The Hispanic Society of NYCHA held a Christmas in July toy drive to benefit children at Wyckoff Medical Center in Brooklyn. A wide array of toys was donated by Society members, friends and families. “We are very encouraged by the response, on short notice, by so many individuals,” reported Society 1st Vice President Fernando Pagán.… Read More Christmas in July Toy Drive
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Members of NYCHA’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Employee Organization joined thousands of New Yorkers at the City’s Pride March on June 26. “Our members were excited by the opportunity to participate in this year’s Pride March under our organization’s banner—NYCHA’s Association of LGBTQ Employees,” said Association president D’Andra Van Heusen (third from… Read More LGBTQ Association Marches with Pride
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School’s out for Associate Counsel Rosanne Pisem, who completed the Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ (DCAS) Leadership Institute on June 28. The NYC Leadership Institute prepares outstanding mid-level executives to lead organizational change initiatives by introducing them to state-of-theart change models focusing on process and performance improvement. The four-month curriculum focuses on planning and implementing… Read More Congratulations to Rosanne Pisem
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The popular NYCHA Players performed an original playlet dramatizing a safety scenario selected by the audience earlier in the morning. The story concerned an employee who was assaulted by a homeless person in the hallway of a development. The play was followed by an audience talk-back, where employees and players discussed the proper response. The… Read More The NYCHA Players Present …
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NYCHANow continues its “employee voices” series featuring articles by employees about initiatives and events that they know best. This issue includes an article about handheld devices by Project Manager Aaron Trauring, and enhanced information on NYCHA’s websites by Director for Performance Tracking and Analytics Sybille Louis on page 6. To submit an article about a… Read More Handheld Devices Improve Customer Service
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Handheld devices issued to maintenance workers starting this summer will improve the efficiency of real-time safety checks included in NYCHA’s fire safety campaign. Whenever apartment repairs or inspections are performed, there are five quick safety-related items that staff should check for, fix or install, and document: Alarms – working smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors Ledge –… Read More Handhelds Used for Real-Time Safety Checks
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To become a more efficient and effective organization, we have to change the way we do business everywhere, from our developments to our warehouses to our administrative offices. To that end the Performance Management and Analytics Division (PMA), formerly known as the Research and Management Division, under the leadership of Vice President Anne-Marie Flatley, is… Read More More Information Now Featured on NYCHA’s Websites
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NYCHA and the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on June 30 for the development of mixed-income housing at two developments: Holmes Towers in Manhattan and Wyckoff Gardens in Brooklyn. The projects outlined in the RFP are the outcome of extensive resident and community stakeholder engagement by… Read More Developers Sought for Two NextGen Neighborhoods
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The HOPE Program helps empower New Yorkers economically through job training, placement, and education programs, making it an excellent partner for NYCHA. At its annual ceremony on June 1 honoring program graduates and alumni achievements, HOPE also recognized its partnership with NYCHA by honoring REES with its “Referral Partner of the Year” award. REES (Department… Read More REES Honored With Partner Award
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In honor of Pride Month, NYCHA’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Employee Association held its first annual Pride and Diversity Celebration on June 22 in the Ceremonial Room. In her remarks, Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye commemorated the more than 100 members of the LGBTQ community who lost their lives or were injured… Read More Celebrating Pride and Protecting Human Rights
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NYCHA continues to bring outstanding employees, residents and other stakeholders to the attention of the public with its popular “I Am NextGen” campaign. Our latest honoree is D’Andra Van Heusen, founding president of NYCHA’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) employee association. Ms. Van Heusen joined NYCHA in 1997 as a Community Associate and… Read More “I Am NextGen” Honoree Connects Residents and Employees
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Summer 2016 Dear Colleagues, Many of you are aware that Zika virus is affecting parts of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Zika is usually spread by mosquitoes, and the type of mosquito linked to the current outbreak lives in these places. Zika has not been found in New York City mosquitoes or… Read More New York City’s Message About Zika
Read MoreThe City is once again seeking volunteers for its Coastal Storm Plan (CSP) that mobilizes resources for a coordinated response to a major hurricane. If called upon, a CSP volunteer’s role is to staff and provide logistical support to evacuation centers and/or hurricane shelters. Volunteers are required to participate in an annual online training on… Read More Volunteers Needed for City’s Coastal Storm Plan
Read MoreeRent is a convenient way for residents to pay rent online and on time. eRent allows NYCHA to: • Reduce costs by reducing paper bills and check processing; • Improve rent and fee collection by offering another convenient alternative for residents to receive and pay their rent bills; • Further reduces our carbon footprint by… Read More eRent: Fast, Easy, On-Time
Read MoreSafeNYCHA is pleased to present its newest tool to promote safety in every NYCHA office and across all NYCHA campuses: the NYCHA Safety Forum. This new posting board offers users the opportunity to ask questions and share information about safety issues that are of concern to employees in all areas of the Housing Authority. Both… Read More NYCHA’s Safety Forum Makes Its Debut
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NYCHA’s NAACP branch held its Black History Month celebration in the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room on February 25. Marked by music, dance and high spirit, the reception celebrated the contributions of African Americans to every aspect of national life. The gathering also recognized the many ways that the NAACP branch, established in 1969, is… Read More NYCHA Celebrates Black History Month
