Highlighted

Black History Month celebration
Highlighted March 2019 

A NYCHA Black History Month Celebration
Hosted by NYCHA's Family Partnerships Department

Michael Corwin

NYCHA residents ended Black History Month with a musical celebration that highlighted legends and the achievements of African Americans throughout the country’s history. On February 28, more than 300 residents from developments across the city filled the Johnson Community Center in Harlem for the event hosted by NYCHA’s Family Partnerships Department. Audience members were treated… MORE

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Harlem River Houses
Highlighted March 2019 

Lead-Based Paint Testing of 135,000 NYCHA Apartments
Work Begins This Spring

Michael Corwin

This spring, NYCHA will begin lead-based paint testing of approximately 135,000 NYCHA apartments citywide. NYCHA recently selected seven contractors to provide lead-based paint inspection services: Airtek Environmental, Arc Environmental, ATC Group, JLC Environmental, Lew Corporation, The ALC Group, and TRC Environmental. The $88 million contract starts April 1 and continues through September 30, 2020. Contractors… MORE

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Lunar New Year Luncheon
Highlighted March 2019 

Happy Lunar New Year
NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association Hosts Celebration

Michael Corwin

General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo ushered in the Lunar New Year with NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association on February 14 at the Jing Fong restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown. About 200 employees and guests enjoyed a nine-course banquet, Chinese dance performances, a tai chi demonstration, and a visit from ancient China’s “King of Fortune.” General Manager Mustaciuolo delivered greetings… MORE

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Denise Beverly
Employee Voices February 2019 Highlighted 

Meet Denise Beverly
REES Assessment Specialist/Community Coordinator

Michael Corwin

NYCHANow is introducing a new feature in which employees write about their careers at the Authority. If you’d like to share your story, please send an email to nychanow@nycha.nyc.gov. Since October 2007, I have worked at REES’s central office at 787 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I conduct one-on-one assessments and use… MORE

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February 2019 Highlighted 

Message from Interim Chair & CEO Kathryn Garcia
Committed to Better Serving Residents

Michael Corwin

Dear Colleagues, I am excited to introduce myself as NYCHA’s new Interim Chair & CEO. For years, I have worked on behalf of my fellow New Yorkers to ensure they receive the best essential services from the City. As Senior Advisor for Citywide Lead Prevention, I led the development and launch of LeadFreeNYC, a comprehensive… MORE

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NextGen Office
February 2019 Highlighted IT News and Notes 

NextGen 2019: Communication & Collaboration
NextGen Office: Progress, Not Paper

Michael Corwin

As part of the NextGen Office initiative, NYCHA’s IT Department continues to improve the technology available at development offices to help staff work more efficiently. Below are some programs that will launch this year; each involves virtual training, help desk support, and, in some cases, on-site training. NextGen Smart Screens: A 55-inch, interactive touch screen… MORE

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NYCHA caretakers
February 2019 Highlighted 

Launching Alternative Work Schedule (AWS)
Promotes Greater Front-line Coverage at Developments

Michael Corwin

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the launch of Alternative Work Schedule (AWS), a new way of scheduling certain front-line staff that ensures greater coverage at our developments. For the first time in about 50 years, we will have caretakers, their supervisors, assistant resident building superintendents, and resident building superintendents working at our developments… MORE

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Touring new security enhancements at Gompers Houses
Highlighted January 2019 

Safety and Security Upgrades at 7 Manhattan Developments

Michael Corwin

Seven NYCHA developments across Manhattan will receive $13 million in safety and security upgrades thanks to a new grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). More than 6,000 public housing residents will benefit from upgrades that include new facades, exterior LED lighting, and CCTV cameras at seven developments. As part of the new upgrades… MORE

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Career panel
Highlighted January 2019 

