Vol. 33, No. 6 First Class U.S. Postage Paid — Permit No. 4119, New York, N.Y. 10007 June 2003 Rave Reviews For NYCHA’s RESIDENTS AND RAIN DESCEND ON WASHINGTON 33rd Annual Talent Search By Eileen Elliott t was standing room only again this year, as resident performers lit up the stage at the 33rd Annual Talent Search Competition held in the IFashion Institute of Technology’s Haft Auditorium on Saturday, May 10, 2003. For two-and-a-half hours New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents danced, sang, and in one case, recited an original poem, while the audience kept beat with a steady stream of enthusiasm. Community Operations Deputy General Manager Hugh B. Spence encouraged a round of applause for the performers who worked hard for ten weeks to create a professional stage show under the direction of Lisa Dawn Cave. Chairman Tino Hernandez helped kick things off by thanking everyone involved and telling the audience to sit back, relax and have a great time. Vice Chairman Earl Andrews, Jr. and Board Member JoAnna Aniello were also on hand to say hello. The quick-witted comments of this year’s master of ceremonies, Drew Fraser, kept the audience laughing for the few minutes in be- tween performances. Fans of the television show Comedy Central and the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night are probably already familiar with Mr. Fraser, who is also a former housing resident. Nineteen acts competed in four different categories: ages 6-13; ages 14-18; ages 19-55; and for the first time this year as a separate (Continued on page 4) SAVE PUBLIC HOUSING was the cry that echoed through Capitol Hill as NYCHA residents joined with public housing residents from Boston, Newark, Cleveland and other cities to protest proposed budget cuts. By Allan Leicht ver 1,000 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents braved a rainstorm travelling to Washington, D.C. to rally in support of public housing outside the Capitol Building on Wednesday, OMay 21. Rain fell lightly at 5:30 A.M. when 53 buses left New York City, but six-and-a-half hours lat- er, when the convoy reached the nation’s capital, it was pouring. Undaunted, NYCHA residents from all five boroughs made their way up soggy Capitol Hill to Upper Senate Park, where senators and congress members inside the building across the street were within earshot of the loudspeakers on the rain-soaked platform. The rally was planned by the but spirits remained high. that the journey was well worth residents to protest reductions in “We need the rain,” Ms. Lamb the effort. A former NYCHA em- federal funding, but Gerri Lamb, declared, “but it wouldn’t matter ployee of 36 years, Ms. Shomo Chair of NYCHA’s Citywide if the sun was shining or if it was now works in the office of Assem- Council Presidents made certain 110 degrees in the shade, our mes- blyman Adriano Espaillat as a FAME is the name of the dance troupe from Astoria Houses in Queens. that Washington heard that “We sage is the same, ‘Save Public constituent liaison and knows These dancers won First-Place in the 19-55 age category at NYCHA’s love America!” Having said that, Housing!’” firsthand the impact voters have 33rd Annual Talent Search Competition on May 10, 2003. she left no doubt about the mes- Reverend Mark Taylor, Pastor on elected officials. sage: “We are here to speak for of the Church of the Open Door in “We get 100 calls a month in the rights of the people who live Brooklyn, accompanied the resi- the assemblyman’s office,” said Inside: in public housing.” dents. He stood close by Ms. Ms. Shomo, “and most of them are A leading spokesperson for Lamb and told the crowd that about landlords and tenants. Meet MSgt. Raymond Jackson . page 2 NYCHA’s residents, Ms. Lamb’s their voices would be heard even That’s the most important thing on appeal to Congress and the White more emphatically because of people’s minds whether they’re in The Draft 2004 Agency Plan . page 3 House was echoed by residents their commitment and persis- NYCHA or not.” Because almost Attack On Rats In Bedford-Stuyvesant . page 3 from Boston, Newark, Cleveland, tence. all of NYCHA’s funding comes the District of Columbia and oth- Paulette Shomo, Resident As- from Washington, she observed, it Window Guards & Air Conditioners . page 7 er cities. The ink on their hand- sociation President of Marble Hill is in Washington that the concerns lettered signs ran in the downpour Houses in the Bronx had no doubt (Continued on page 5) Agency Plan Public Hearing, July 16th Page 2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY JOURNAL June 2003 Former Edenwald Resident Retires At 44 Message From The Mayor After Successful Career In The Military