Batei Tsibur, NYCHA’s organization of Jewish employees, ushered in Chanukah with its annual celebration on December 12, the first night of this eight-day “Festival of Lights.” Revelers lit the Chanukah menorah, sang traditional songs, and enjoyed refreshments and each other’s company. Batei Tsibur President Alan Pelikow discussed how Chanukah – “dedication” in Hebrew – commemorates… Continue Reading A Festival of Lights
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During a meeting live-streamed to property management and central offices citywide, Chair Shola Olatoye answered questions submitted by staff about the Authority’s lead-based paint program. If you missed it, watch the recording below (the password is askshola). Stay tuned for future “Ask Me Anything” sessions, and start jotting down some questions!
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The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) recognized NYCHA’s excellence in managing a $5 million security enhancement project with the 2017 CMAA Project Achievement Award in the category of residential/mixed-use construction under $10 million. To improve residents’ security and quality of life, NYCHA installed 239 CCTV cameras and layered access control at 45 buildings in… Continue Reading Congratulations to Capital Projects
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Crime is down 7 percent at NYCHA this year, with decreases in all five boroughs. ABC 7 covered this news in a recent broadcast. “In 2017, we made great progress in combating serious crime and safety issues across the Authority,” explained NYCHA’s Vice President for Public Safety “Chief” Gerald Nelson. “The Mayor’s Action Plan and… Continue Reading Crime Drops at NYCHA
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On November 28, Tischelle George, NYCHA’s Senior Advisor for Community Engagement and Partnerships, participated in a panel discussion at a conference in Washington, DC, titled “Catalyzing Economic Mobility and Inclusion through Affordable Housing and Financial Capability Integration.” While the conference name might be a mouthful, its intentions were simple: Ms. George discussed how City agencies… Continue Reading Prosperity Now!
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This season, a holiday tradition was revived at Betances Houses thanks to the efforts of the South Bronx Youth Leadership Council (SBYLC): decorating a community Christmas tree. On December 4, nearly 30 seniors from Betances, Adams, and Saint Mary’s Park Houses joined 70 children from the BronxWorks Betances Community Center, plus SBYLC members and NYCHA… Continue Reading A Tree Unites the Community
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On December 5, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye appeared before the New York City Council’s Public Housing Committee to discuss the facts about lead paint compliance. Read her testimony here: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nycha/downloads/pdf/testimony-20171205.pdf
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NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye appeared on NY1’s “Road to City Hall” with Errol Louis to discuss NYCHA’s lead-based paint inspection and remediation program. Watch it here:
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Join your friends and colleagues at the New York City Housing Authority Holiday Party! Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 6 PM – 10 PM The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn Purchase your ticket today! Tickets are $45 per person, which includes appetizers, assorted soft drinks, coffee, tea, and music. The Holiday… Continue Reading ‘Tis the Season
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Residents who were without cooking gas due to building repairs weren’t without a tasty meal this Thanksgiving, thanks to 41 NYCHA staff who generously donated their time. They provided a complete Thanksgiving feast to nearly 400 households at eight developments. Food was donated by Whole Foods and Hillsong Church NYC; volunteers distributed meals from the… Continue Reading Dinner Is Served
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Dear Colleagues, 2017 was a year of accomplishment and challenge. Your commitment and hard work has resulted in significant progress on our NextGeneration NYCHA goals. On behalf of the 1 in 14 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am proud to work beside you and look… Continue Reading The Chair’s End-of-Year Message
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On November 21, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye visited WNYC’s “The Leonard Lopate Show” to discuss the state of public housing. Listen to the interview here: http://www.wnyc.org/story/shola-olatoye/
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NYCHA’s Plan to Address Potential Lead-based Paint Hazard Compliance Issues NYCHA has taken immediate and long-term actions to improve our program for inspection and remediation of potential lead-based paint hazards, fix the gaps in compliance with New York City and federal laws, and improve resident health: NYCHA is creating an Executive Compliance Department reporting directly… Continue Reading New Plan to Protect Resident Health
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This fall, NYCHA’s softball team, the Skyliners, really knocked it out of the park. This is the first time in their four-year history that the Skyliners won an NYC Government Softball League playoff game, beating the Human Resources Administration. The weekly games aren’t just a good way to show off athletic skills and blow off… Continue Reading Bring It On Home
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Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye discussed NYCHA’s lead-based paint compliance program with Cheryl Wills on “In Focus,” a NY1 news program. The segment aired on December 10, but you can watch it below. Cheryl Wills grew up in Hammel Houses in the Rockaways.