All in a Day’s Work: Mentoring and Inspiring

Michael Corwin

This past summer, Joseph Luciano, Senior Digital Producer in the Department of Communications, hosted two high school interns at NYCHA, providing them valuable guidance and hands-on experience as part of Futures and Options’ internship program. Due to the students’ successful engagement, the non-profit organization invited Mr. Luciano to be part of its “Careers in Technology”… MORE

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NYCHA 2.0
December 2018 Highlighted 

NYCHA 2.0: New Comprehensive Plan to Fix & Preserve Public Housing
Will Address About $16 Billion in Major Repair Needs

Michael Corwin

Today, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff unveiled NYCHA 2.0, a comprehensive plan to preserve public housing. This plan will address $24 billion in vital repairs to New York City’s aging public housing and ensure residents have the safe, decent, and affordable homes they deserve. The 10-year plan will deliver… MORE

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Procurement Fair
December 2018 Highlighted 

Creating Opportunity for All
Networking for Success at NYCHA’s Procurement Fair

Michael Corwin

As part of Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC goal to make New York the most equitable city in the world, City government has pledged to award $20 billion in contracts to minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE) by the year 2025. NYCHA is an important contributor to this effort: Since the goal was announced, it has… MORE

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West Brighton Houses
December 2018 Highlighted 

Saturday Work Order Blitz
Staff Close More than 800 Work Orders

Michael Corwin

NYCHA closed more than 800 maintenance work order requests in one day at five developments as part of the Authority’s proactive initiative to eliminate repair backlogs. While developments have limited staffing during most weekends, Patterson Houses in the Bronx, Kingsborough Houses in Brooklyn, Baruch Houses in Manhattan, Ravenswood Houses in Queens, and West Brighton Houses… MORE

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Outstanding Agency Collaboration award
December 2018 Highlighted 

An Outstanding Collaborator
NYCHA Employee Recognized for Partnership with Thrive NYC

Michael Corwin

As part of a lively celebration at City Hall on December 5, Kim Truong, Community Coordinator for NYCHA’s Health Initiatives unit, received the “Outstanding Agency Collaboration” award from the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for her work on Thrive NYC’s Mental Health First Aid program. ThriveNYC is a multi-agency initiative spearheaded by First Lady… MORE

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Marvin Jean-Jacques
December 2018 Employee Voices Highlighted 

Managing through Adversity
By Marvin Jean-Jacques, Mold Administrator, Technical Services Department

Michael Corwin

The years of disinvestment have eroded our buildings and, in a similar fashion, our morale. The conditions and the times we face can be summed up in one word: adversity. NYCHA is facing a critical time of adversity and all of us in the room for the Employee Engagement Committee’s (EEC) monthly meeting were aware.… MORE

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Domestic violence information
Highlighted November 2018 

NYCHA Staff Get Educated about Intimate Partner Violence
October Was Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Michael Corwin

On October 30, Kevin Morris, a community liaison from the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) presented a workshop, Intimate Partner Violence 101, for property management and community center staff at Van Dyke Houses in Brooklyn. Since many NYCHA residents regularly meet with and confide in property management staff, NYCHA partnered with… MORE

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Focus group
Employee Voices Highlighted November 2018 

Connecting Communities at NYCHA
By Delma Palma, Design Innovation Fellow, CPD's Design Department

Michael Corwin

NYCHA is working to update its urban design with residents and their neighbors in mind. Through the Connected Communities initiative, the Authority is comprehensively addressing the community connectivity of over 300 public housing developments across New York City. NYCHA’s new Connected Communities initiative seeks to make big changes to better connect NYCHA residents physically to… MORE

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MyNYCHA award
Highlighted November 2018 

MyNYCHA Wins Government Digital Experience Award
Innovative Tool Makes It Easier for Residents to Request Repairs

Michael Corwin

The MyNYCHA portal and mobile app was recently recognized as a digital tool that improves services for residents when it was named winner of a 2018 Government Experience Award by the Center for Digital Democracy. The Center is a national organization focused on technology policy and best practices in government. Its Government Experience Award is… MORE

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Residents first: press conference on RAD expansion
Highlighted November 2018 

