NYCHA Now

Author: Latoya Jordan

February 2022

The Pandemic & Beyond: The Future of Racial Inclusion & Equity in New York City

In 2020, amid a global pandemic and nationwide civil rights protests, the City launched the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity to address racial and economic disparities that were worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic in Black communities and other communities of color. The Taskforce strives to improve outcomes by transforming policies, programs, and systems throughout… MORE

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December 2021

Meet the EHS Heating Oversight Team (HOT)

NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) Heating Oversight Team (HOT) monitors NYCHA’s compliance with regulations and standards governing heating systems to ensure residents are provided with reliable heat and hot water service. HOT is one of three teams within EHS’ Building Systems Safety Unit tasked with overseeing critical building functions (the other teams oversee… MORE

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December 2021Exceptional Colleagues

Meet Mildred Aviles, Housing Manager at Rutgers Houses

We’re periodically featuring the female property managers who help NYCHA carry out its mission to better serve residents and strengthen our partnership with them. NYCHA supports and encourages women in leadership positions in all departments, including property management. Currently, there are 260 women working as property managers at the Authority. In this installment, meet one… MORE

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Employee VoicesOctober 2021

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Meet Elizabeth McCray  Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 to recognize the achievements, contributions, and culture of Hispanic Americans. The month also overlaps with Indigenous People’s Day, which is marked on the second Monday in October to honor Native American people and their cultures.   For NYCHA employee Elizabeth McCray, this overlap in holidays is a reflection of her DNA, family, and culture. Ms. McCray’s mother moved to… MORE

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Employee VoicesOctober 2021

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Food

On September 15, to mark the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, Capital Projects Division (CPD) employee Franklin Velez organized a special lunch break with Dominican food for his colleagues at Long Island City.  Mr. Velez has been a Staff Analyst in the QA Compliance and Training division of CPD for the past two years, responsible for coordinating training for the department.  He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran, who served in the Iraq War. “In… MORE

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July 2021

Keeping Residents Safe with Lead Paint Inspections

Lead paint inspections and assessments are required by law and are important so we can create safer and healthier homes for NYCHA residents, especially the Authority’s youngest residents (who are most susceptible to the health effects of lead).  A visual assessment is one way NYCHA determines if there is lead paint and lead-based paint hazards in apartments. During a visual assessment, staff look for… MORE

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July 2021

NYCHA Named Finalist for Development Award

Two of NYCHA’s real estate development projects were recently named finalists for the ULI New York Awards for Excellence in Development. Urban Land Institute (ULI) is an international organization of real estate and urban development professionals. Every year, the Awards for Excellence in Development recognizes development projects throughout New York State that best demonstrate the… MORE

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Employee VoicesJune 2021

Meet Verna Ferguson, Administrative Housing Superintendent, Emergency Services Department

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) people have made and continue to make on American history. In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.   Verna Ferguson joined NYCHA in 1985 through a youth training program.… MORE

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Blueprint for ChangeJune 2021

First Members of Resident Roundtable Announced

Thirty-two NYCHA residents were recently chosen as the first members of the Resident Roundtable, a new committee that ensures residents continue to play an important role in NYCHA’s Transformation Plan, where they will provide valuable feedback and recommendations to implement the plan.  The Citywide Council of Presidents (CCOP), the official citywide NYCHA resident organization, appointed five residents to the Roundtable and the remaining positions… MORE

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May 2021

Celebrating the Women of CPD

The construction, engineering, and architecture industries are known for being primarily male-dominated, though more women are taking on roles at every level each year. NYCHA’s Capital Projects Division (CPD), responsible for managing over $1 billion in construction projects, recently held a virtual event to celebrate and acknowledge the women of the division.  The event was organized by Claudette Morris, Director of Analysis… MORE

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February 2021

Isaacs Center Virtual Black History Month Celebration

On February 19, the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center marked Black History Month with a virtual celebration that featured music, poetry, speeches, and dance performances by staff, center participants, and special guests. Music included the singing of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” renditions of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” and Marvin Gaye’s… MORE

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February 2021

Green City Force

To commemorate Black History Month, NYCHA is highlighting the work of partner organizations that support, educate, and advocate for NYCHA residents to learn new skills to empower themselves and their communities. When Hakim Jeffrey, 21, walks around his Bay View Houses community, he sometimes feels like a celebrity because residents notice him and ask about… MORE