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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… Continue Reading New Chief Compliance Officer
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On December 5, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye appeared on NY1 to discuss NYCHA’s lead-based paint inspection and remediation program. Watch the interview below:
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Early this month, a NYCHA employee received a suspicious email and contacted the NYCHA Information Security Hotline at (212) 306-8006. Here’s why the email looked suspicious: The email looked like it came from Dropbox, but there were some unusual markings on the letters ‘r’ and ‘x.’ The employee did not recognize the sender: jandrews@andrewsconverting.com The… Continue Reading Think Before You Click
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The Daily News published an op-ed written by Deborah Wright, formerly a NYCHA Board Member and Commissioner of the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, on November 25, 2017: “Lead paint is a serious issue, no question, but the evidence shows… Continue Reading “The Boss at NYCHA Deserves Support”
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On November 15, 2017, Edenwald residents Charles and Arlanda Solomon will celebrate 74 years of marriage. The couple says the secret to maintaining a loving and lasting marriage is “to be patient, to truly listen to one another, and to always respect each other!” Charles and Arlanda met in 1941 in Washington County, Georgia. Mr. Solomon… Continue Reading A NYCHA Love Story: Longtime Edenwald Residents Celebrate Their 74th Wedding Anniversary
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Every year in November, the American Cancer Society hosts The Great American Smokeout – a day to encourage smokers to quit or to begin putting a plan in place to quit smoking. For a smoker, cutting out cigarettes is never easy, but there are many resources available to help encourage success. Did you know? Last… Continue Reading The Great American Smokeout: Today’s the Day to Quit
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On October 27, NYCHA started construction on a $123 million Recovery to Resiliency project at Redfern Houses in Far Rockaway, Queens. NYCHA will replace all nine of the development’s roofs, install cameras, renovate playgrounds and lighting, and build a new community center that will house a childcare center and full back-up emergency power generators. The project, which… Continue Reading New Construction to Benefit 1,500 NYCHA Residents
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Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, NYCHA’s Director of Public/Private Partnerships and the President of the Fund for Public Housing, was honored for her work to support low-income New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents, by + POOL at the nonprofit organization’s Fall Swim Gala. In 2016, + POOL began offering children living in public housing with free swim lessons through… Continue Reading Making a Splash
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The annual Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize recognizes individual City employees or teams of employees who develop or enhance innovative programs, processes, or technologies that significantly improve service delivery to the public. In partnership with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), this year the prize will award up to $7,500 to an individual or up… Continue Reading Apply Now for the 2018 Hayes Prize
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It wasn’t awards season yet, but REES received back-to-back kudos this past summer and fall. In August, Nan McKay & Associates (NMA) bestowed its 2017 Resident Service Award to REES for the life-changing work of its Food Business Pathways program (read more about the program in a recent NYCHANow article). For more than 35 years,… Continue Reading REES Recognized for Entrepreneurship & Employment Programs
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On November 6, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation that expands paid leave to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking survivors. This new law will allow the nearly 3 million New Yorkers eligible for paid leave to attend to immediate safety needs without fear of penalty or loss of income. “No New Yorker should… Continue Reading Groundbreaking Legislation Provides Paid Safe Leave to Victims of Violence
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Dear Colleagues, We need your assistance! There are gas outages at some of our developments, and service will not be restored by Thanksgiving. To ensure that our residents enjoy a holiday meal, we are delivering meals to them. In addition, we will also be hosting a toy drive for the families impacted by the gas outages. In… Continue Reading Holiday Volunteering
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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… Continue Reading Lending a Hand to Americans in Need
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NYCHA launched its first large-scale solar program, which will use light and heat from the sun to provide clean, low-cost energy to low- to moderate-income New Yorkers, including public housing residents. The program will also create jobs for NYCHA residents in the growing solar industry. NYCHA is looking for developers to install solar power on… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Going Solar
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I moved into Wise Towers when my wife and I got married in 1972, and 45 years later I still call it home. I raised three daughters in this wonderful community. From the day we opened the door to our new apartment, Wise Towers offered the best of New York City. Neighbors from all walks… Continue Reading Safe, Clean, and Connected: NYCHA Makes Seniors Comfortable