Comprehensive Repairs for 62,000 Apartments
Public-Private Partnerships Bringing Nearly $13 Billion of Improvements

Michael Corwin

Innovative public-private partnerships, including the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, are bringing extensive repairs to 62,000 NYCHA apartments, home to about 140,000 residents. This will address nearly $13 billion of much-needed repairs. These apartments will be converted to Section 8 funding and will remain permanently affordable. Residents will keep all their rights as public housing… MORE

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Valerie Pepe
Employee Voices Highlighted November 2018 

Sharing Is the Key to Good Communication
By Valerie Pepe, Analyst, Capital Projects’ Sustainability Programs

Michael Corwin

The Employee Engagement Committee’s (EEC) October meeting was filled with enthusiasm. Meeting once a month with colleagues in all lines of work can be the best way to learn how to improve our workday. Chatting before the meeting started, EEC members shared stories of what each of us does at NYCHA.  Although we were unaware that the… MORE

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Randolph Houses facade
Highlighted October 2018 

A Historic Effort at Randolph Houses
Renovations Produced Over 280 Public Housing and Affordable Units

Michael Corwin

The total renovation of Harlem’s historic Randolph Houses is now complete, thanks to the efforts of NYCHA and a range of partners from the public and private sectors. Randolph Houses’ 36 buildings on West 114th Street were built in the 1890s and acquired by NYCHA in the 1970s. The first phase of the renovations, which… MORE

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Exceptional customer service training class
Highlighted October 2018 

Exceptional Customer Service
Training Promotes Customer Service Superheroes

Michael Corwin

NYCHA Management Trainer Sue Ellen Doria kicked off a recent “Exceptional Customer Service” training class with an essential, and not so theoretical, question: “What does exceptional customer service mean to you?” She then summed up the purpose of the day: “We want you to have the courage, wisdom, and heart to provide that service. We… MORE

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The 2018 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars
Highlighted September 2018 

Announcing the 2018 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars

Michael Corwin

They are the next generation of community advocates, social workers, medical staff, teachers, accountants, and public servants. But first, they’re NYCHA residents in pursuit of their educational dreams at City of University of New York colleges — and the 2018 recipients of NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships. The scholarships are given to residents who are full-time CUNY students displaying… MORE

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Employee Engagement Committee members
Employee Voices Highlighted September 2018 

A Look at First Houses, the Birthplace of Public Housing
By John Kolomechuk, Housing Manager

Michael Corwin

Although it was a sweltering day in August, the Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) was out in full force for a walking tour of First Houses in Manhattan, NYCHA’s first development. This was our first activity as a group since the EEC’s initial cohort “passed the torch” to us, the second cohort, in July. At first… MORE

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SYEP REES intern
Highlighted September 2018 

On-the-Job Experience for Young NYCHA Residents
The Summer Youth Employment Program Is a Stepping Stone to Success

Michael Corwin

Whitman Houses resident Skye Carson, 14, wants to be a writer or a lawyer in the future, two careers that require good communication skills. This summer, she greatly improved those skills while working at NYCHA through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). SYEP, which is is operated by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, provides… MORE

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Keynote Speaker Edna Wells Handy
August 2018 Highlighted SafeNYCHA 

Safety Symposium Puts Spotlight on Safety

Michael Corwin

About 300 NYCHA employees attended the Authority’s fifth annual Safety Symposium on June 28 at the Johnson Community Center in East Harlem. Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff and Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd and Vice President Ruben Torres welcomed attendees – property managers, supervisors, and safety associates from across the city as well… MORE

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Pete Mikoleski
August 2018 Highlighted 

The Eyes of the Authority
NYCHA Photographer Retires After Decades of Service

Michael Corwin

You may have met him – for 35 years, Senior Photographer Pete Mikoleski, armed with his trusty Canon camera, has chronicled important events at the Authority, capturing also the hard work of the employees who make it all happen. His work appeared in The NYCHA Journal, this publication, and a variety of informational materials for… MORE