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February 2021

Public Art Project on View at Fulton and Chelsea-Elliott Houses

A new outdoor public art exhibition, “Intertwining Colors,” is now on view across 370 feet of construction scaffolding at Fulton Houses and Chelsea-Elliott Houses. The art features hand-painted murals with portraits of 60 residents from both NYCHA developments. “Intertwining Colors” is part of an ongoing artist fellowship program, “Bridging the Divide,” through ArtBridge, a non-profit… MORE

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Blueprint for ChangeDecember 2020

Residents and Stakeholders Provide Comments on NYCHA’s Transformation Plan

Dear Colleagues, This week, the public comment period for NYCHA’s draft Transformation Plan closed. We received more than 300 comments from residents, employees, and other stakeholders on how to comprehensively restructure NYCHA. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to using these comments to help shape the Transformation Plan moving forward. As part of the 2019 HUD Agreement, the Transformation Plan… MORE

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October 2020

NYCHA’s Sandy Work Spotlighted in Resiliency Forum

Joy Sinderbrand, Vice President of NYCHA’s Recovery and Resilience Department, recently spoke about NYCHA’s Sandy recovery work as part of the Silman Resiliency Forum, held virtually on October 13.  Ms. Sinderbrand participated in a session on “Setting the Stage – The NYC Waterfront,” which featured expert speakers discussing current resiliency work on the New York City waterfront, how the present work is preparing the waterfront for climate change, and whether or not New York… MORE

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August 2020

Sideya Sherman Leads City’s Racial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce

On July 7, Sideya Sherman, NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Community Engagement & Partnerships (CEP), was named (CEP) Executive Director of the City’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity.   The Taskforce seeks to make sure that COVID-19 response and recovery efforts are fair and equitable in the city’s hardest-hit communities, where communities of color have been disproportionately impacted… MORE

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April 2020

Kudos to the MRST Team

NYCHA’s Maintenance, Repair & Skilled Trades Steps Up During COVID-19 Crisis  Kudos from Leon Agard, Director of Maintenance, Repair & Skilled Trades (MRST):  “I’d like to acknowledge the entire Maintenance, Repair & Skilled Trades team members who have been reporting to work unless they are sick or under quarantine. In addition, the entire Asbestos Handlers’ team and their supervisors deserve recognition. About 95… MORE

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April 2020COVID-19

Celebrating NYCHA Heroes: Redfern Houses

Complimenting Luis Hernandez and Shaquana Ramirez of Redfern Houses  Kudos from Ashton Thomas, Property Manager of Redfern Houses:  “Luis Hernandez, Property Maintenance Superintendent, and Shaquana Ramirez, Assistant Superintendent of Buildings, are the true meaning of NYCHA unsung heroes.  “Mr. Hernandez has been with NYCHA for over 30 years. When most of us are fast asleep, Mr. Hernandez… MORE

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June 2016NYCHA Notes

State Safety Law Protects NYCHA Workers

Like firefighters and police officers, NYCHA employees are public servants who take their job responsibilities seriously. Property management staff work hard to keep NYCHA developments and facilities clean, safe, and well-maintained. And, like firefighters, police officers, and other public servants, NYCHA employees receive special protections under the law. Legislation passed in 2014 provides NYCHA staff… MORE

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June 2016News to Use

Retiring within the Next Six Months?

Employees nearing retirement can find information on how health insurance benefits will change by viewing a two-part video found at http://www1.nyc.gov/site/olr/health/healthvideos/health-video-transition-seminar-pt1.page for part 1 and http://www1.nyc.gov/site/olr/health/healthvideos/health-video-transition-seminar-pt2.page for part two. The videos areabout five minutes and four minutes long, respectively. While the videos answer many questions, individual issues can best be addressed at a one-on-one Transitioning… MORE

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May 2016NYCHA Notes

NYCHA Notes

Josephine Russo, former Associate General Counsel, was appointed Vice President for Supply Management and Procurement in April 2016. Ms. Russo plans and directs the implementation of NYCHA’s procurement operations, oversees the Supply Management Department, and is responsible for procurement, materials management, warehousing and distribution for all NYCHA locations. Tricia Roberts, CIA, former Director of Risk… MORE

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May 2016NYCHA Notes

Congratulations, Fast Bob

On May 1, NYCHA Running Team co-captain Bob Nordman, computer specialist in IT, completed the Long Island Marathon. Successfully completing an arduous 26.2 mile footrace is a notable accomplishment. But for “Fast Bob” (as he is known across the country), this race had special significance—it was the culmination of Bob’s long-held goal of running 100… MORE

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May 2016

FlexOps Model to Launch This Summer

Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye and General Manager Michael Kelly recently announced that NYCHA and the Teamsters Local 37 union have reached an agreement to deploy Flexible Operations (FlexOps): Expanded Service Hours, at 12 developments, for a four-month trial period. The model Joint Initiative will improve customer service and address employee engagement. The Joint Initiative… MORE