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NYCHA’s Asian American Association ushered in Diwali, the ancient Hindu festival of lights, in a lively celebration on October 25 at DC 37 headquarters. General Manager Michael Kelly greeted attendees, noting that he appreciated “the opportunity to reflect on the significance of Diwali, which celebrates the inner light within all of us – the spirit… Continue Reading Celebrating Diwali
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To celebrate NYCHA’s Brooklyn developments, Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, Fund for Public Housing President Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, other NYCHA staff, NYCHA Youth Leadership Council participants, and community members kicked off the first annual NYCHA Fun Run with a spirited jog from Howard Houses to Armstrong Houses on October 27. Start training now for the next… Continue Reading Running Ideas with the Chair
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When Sherwin Darden, a Penn-Wortman Houses resident, walked into the new Jobs Plus Center in his neighborhood, he didn’t have a Social Security card, government identification, or health care, let alone a job. Now he’s got all of those, and he’s helping his neighbors too. He’s been hired by the center to be a community coach… Continue Reading New Jobs Plus Center Builds Futures for Penn-Wortman Residents
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Despite steadily shrinking federal support for public housing, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has made significant gains in public safety and in balancing its annual operating budget under Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is up for reelection on Tuesday. His support for NYCHA, where about half a million low-income New Yorkers live, has… Continue Reading Gotham Gazette: De Blasio’s Record on NYCHA
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As part of NYCHA’s celebration of Customer Service Week, an email from Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced the new Changemakers campaign. “As NYCHA’s Customer Service Week comes to a close, I am proud to announce the launch of the NYCHA Changemakers campaign, which showcases NYCHA employees who are guided by NYCHA’s core values to create… Continue Reading NYCHA Changemakers: Putting Our Core Values to Work
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In light of Customer Service Week, the Employee Engagement Committee’s (EEC) October meeting focused on the service we offer to residents and other stakeholders. EEC members discussed instances where good customer service reinforced our core values as well as some cases where poor customer service detracted from them. We examined how we can continue improving… Continue Reading Customer Service Week Shines a Light on NYCHA’s Core Values
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Seven technology startup companies are the winners of the first-ever NYCHA Tech Pilots, a real estate technology competition to find new and creative solutions to strengthen and modernize public housing. The winners are: BlocPower, Carbon Lighthouse, Enertiv, hOM, Numina, Pansofik, and Radiator Labs. NYCHA Tech Pilots was launched by the Fund for Public Housing, a nonprofit dedicated to investing in NYCHA residents… Continue Reading NYCHA Tech Pilots Winners Announced
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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… Continue Reading Building Bonds of Trust
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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… Continue Reading Good Service Comes in 34 Languages
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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… Continue Reading Pomonok Houses Builds a Playground
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NYCHA joined Mayor Bill de Blasio for “City Hall in Your Borough: Manhattan,” from September 25 to 29, spending the week focused on the needs and concerns of Manhattan residents. This was the fourth borough in the Mayor’s City Hall in Your Borough initiative. September 25 NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye and Council Member… Continue Reading City Hall in Your Borough: Manhattan
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As part of NYCHA’s efforts to improve customer service, the Authority is piloting a live-in caretaker program at three senior developments in the Bronx: Boston Road Plaza, Middletown Plaza, and Twin Parks East. The live-in caretaker performs janitorial and maintenance work in the developments during regular business hours. As a resident of the development, he… Continue Reading Round the Clock Caretakers Improve Service and Customer Satisfaction
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As National Cyber Security Awareness Month comes to a close, here are the final tips of the week, as well as information about a valuable scholarship opportunity for current college students: Tips of the Week: Share with Care & Keep a Clean Machine Share with care. Think before posting about yourself and others online. Once… Continue Reading Cyber Security Awareness Month: Tips of the Week
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NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways (FBP) program might just be responsible for the next Sylvia Woods, “The Queen of Soul Food” and founder of the famed Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem. FBP is a collaboration between NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), NYC Department of Small Business Services, Citi Community Development, Hot Bread Kitchen, Start… Continue Reading How Dreams Are Made
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Calling all NYCHA residents who love acting! The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute is offering two 12-week acting scholarships to qualified residents of the New York City Housing Authority. To participate, you must be at least 6 years of age and must audition and be interviewed. From October 31, 2017, to January 12, 2018, auditions will… Continue Reading Calling All NYCHA Actors!
