New York Mookie Wilson, former Mets players, “I’ve gotten so much from New Mets as one of the team’s helped Habitat for Humanity-New York City and still do, I feel obliged Brings Free Breakfast and Lunch » read more on page 10 television broadcasters. The other York City give a new paint job to to give something back,” Mr. Darling perpetually is serenaded by fans as the King Towers Community Center continued on page 7 2 June 2012 The Housing Authority Journal NYCHA New and Residents’ Voices Easier Ways Board Meetings April 11, 2012 to Pay Your (via mail) otice hereby is given that the New York City Housing Au- We at Robbins Plaza Senior Housing would like to thank our Nthority’s Board Meetings take place every other Wednes- Rent! elevator technicians, Jody Caldwell and John Bohm, for their day at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room on the 12th floor of 250 diligence in keeping our elevators safe and in working condition. Broadway, New York, New York (unless otherwise noted). The s part of NYCHA’s ef- Sometimes they are in the building when nothing is wrong and remaining meetings for Calendar Year 2012 are as follows: Aforts to continuously they say, “We’re just checking.” Thanks Jody and Tim for your improve customer service concern. June 6 August 15 October 24 to its residents, the Author- Lavelle Watts, June 20 August 29 November 7 ity now offers new rent pay- Robbins Plaza Resident Association President July 5 (Thursday) September 12 November 21 ment features that are safe, July 18 September 27 (Thursday) December 5 fast and convenient through May 1, 2012 August 1 October 10 December 19 its new online payment (via e-mail) Any changes to the schedule above will be posted here and provider, who has reduced I share whatever information I receive through e-mail and the on NYCHA’s website at nyc.gov/nycha to the extent practicable all convenience fees. Journal to educate the residents of Soundview. Whether it is job at a reasonable time before the meeting. • The new telephone num- opportunities to the struggles we are facing, residents need to These meetings are open to the public. Pre-registration ber to pay rent by phone wake up. They act as if housing is owed to them and do not un- at least 45 minutes before the scheduled Board Meeting is is now 1-866-315-6355. derstand it is a privilege and we must take better care of where required by all speakers. Comments are limited to the items on • There are two options for we live and most of all fight to keep it. I fight with the manage- the Calendar. Speaking time will be limited to three minutes. payment: e-check and ment and borough offices when Journals are not distributed, The public comment period will conclude upon all speakers be- MasterCard debit card. they are beneficial to us all. I have noticed firsthand the positive ing heard or at the expiration of 30 minutes allotted by law for • A 30-cent convenience changes NYCHA has made and continues to make. public comment, whichever occurs first. fee for payment by Mary McGee, Copies of the Calendar are available on NYCHA’s website or e-checks and a low Soundview Houses Resident Association President can be picked up at the Office of the Corporate Secretary at 250 convenience fee for Broadway, 12th floor, New York, New York, no earlier than 3:00 debit card (MasterCard Tell us what is on your mind! p.m. on the Friday before the upcoming Wednesday Board Meet- only). The debit card Residents’ Voices accepts There are many ways to share ing. Copies of the Disposition are available on NYCHA’s website fee will depend on the letters, photographs, poems, your thoughts with us at the or can be picked up at the Office of the Corporate Secretary no payment amount (fees drawings – anything that allows Journal: earlier than 3:00 p.m. on the Thursday after the Board Meeting. can be seen on you to express yourself! Send an e-mail to Any person requiring a reasonable accommodation in order NYCHA’s website at Please include your full name, [email protected] to participate in the Board Meeting should contact the Office www.nyc.gov/nycha). development name, address Send a snail mail to: and phone number. We will of the Corporate Secretary at (212) 306-6088 no later than five • Residents can sign-up NYCHA Journal print only your name and Letters to the Editor business days before the Board Meeting. 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