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Smoke-free launch event
August 2018 Highlighted 

NYCHA Goes Smoke-Free
Initiative Promotes Healthier Homes and Workplaces

Michael Corwin

NYCHA developments are now smoke-free, a policy that provides healthier homes for residents and healthier working environments for employees. The “Smoke-Free NYCHA” initiative was developed as part of a new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule for public housing nationwide that prohibits smoking in apartments and buildings or within 25 feet of… MORE

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Housing court refresher
Highlighted July 2018 

Housing Court 101
Development Staff Learn the Basics

Michael Corwin

NYCHA employees are getting some valuable information about housing court proceedings. This spring, Deputy General Counsel Sam Mordi, along with Landlord and Tenant Division Chief Tracy Forrest, brought some clarity to a complicated process. In nine sessions covering all five boroughs, more than 500 property managers, assistant property managers, and housing assistants got tips on… MORE

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Management Academy
Highlighted June 2018 

Learning to Move Mountains
Alex Mathew Graduates from the City’s Management Academy

Michael Corwin

Through day-long, weekly workshops each spring, the City’s Management Academy helps new and emerging leaders in city government become better managers. NYCHANow spoke with a recent graduate, Alex Mathew, Deputy Director in the Leased Housing Department, about his experience in the program. Why did you decide to participate in the Management Academy? I first learned… MORE

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Evelyn Melendez
Highlighted June 2018 

REES Zone Coordinator Honored for Service to the Community

Michael Corwin

Evelyn Melendez was born and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, one of the neighborhoods she serves as a REES Zone Coordinator (the others are Bed-Stuy and Bushwick). She connects residents of 30 developments to partner organizations in their communities, enabling residents to pursue careers and empower themselves and their families economically.   Her dedicated service has not… MORE

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Deputy Director for Real Estate Development Polina Bakhteiarov
Highlighted June 2018 

A Rising Star at NYCHA
Polina Bakhteiarov Recognized by Real Estate Weekly

Michael Corwin

Deputy Director for Real Estate Development Polina Bakhteiarov has been recognized as one of Real Estate Weekly’s 2018 “Rising Stars of Real Estate.”   “As a public servant, I am very grateful to be recognized by the real estate industry,” Ms. Bakhteiarov told NYCHANow. “I am passionate about our work to preserve public housing and ensure… MORE

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First Women's History Month awardee
April 2018 Highlighted 

Erenisse Tavarez: NYCHA’s First Women’s History Month Awardee

Michael Corwin

Erenisse Tavarez, Acting Senior Vice President for Operations, was honored as the first-ever recipient of NYCHA’s Women’s History Month award. Chair Shola Olatoye presented the award to Ms. Tavarez along with a proclamation of gratitude from Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Public Housing. “We are so honored to thank you… MORE

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NYCHA Celebrates International Women's Day
Highlighted March 2018 

NYCHA Celebrates International Women’s Day

Michael Corwin

Dear Colleagues, Today is International Women’s Day, an annual commemoration to celebrate women’s accomplishments and bring worldwide attention to discrimination against women. NYCHA’s creation is in large part due to the work of larger-than-life women like Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of New York and then the United States, and Mary K. Simkhovitch, president of the… MORE

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Nina Winer and Jeffery Benson
Employee Voices Highlighted March 2018 

Spotlight on IT Department Employee Nina Winer
By Jeffery Benson, Chief IT Auditor

Michael Corwin

As a member of NYCHA’s IT Project Management Office, Nina Winer knows that information security is the responsibility of every single NYCHA employee. She strives to show employees how, through careful and intelligent use of technology, we can help safeguard NYCHA’s systems and data while fulfilling our mission of providing safe, clean, and connected housing… MORE

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Andre Cirilo
February 2018 Highlighted 