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On October 18, NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye was honored by Coalition for Queens (C4Q), a non-profit that is partnering with NYCHA to connect residents to job opportunities in the tech industry, at the organization’s fifth annual gala, Tech Bash. “A critical part of our NextGen NYCHA strategic plan is to connect residents to… Continue Reading Tech Connect
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Many individuals and families displaced by the recent hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other Caribbean islands have relocated to New York City to stay with family and friends. To connect these individuals and families to resources, the City has opened a service center to provide information and assistance to… Continue Reading NYC Center to Open to Help Families Displaced by Hurricanes
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How much do your “smart” devices know about you? These days our cars, fitness trackers, refrigerators, thermostats, and coffee makers can be connected to the internet and controlled through mobile apps. While “smart” technologies make our lives easier, they present new security risks. Limited privacy controls on internet-connected devices and apps may leave sensitive personal… Continue Reading Cyber Security Awareness Month: Tip of the Week
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We all spend a lot of time in meetings, so it’s critical that we use that time wisely. In keeping with our NextGeneration NYCHA goal to become a more efficient organization, we’re continually looking for new tools to improve collaboration, which is what meetings are all about. POSDA is a framework for planning and facilitating… Continue Reading Customer Service Week Tip: Plan better meetings with POSDA!
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Dear Colleagues, Exciting news! The NYCHA Journal has gone digital. Available anytime, anywhere; on your tablet or phone, the new Journal allows you to share stories with friends and on social media, like this new story on the continuing success of our RAD program. The digital Journal is another change inspired by our NextGeneration NYCHA vision of safe, clean, and connected communities. We’re… Continue Reading The NYCHA Journal Is Going Digital!
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Residents can call the Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771, push a few buttons, and automatically get help for a whole list of problems: toilet stoppages, plumbing leaks, malfunctioning refrigerators, pest infestations, broken lights, broken locks, electrical issues, and heat and hot water issues.
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National Cyber Security Awareness Month is an annual campaign by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to raise awareness about the importance of cyber security. NYCHA will be sharing information to raise awareness about the importance of cyber security, for staying safe online, and for increasing our resiliency in the event of a cyber incident.