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May 2016

Careers in Construction Resource Fair

NYCHA’s Superstorm Sandy Recovery Program, in partnership with the Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), hosted the first-ever Careers in Construction Resource Fair at Hamilton-Madison House in Lower Manhattan on May 10. Hundreds of residents interested in various construction careers learned first-hand from carpentry, plumbing, painting and electrical union representatives about training and… MORE

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May 2016News to Use

Free Early Detection Screenings

Celebrate Women’s Health Awareness Week (May 8 – 14) and National Stroke Awareness Month with Preventive and Early Detection Screenings. Beginning July 1, 2016, many preventive screenings will be available for free for all employees enrolled in the Emblem-Health GHI CBP plan? In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month and Women’s Health Awareness Week, employees… MORE

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April 2016News to Use

Right-Sizing Extends the Benefits of Public Housing to More New Yorkers

During the week of April 18, NYCHA sent letters to more than 1,500 residents in extremely under-occupied apartments, launching a major right-sizing initiative to “[free] up currently underoccupied units for larger households in need”—as outlined in the NextGeneration NYCHA 10- year strategic plan. “We understand that moving can be difficult under any circumstance,” said Management… MORE

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April 2016

Purim Celebration

Batei Tsibur (NYCHA’s branch of the Council of Jewish Organizations in civil service) celebrated the festival of Purim on March 24 with a Megillah reading from the Book of Esther—and delicious hamantashen cookies. The Jewish festival celebrates events in ancient Persia, as recorded in the Scroll of Esther that is traditionally read on the holiday.… MORE

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April 2016

NYCHA’s NAACP Branch Launches New Campaign

NYCHA’s branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has invited members of college fraternities and sororities to “adopt” public housing developments, where they will positively impact public housing residents and the surrounding community. The volunteers will help provide a series of programs geared toward economic development, civic engagement, health and… MORE

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April 2016News to Use

NYCHA’s First-Ever Sustainability Agenda

NYCHA released our first-ever comprehensive agenda for healthy and energy-efficient public housing on April 21. The NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda expresses the Authority’s commitment to create “healthy and comfortable homes that will withstand the challenge of climate change.” The agenda also provides for NYCHA’s compliance with the City’s greening and sustainability initiative by achieving a… MORE

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April 2016News to Use

Executive Support Staff Train to Plan More Effective Meetings

Executive Assistants and other support staff who help manage the day-to-day operations of their departments attended professional development training sessions in the executive Board Room on April 4. The training introduced staff, who also work closely with Executive team members, to some of the same strategies for planning effective meetings that were introduced to senior… MORE

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April 2016NYCHA Notes

Going Green at NYCHA

In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, NYCHA CONNECT invited staff to submit photos sharing “green office tips.” Keith Hernandez in General Services grows plants in empty liter bottles. “This contributes to a green atmosphere in my office,” Mr. Hernandez said, “and it uses recyclable plastic bottles in a hydroponic [no soil] approach. It… MORE

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April 2016News to Use

Construction Group’s Quarterly Meeting Stresses Safety

The Capital Projects Division’s Construction Group held its staff meeting for the second quarter of 2016 in the Ceremonial Room on April 4. More than 80 project managers, assistant project managers, construction managers, and construction field supervisors from CPD’s largest unit were in attendance. During the one-hour session, Director of Construction Patricia Zander emphasized the… MORE

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April 2016NYCHA NotesSafeNYCHA

Construction Group Meeting Ends with a Call for Photos!

A special request made at the end of the Construction Group’s meeting has NYCHANow excited. Director of Construction Patricia Zanger asked the group to send photographs of NYCHA staff overseeing or inspecting construction work in visually interesting environments to include in this publication. Just one day later, the first photo has arrived (see right). NYCHANow… MORE

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April 2016

National Retirement Planning Week

Have you begun planning for your retirement? This year, National Retirement Planning Week was celebrated from April 11 –15. One-third of American workers have no retirement savings plan besides Social Security. Fortunately, NYCHA and other City employees can become members of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), the largest municipal public employee retirement… MORE

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April 2015

Staff Changes Support New Strategic Direction

On January 23, Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye and General Manager Cecil House announced significant operational and staffing changes that will position the Authority to implement key initiatives, including NextGeneration NYCHA, the agency’s ten-year strategic investment plan, and the recently launched Optimal Property Management Operating Model (OPMOM) pilot, which empowers property managers with far greater… MORE

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