Pairs with Purpose
These Shoes Were Made for a Mission

Michael Corwin

In October, Deputy Director for Community Safety Strategies Andre Cirilo organized a fundraiser on Staten Island that raised more than $1,000 and collected nearly two dozen boxes of supplies for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Recently, he and members of NYCHA’s Culture & Arts Exchange employee organization partnered with Why Not Care, a… MORE

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Housing Assistant Dominique Derville
Highlighted January 2018 

Now That’s NextGen!
Mayor’s Office Recognizes Housing Assistant for Top-Notch Customer Service

Michael Corwin

It was a typical day for Dominique Derville, a housing assistant at the CCC Walk-in Center in Brooklyn, as she cheerfully answered the questions of residents and Section 8 voucher holders and made sure they understood the information she provided. Little did she know, however, that some of these residents were really staff from the… MORE

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Edna Wells Handy
December 2017 Highlighted 

New Chief Compliance Officer
Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces Appointment of Edna Wells Handy as Acting NYCHA Chief Compliance Officer

Michael Corwin

On November 20, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of Edna Wells Handy to the New York City Housing Authority’s Executive Compliance Department as Acting Chief Compliance Officer. Handy will begin full-time in December. Handy currently serves as legal Counsel to the NYPD Commissioner, and previously served as Commissioner of the City’s Department… MORE

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J.A. Stakenburg
Highlighted November 2017 

Lending a Hand to Americans in Need
NYCHA’s OEM Director Provides Critical Support to Relief and Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico

Michael Corwin

J.A. Stakenburg, Director of NYCHA’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), spent 15 days in Puerto Rico to help the island recover from the catastrophic destruction of Hurricane Maria. The co-lead and operations section chief of an interagency team sent by the State of New York to assist, Mr. Stakenburg managed the efforts of experts from… MORE

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Performance Tracking and Analytics Department
Employee Voices Highlighted November 2017 

Building Bonds of Trust
Reflections on Customer Service Week

Michael Corwin

James Scanlon, Vice President, Capital Projects/Planning and Design: On October 19, several staff members from the Capital Planning Group in Capital Projects accompanied me on a site visit to Rutgers Houses to spend time with frontline staff and to acknowledge Customer Service Week. We were greeted professionally and enthusiastically by the management office staff, including… MORE

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Language Bank Ceremony
Highlighted November 2017 

Good Service Comes in 34 Languages
Recognizing NYCHA’s Language Bank Volunteers

Michael Corwin

NYCHA’s Language Bank Volunteers provide language assistance to the Authority’s limited English proficient residents, applicants, and Section 8 voucher holders, ensuring they have access to information and resources in their original languages. On October 20, 2017, these employee-volunteers were recognized for their service. NYCHA’s Language Bank began in 1990 with 44 employee-volunteers who spoke eight… MORE

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New playground at Pomonok Houses
Highlighted November 2017 

Pomonok Houses Builds a Playground
New Partnership with KaBOOM! Will Bring Playgrounds to NYCHA Developments Across the City

Michael Corwin

On November 4, volunteers transformed an unused recreational area at Pomonok Houses in Queens into a safe, fun, beautiful playground. It took just six hours for residents, neighbors, and volunteers from NYCHA, KaBOOM!, Playworld, and JetBlue to pour and lay concrete, paint a basketball court and playground floors, and assemble playground equipment to build a… MORE

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Employee Engagement Committee meeting
Employee Voices Highlighted October 2017 

Seeking Success through Collaboration and Accountability
By Ava-Gay Blagrove, City Planner, Capital Planning

Michael Corwin

On September 13, Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) members met to discuss how we personify NYCHA’s core values in our daily work lives. One group’s conversation centered on what it means to be “a collaborative workforce, accountable to ourselves and to our residents.” It was fitting that during this discussion we were joined by the leadership… MORE

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Valerie Pepe
Employee Voices Highlighted October 2017 

A NYCHA Author’s Dream Comes True
By Valerie Pepe, Analyst, Capital Projects’ Sustainability Programs

