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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Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Nnenna Lynch to the NYCHA Board, effective April 26, 2016. She will attend her first Executive Board meeting on May 25. A seasoned leader in affordable housing and urban affairs, Ms. Lynch has a strong track record in urban policy and economic development, and is currently Director of Development… MORE
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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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Last May, we released Next-Generation NYCHA, our 10-year strategic plan to preserve public housing for the more than 400,000 people who call NYCHA home and to protect it for our next generation of residents. I want to thank you; the plan was developed with your input, and over the past year you’ve worked hard, beginning… MORE
Read moreChair 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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NYCHA hosted its 2016 Minority-and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) and Section 3 Business Concerns (S3BC) Trade Show at BNY Mellon in Manhattan on April 19. More than 300 vendors, contractors, and consultants were in attendance—excited about the opportunities to provide some of the $1 billion of materials, supplies, and services NYCHA purchases each year. Guests… MORE
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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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In New York City, all City employees and members of the public using City services are legally allowed to use the single-sex facility they choose based on their gender expression. Gender expression is the external representation of an individual’s gender identity and can be expressed through names, hairstyles, behaviors and choice of clothing that may be… MORE
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Thirty-five property management supervisors and caretakers were busy in the Ceremonial Room on April 19 placing plastic water bottles, metal cans, milk cartons and a cardboard pizza box in the proper blue or green receptacles. Green was for containers holding mixed paper and cardboard, and blue was for metal, rigid plastic, glass, and cartons. This… MORE
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Three innovative digital initiatives by the IT department have received awards for Outstanding Achievement in Administrative Innovation at the Middle Atlantic Regional Council Conference of the National Association of Housing and Development Officials (MARC NAHRO) in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on April 28. “We are extremely proud that NYCHA is being recognized for the hard… MORE
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Denise Guess, a community coordinator in the Resident Engagement Department, has worked for NYCHA for 10 years. Raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, she earned her bachelor’s degree in human services from Claflin College and a master’s in human services from Lincoln University. A resident of East Flatbush, Ms. Guess says her most outstanding… MORE
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NYCHA offers two types of scholarships to support residents as they increase their income and assets through higher education. NYCHA will award 10 NYCHA-CUNY $1,000 scholarships for the 2016-2017 school year. Authorized recipients must be a sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled in a CUNY associate or baccalaureate degree program and have at least a 3.0… MORE
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Did you know that you are entitled to excused paid leave for breast and/or prostate cancer screenings? In accordance with NYC Civil Service Law Sections 159-b and 159-c, NYCHA employees are entitled to four hours of excused paid leave each calendar year to undergo a breast and/or prostate cancer medical screening. The four hours excused… MORE
Read moreCelebrate 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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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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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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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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The Hispanic Society’s Executive Board held a “meet and greet” membership meeting following their recent election at 90 Church Street on April 13. From left are: Evelyn Ortiz , Business Agent; Nancy Ramos, 2nd Vice President; Fernando Pagán, 1st Vice President; Ligia Santiago, Sgt.-at-Arms, Jose Ortiz, President; and Edith Irizarry-Oviedo, Recording Secretary. For information about… MORE
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Calling all sports fans! Spring is here and the NYCHA Skyliners are ready to show the co-ed New York City Government Softball League (NYCGSL) who’s the real Authority on fun! Now in our third season, we welcome all NYCHA employees to join us—as a team member or part of our cheering squad! For more information… MORE
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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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The Authority released its Next- Generation NYCHA (NextGen) First Quarter 2016 Report to update progress made on our 10-year strategic plan. Upon release of the historic NextGen initiative last May, NYCHA committed to quarterly reports to show progress as well as areas in need of improvement. After laying the groundwork in 2015 for NextGen’s 15… MORE
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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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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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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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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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NYCHA’s popular Self-Service Portal, where residents and Section 8 tenants can conveniently check and update their NYCHA information, now has a new feature called Opportunity Connect, where they can also sign up for financial counseling. Users ages 18 and up can log onto Opportunity Connect to make a self-referral for a one-on-one session with a… MORE
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Do you often drink more than you planned, or seem to become a “different person” when you drink? Do you need alcohol just to feel normal or relaxed? These are some of the signs of a developing or existing alcohol problem that should not be ignored. To learn about available treatments, call the NYC Employee… MORE
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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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As of March 7, 2016, per Mayoral Executive Order No. 16, all employees of City agencies and all members of the public using City services must be allowed to use the single-sex facility within facilities owned or operated by the City that most closely aligns with their gender identity or expression. This order protects the… MORE
Read moreAll NYCHA personnel are responsible for notifying the Office of Safety and Security (OFSS) of any violent incidents or threatening behaviors, including threats they have witnessed, received, or know that another person has witnessed or received. Any unsafe conditions or practices should also be reported to the OFSS at 212-306-8800.
Read moreOn 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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