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Submit your application now for the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program for the 2018-2019 school year. Last year, more than 80 City employees received full and partial scholarships for graduate study in a variety of fields, including computer science, education, business, and public administration. For application materials and additional information, including participating schools and eligible degree… Continue Reading Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship Program
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In today’s digital world, IT professionals aren’t the only ones responsible for protecting a company from cyber criminals. Everyone in an organization shares a responsibility to be vigilant about online threats. To help keep NYCHA safe and secure: Beware of phishing emails. Do not open emails, links, or attachments from strangers. Phishing attacks use email… Continue Reading Cyber Security Awareness Month: Tip of the Week
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In a fire, seconds count. Just a few seconds can determine whether you can safely escape from a fire or tragedy. Take a moment to review these vital safety tips: Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from… Continue Reading It’s Fire Prevention Week
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NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye kicked off the Fall Leadership Meeting, a daylong convening of 200 senior staff, with an inspiring quote from the writer James Baldwin: “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” The October 3 event was held in an auditorium at… Continue Reading Adapting to Change
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One small step can make a big difference in your online security. Each week during National Cyber Security Awareness Month, we’re sharing a quick and easy tip that you can try today to better protect yourself online. Tip of the Week: Lock down your login. Usernames and passwords are often not enough to protect important… Continue Reading Cyber Security Awareness Month Tip of the Week
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Janitorial staff at Ingersoll Houses spent a day learning how to use new floor-cleaning machines that will save them hours of labor. NYCHA plans to buy over 1,000 machines so that all NYCHA developments have access to this time-saving equipment. All janitorial staff will be trained on how to use the machines by the end… Continue Reading New Floor-Cleaning Machines Promote Efficiency in Building Maintenance
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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… Continue Reading Seeking Success through Collaboration and Accountability
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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,… Continue Reading A NYCHA Author’s Dream Comes True
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Technology – smartphones, flash drives, electronic banking – can help keep you and your family safe before, during, and after emergencies. Here’s how: Stay Informed Install the FEMA App on your mobile device to get weather alerts and other vital information. Sign up for Notify NYC to receive emergency alerts from the City. Follow the… Continue Reading National Preparedness Month: Get Tech Ready
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Flu season is just around the corner! Getting your flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu and its complications. WorkWell NYC offers free flu shots for all City employees, dependents, and retirees. Worksite flu clinics provide employees with a quick, convenient, and effective way to protect themselves… Continue Reading Flu Season Is Just Around the Corner!
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The Fund for Public Housing, a nonprofit established last year to supplement the New York City Housing Authority’s finances and services, launched an online platform this week in conjunction with ioby, a crowdfunding website, to enable NYCHA residents and community-based organizations to source funds for local sustainability initiatives like rooftop gardens and water conservation. The online portal, called Ideas… Continue Reading Fund for Public Housing: Crowdsourcing for Sustainability Projects
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Dear Colleagues, Our hearts break for the residents of Puerto Rico who are working to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria. Many of our colleagues and residents have family and loved ones who live on the island. Residents of other Caribbean countries, including Dominica, Barbuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic,… Continue Reading A Message from the Chair on Disaster Relief
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With hurricane season in full swing, NYCHANow spoke to J.A. Stakenburg, who was hired a year ago to helm NYCHA’s newly revamped Office of Emergency Management (OEM), about employees’ roles and responsibilities when it comes to emergencies. This seems to be a very active hurricane season. What should NYCHA employees know about being prepared for… Continue Reading “We Build Resilience by Being Prepared.”
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Having access to financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for recovering quickly and efficiently from a disaster or other emergency. Take these steps to safeguard your records and get some peace of mind, even in an emergency: Collect and secure critical personal and household information and records now, before an emergency. Consider saving… Continue Reading National Preparedness Month: Financial Preparedness
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Regional Administrator for HUD Region II Lynne Patton (center, in black suit) celebrated the 50th anniversary of Williams Plaza’s resident association with RA President Joel Gross (second from left), RA Vice President Ben Zion Weiss (far left), Captain Daniel Dooley of NYPD Police Service Area 3 (second from right), and supporters on September 14.
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On September 8, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye was in Washington with New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat (not pictured), New York Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Florida Congressman Darren Soto, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ meeting to discuss public housing funding.
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Seniors may be especially vulnerable in emergencies. Here are some tips to help them get prepared and stay safe. Stay on Top of the News Tune in to local TV and radio stations for emergency information, including severe weather forecasts, as well as evacuation instructions. Download the FEMA App to get weather alerts and other… Continue Reading National Preparedness Month: What Seniors Should Know
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On the day after Labor Day, NYCHA “broke ground” on a $63 million project to replace all 28 roofs at Red Hook Houses (East and West), which will benefit more than 6,000 residents. It’s the first phase of a nearly $550 million investment in the development as part of NYCHA’s Sandy recovery and resiliency program.… Continue Reading A View of the Future
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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… Continue Reading Celebrating the 2017 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars
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Check this NextGen NYCHA goal off the list: As of September 1, every NYCHA resident has the option to complete their annual recertification online. By modernizing and digitizing the process – required by HUD for federal funding and cumbersome to complete on paper – NYCHA has streamlined the experience for both employees and residents. Residents… Continue Reading September Is “NextGen Recert Month”
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For nearly a decade, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and CUNY’s Murphy Institute have partnered with participating unions to provide City employees with the CUNY/DCAS Public Administration program, for both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Whether you are interested in advancing your career, debating new ideas, or preparing to become a leader in… Continue Reading Learn about the CUNY/DCAS Public Administration Program
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Click here or on “Videos” at the top of the NYCHANow homepage for the latest NYCHA news in action.