Get In The Swim Of By Eileen Elliott uring his more-than-25-year career in the military, Master New York City This Summer Sergeant Raymond M. Jackson has received many awards and Ddecorations. He has serviced aircraft with names like the Ea- ew York City’s 14 gle, the Warthog, the Fighting Falcon and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. He miles of beaches offer has circled the globe. But on June 6, 2003 at 1400 hours (that’s 2PM) all New Yorkers a free Master Sergeant Raymond Jackson went back to being just Raymond N Jackson. At the age of 44, he retired at a gala ceremony held at the and fun way to cool down and enjoy themselves during the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where he has been stationed hot summer months. All for the past two years. beaches opened on Saturday, Raymond Jackson is one of chanic Technical School at May 24, 2003, and all outdoor many former NYCHA residents Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. pools will open on Saturday, for whom public housing has His first Air Force Assignment June 28, 2003. And thanks to helped to provide the foundation was at Langley Air Force Base in lifeguards from around the for a wonderful future. And al- Virginia, with the 48th Fighter In- City and around the world, all though he has lived all over the terceptor Squadron, Air Defense Master Sergeant of the City’s beaches and world, in a recent interview Msgt. Command. At Langley he serviced Raymond M. Jackson pools will be open throughout Jackson said that wherever he is, the engines of the F-106 Delta sergeant is a sergeant who has the upcoming summer. he always considers New York Dart and was instrumental in the mastered his career field, in the The Department of Parks & Recreation conducts an extensive City and Edenwald Houses in the transition to the F15 Eagle. case of MSgt. Jackson, that field lifeguard recruitment campaign which includes international re- Bronx his true home. Jackson continued to hone his is aircraft maintenance. In 1999, cruitment, visiting public schools, distributing literature, and “I’m so proud of my baby,” said aircraft maintenance skills at Hill he completed the Senior Noncom- making public service announcements. An expected 50 foreign Mrs. Louise Jackson, Raymond’s Air Force Base in Utah before he missioned Officer correspondence lifeguards will patrol City beaches and pools this summer. The mother, who still lives in the devel- was assigned to Misawa Air Base course and was awarded his Com- City is seeking to place a total of 1,100 lifeguards at beaches opment where she raised Raymond in Japan. There, his dedication to munity College of the Air Force and pools throughout the five boroughs. and his seven siblings. “He’s really duty and attention to detail earned (CCAF) Degree in Aircraft Main- The City decided to continue recruiting international life- accomplished a lot. He’s a very him the “Five Star Dedicated tenance Systems Technology, and guards because of the success of last year’s program. Last sum- giving person. When Raymond Crew Chief Award” for the best another CCAF Degree in Person- mer, for the first time in the City’s history, 37 lifeguards from comes home my house just jet in the wing in February 1990. nel Administration. around the globe patrolled the City’s beaches and pools. These jumps—its full of young people.” His aircraft also won the “High Mr. Jackson said he is most lifeguards, who arrived from the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Msgt. Jackson shared only fond Flyer Award” for Exercise Cope proud of a recent Achievement Scotland, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, and Yu- memories of Edenwald. “I spent a Thunder at Clark Air Force Base Medal he received when he goslavia, along with local recruits, helped protect over ten mil- lot of time with the Police Athlet- in the Philippines. stopped a civilian aircraft from lion people who visited City beaches and pools last year. ic League when I was growing In October of 1992, Jackson re- taking off because of possible Candidates for lifeguard positions must be 16 years or older, up,” he said. “I had the best turned to Germany, this time to FOD — that’s military talk for swim 50 yards in 35 seconds, and complete 40 hours of train- friends anyone could have. We did Spangdeahlem Air Base where he Foreign Object Damage. He saw a ing, including CPR instruction. The Department of Parks & everything together. After school won more medals and awards, in- mechanic accidentally drop some Recreation still has lifeguard openings, and potential applicants we went to the Community Center cluding the 1994 Foreign Object nuts and washers in the front in- should call 311.