Michael Corwin

On October 9, 2017, I had the privilege and once-in-a lifetime opportunity to be honored at the 73rd Columbus Day Parade – the largest celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture in the United States – for my memoir, “Deformed: My Remarkable Life.” The parade’s Grand Marshal, Leonard Riggio, Founder and Chairman of Barnes & Noble,… MORE

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NYCHA-CUNY scholars
Highlighted September 2017 

Celebrating the 2017 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars
The Largest Class of Awardees in the Program’s History

Michael Corwin

On September 20, NYCHA and the City University of New York (CUNY) celebrated 23 residents for their academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to their communities at the 12th annual NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Program awards ceremony, held at Borough of Manhattan Community College. The NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship is awarded to residents in full-time CUNY programs with… MORE

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Citation about Thomas Johnston
Highlighted September 2017 

In Memory of Thomas Johnston
The Bronx Borough Deputy Director Started His NYCHA Career in 1994

Michael Corwin

Thomas Johnston started his NYCHA career in 1994 and rose through the ranks to become a deputy director in the Bronx Property Management Department. With two brothers and a father who were also Authority employees, he came from a true-blue NYCHA family. Mr. Johnston passed away from cancer in May. At Claremont Consolidated’s Family Day… MORE

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August 2017 Highlighted 

Top Recyclers
Latimer Gardens Staff Efforts Recognized

Michael Corwin

In a June 9 ceremony at the Williamsburg Community Center, NYCHA and nonprofit partner GrowNYC celebrated the exceptional work of Latimer Gardens staff in properly setting out their development’s recyclables. Latimer Gardens met Department of Sanitation pick-up and quality control standards 100 percent of the time. NYCHA’s recycling program was launched in 2015, and now… MORE

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Malikah Williams
Employee Voices Highlighted May 2017 

NYCHA’s Urban Fellow Looks Back At Her Experience
by Malikah Williams, Urban Fellow

jbroner

Amidst the chaos of my final semester of college—trying to do well in my classes, creating new memories with my friends, and enjoying my last few months before I had more responsibilities—my successful application to become an urban fellow was welcomed stability. New York City was my next stop and I was ready to experience… MORE

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Erenisse Tavarez, Director of Emergency Services
April 2017 Highlighted 

Hispanic Society Invites ESD Director to Celebrate Womens’ History Month

jbroner

NYCHA’s Hispanic Society held a general membership meeting on March 8 in the Ceremonial Room at 90 Church Street, where guest speaker Erenisse Tavarez, Director of the Emergency Services Department (ESD), provided an overview of its operations. A critical aspect of ESD’s mission is to address highpriority emergencies during after-hour operations, such as weekends and… MORE

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From left are Saint Nicholas Houses Housing Assistant Cyvella Maxwell, Secretary III Yolanda Brooks, Asst. Superintendent Stanley Ortiz, Property Manager Vivian Sifontes, Resident Building Superintendent Hector Maisonet, and Housing Assistant Lakeisha Bennet.
April 2017 Employee Voices Highlighted 

Employee Voices: One-Stop Kiosks Put the Customer in Control
by Alexandra Henry, Project Manager, and Jenny Roman, Compliance Analyst, Management Services Department

jbroner

NYCHA’s residents, Section 8 tenants and other customers now have more access to information and self-service features thanks to approximately 150 one-stop kiosks installed in property management offices (and soon to be installed in customer walk-in centers in Brooklyn and the Bronx). The kiosks increase access to NYCHA’s ever-growing list of online services by allowing residents to interact with… MORE

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Chloe Gutelle
April 2017 Employee Voices Highlighted 

Employee Voices: Transforming Business Operations

jbroner

by Chloe Gutelle, Senior Administrator Last year, NYCHA residents made over 2.8 million requests for repairs. Over half of open repair requests are for skilled trades. In some cases, residents wait months for even one trade to service their apartment. The wait to complete a repair increases when two or three skilled trades must be sequenced to complete the… MORE

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