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On August 18, General Manager Michael Kelly visited several developments in Coney Island (Carey Gardens, Gravesend Houses, and O’Dwyer Gardens) to talk shop with staff and residents. In the photo above, GM Kelly met with O’Dwyer Caretakers Jean Velazquez (left) and Cecilia Rivera.
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How is long-term preservation of a culture achieved? What if the people within a culture did not know its history and did not share its overall goals and values? One of the objectives of the Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) is to help promote NYCHA’s amazing organizational culture by sharing its history and core values with… Continue Reading Preserving and Protecting a Positive Work Culture
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For the second year in a row, NYCHA’s Section 8 program – the largest in the nation – has been recognized for outstanding performance by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Each year, HUD reviews every public housing authority’s Section 8 program through the Section 8 Management Assessment Program. In 2015, NYCHA… Continue Reading Top Marks for Section 8
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In the event of an emergency, every person in your household needs to have a bag packed and ready to go. Go Bags (sturdy, easy-to-carry bags like a backpack or small suitcase on wheels) should contain what you’ll need if you have to leave your home in a hurry. Here’s a list of essentials: Copies… Continue Reading National Preparedness Month
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September is National Preparedness Month, a month-long initiative that serves as a reminder to take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, learn, and worship. It’s important that you know what to do to prepare yourself and your family BEFORE a… Continue Reading Are You Ready?
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Robert White, a Red Hook Houses resident and member of NYCHA’s Sandy recovery and resilience community outreach team, introduced Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference about the City’s efforts to combat climate change. “For the longest time, I didn’t believe in climate change,” Mr. White told attendees from a podium in Brooklyn Bridge… Continue Reading A Green Call to Action
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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… Continue Reading In Memory of Thomas Johnston
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Over the next year, NYCHA’s IT Department will roll out a state-of-the-art security awareness training program proven to reduce phishing attacks and malware infections by up to 90 percent. Through quizzes, mock phishing attacks, and interactive training, employees will learn how to better handle this growing menace to help keep NYCHA, and themselves, more secure.… Continue Reading Staying Ahead of the Risks
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NYCHA joined Mayor Bill de Blasio for “City Hall in Your Borough” in Queens from July 17 to 21. “As one of the most diverse places on the planet, Queens is a fitting place to celebrate the diversity and strength that NYCHA brings to our city,” said Chair Shola Olatoye. On July 18, NYCHA participated… Continue Reading City Hall in Your Borough
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Move over Silicon Valley, here comes NYCHA! On August 15, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced a pilot program that will train NYCHA residents in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and software development. The Speaker allocated funding to NYCHA to hire an Outreach Specialist who will identify NYCHA residents to receive extensive IT training and then be… Continue Reading Tech 51 Program Brings IT Training to Residents
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Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to tackle the city’s biggest pest problem – rats – through a new $32 million, multi-agency initiative to reduce the rat population in three of the most infested areas: the Grand Concourse area, Chinatown/East Village/Lower East Side, and Bushwick/Bedford-Stuyvesant. Rats contaminate food, spread diseases, and impact quality of life. Their… Continue Reading City Focuses Resources on Pest Problem
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Since it was implemented at NYCHA in 2009, the Jobs-Plus employment program has grown from one site (at Jefferson Houses) to 10 sites serving a total of 27 developments (the newest site is at Pennsylvania Avenue-Wortman Avenue). In that time, it has connected more than 6,700 residents to jobs, thanks to support from program partners… Continue Reading An A-Plus for Jobs-Plus
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David Rocco is the very definition of an active retiree. Since retiring from NYCHA in 2001, he has assisted with 9/11 rescue and recovery efforts, brought his three-decade blood donation tally to more than 20 gallons, published and exhibited more than a hundred of his photographs, and appeared in The New York Times, PBS, and… Continue Reading A Man of Action
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New York City is in a public health crisis when it comes to mental health. At least one in five New Yorkers is likely to experience a mental health disorder each year, and 41 percent of those with mental illness said they did not receive or were delayed in getting treatment in the past year. To… Continue Reading NYCHA Joins the Push to Destigmatize Mental Health Issues
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This summer, Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye, General Manager Michael Kelly, and other NYCHA staff have been enjoying Family Day celebrations at developments across the city, along with residents, elected officials, local police officers, and other members of the community. Hosted by resident associations, Family Days offer good food, games, and fun, as well as… Continue Reading Fun in the Sun
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On July 21, the Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) held its monthly meeting at First Houses in Manhattan, the first public housing development in the United States. Designated a New York City and National Historic Landmark, First Houses is located on East 3rd Street. Its warm burgundy brick façade and plum-colored colonial windows welcome residents and… Continue Reading Preserving, and Making, History
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Inspiration can strike anywhere at any time, but it’s especially likely to arise from pain. “I have a 4-year-old son, and I was always picking up the teething toys that he dropped. My back was hurting, and that gets old! And that’s why Frank Williams, an exterminator in the Queens/Staten Island borough office, came up… Continue Reading Necessity Was the Father of Invention
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It’s safe to say that few people know more about community safety than Chief Gerald Nelson. Before assuming his role as NYCHA’s Vice President for Public Safety in 2015, he spent more than four decades with the NYPD, starting out as a patrol officer in Police Service Area 3 and rising through the ranks to… Continue Reading MAPping Progress
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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… Continue Reading Top Recyclers
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This summer, the Community Engagement & Partnerships (CEP) department celebrated its one-year anniversary. Under the leadership of Executive Vice President Sideya Sherman, CEP embodies the NextGen NYCHA mission to engage residents in new and better ways through connections to best-in-class services. CEP was formed following a reorganization of NYCHA’s former Community Programs & Development department.… Continue Reading CEP Celebrates a Year of Achievements
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On August 1, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye, General Manager Michael Kelly, and other NYCHA executives celebrated the 34th annual National Night Out with NYCHA residents, NYPD officers, community board representatives, and elected officials at NYCHA developments across the five boroughs. Take a look at some of the festivities here.
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Being a caregiver requires tremendous patience and a tireless work ethic. Just like the people they look after, caretakers need support too. The nonprofit Presbyterian Senior Services’ (PSS) Circle of Care program has teamed up with NYCHA to support both caregivers and their senior charges at four NYCHA developments: Saint Nicholas Houses, Sondra Thomas Apartments,… Continue Reading Supporting Seniors’ Needs
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NYCHA staff demonstrated just how seriously we take our NextGen goal of engaging residents in new and different ways at two resource fairs this summer at Hope Gardens and Wise Towers. The fairs provided a fun forum for residents of those and nearby developments to learn directly from staff and NYCHA partners about a range… Continue Reading A Fair Way to Get Connected
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“When you cover the news for long enough, you become the news,” declared Associate Staff Analyst (and staff writer) Howard Silver. After 23 years at NYCHA, Mr. Silver retired in June. Born and raised in Nassau County, Long Island, Mr. Silver recognized his passion for writing early on. After studying writing at the University of… Continue Reading A NYCHA Scribe Puts Down His Pen
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On May 29, the NYCHA running team gathered once again for the annual New York City “Corporate Challenge” race, an event solely for corporate runners sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The 3.5-mile race series is a global celebration of teamwork, camaraderie, and community, and is inclusive, with a 50/50 split of men and women, from entry-level… Continue Reading Running for Fun
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On June 8, NYCHA Youth Leadership Councils – groups composed of 14-21-year-old residents dedicated to addressing community concerns and building leadership skills – came together for celebration and education. The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) Summit featured dance performances, spoken word poems, and singing duets, but the focus was on presentations by the Youth Leadership Councils… Continue Reading The Future Is in Good Hands with Today’s Youth
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