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Did you know that NYCHA’s dynamic branch of the NAACP has its own radio show? “Let Your Voice Be Heard,” broadcast on 93.1 FM, was started in 2012 as a forum for NYCHA employees and community members “to discuss some of the positive things going on in our communities and also to help find solutions… Read More Let Your Voice Be Heard
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Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye announced the completion of a $4.8 million lighting installation project at Polo Grounds Towers in Harlem on March 10. Beginning August 2015, NYCHA replaced the development’s outdated exterior lighting system—installed when the buildings were originally built in the late 1960s—with state-of-the-art, energy-efficient lighting located at entrances, walkways and parking areas.… Read More Lighting Installed at Polo Grounds
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NYCHA has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for potential developers to upgrade approximately 1,400 public housing units at Ocean Bay (Bayside) Apartments in Far Rockaways through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. The release of the RFP is a major milestone for a process that started back in 2013, when NYCHA first met with… Read More NYCHA Releases RFP for Ocean Bay
Read MoreIn an effort to provide continued support to all NYCHA departments that may respond to various requests for language services assistance, the Department of Communications created a dedicated e-mail address to handle requests for interpretation, translation, and American Sign Language assistance from the Language Services Unit. Requests for assistance should be directed to LanguageServices@nycha.nyc. gov.… Read More Interpretation and Translation Requests
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Free or low-cost spay and neuter services are available for your dog or cat, through the City’s Animal Population Control Program. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has partnered with the ASPCA to provide the services for free to public housing residents and Section 8 renters in Manhattan, Queens or Staten Island. In… Read More Free or Inexpensive Spay or Neuter Services for Public Housing Residents and Section 8 Renters
Read MoreAll New York City government employees are eligible for free support and services to stop smoking through New York City’s ESCAPE program. Smoking cessation support includes recommendations on the best approaches, counseling, and/or medications. The program is a personalized and confidential service to meet every individual’s needs. Smoking is the nation’s leading cause of preventable… Read More Still Smoking and Want to Quit?
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NYCHA’s Office of Safety and Security (OFSS) or a specially trained Incident Investigation Team conducts a thorough analysis of every serious onthe- job injury or accident to determine its root causes to prevent future incidents. But what about minor injuries like cuts or bruises that don’t require hospitalization or result in lost time from work?… Read More New Safety Investigation Program Launches
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Ivo Nikolic, formerly Administrator in NYCHA’s Elevator Services and Repair Department, was promoted to Director of Materials Management. In this capacity, Mr. Nikolic is responsible for oversight and operation of the LIC warehouse and the satellite warehouses. In addition to his experience at NYCHA—where he managed NYC Department of Buildings- mandated elevator inspections, elevator contracts… Read More Congratulations
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Seniors at Astoria Houses had something extra to appreciate this Thanksgiving, thanks to a food drive held by staff in the Sandy Project Management Operation Office of Disaster Recovery. The unit’s community outreach team and others work closely with residents in NYCHA’s Sandy-damaged developments. So when staff decided to have a food drive, “they knew… Read More A Thanksgiving Story
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Congratulations to nine tenacious runners who successfully completed the TSC New York City Marathon on November 1 or other recent marathons as far away as Alaska. Just finishing a 26.2-mile marathon is an accomplishment, and some of these runners, who are all members of NYCHA’s Running Team, did it with extra challenges or goals in… Read More Congratulations NYCHA Marathon Runners
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The “I am NextGeneration NYCHA” campaign continues to bring to the attention of the public outstanding employees, residents, and supporters of NYCHA who embody the commitment to service that’s required to transform our NextGeneration NYCHA vision of safe, clean and connected communities into a reality. The October issue of NYCHANow featured Supervisor of Caretakers Harrison… Read More “I am NextGen” Employees Denise Torres and Robert White
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Marking the third anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, NYCHA announced progress on October 29 in transitioning more recovery work from the planning to the construction phase. The new work has started with a complete rebuild of the Red Hook Senior Center—which has remained closed since the storm. The $2.9 million project is made possible by recovery… Read More Sandy Recovery Enters New Phase with Webpage Updates
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“The efforts of many people to provide meals to families without gas in NYCHA developments was a tremendous success,” said Marcela Medina, State Legislative Affairs Officer in NYCHA’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations. On Thanksgiving Day, more than 600 NYCHA residents were treated to Thanksgiving meals at seven developments located in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan.… Read More Thanksgiving Teamwork to Remember
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Readers may recall that NYCHA’s graphic artist Keith De Cesare was honored at the first anniversary of the National 9/11 Memorial Museum (as reported in the August 2015 issue of NYCHANow) for his series of Angel Memorial Tributes honoring first responders who lost their lives saving others. When Mr. De Cesare learned about the acts… Read More Employee Reaches out to the People of Paris
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The holiday season can bring job-related questions about receiving gifts or other gratuities. Employees may obtain confidential information concerning potential conflicts of interest matters from NYCHA’s Law Department. Questions regarding public servants’ obligations under the NYC Conflicts of Interest Law may be directed to a NYCHA agency attorney at: (212) 306-3355. Employees, who may remain… Read More Ethics Inquiries Phone Numbers
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The holidays are a time of joyful celebration with our friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, this fun can come to an abrupt end if you become the victim of a crime or fire. Around the holidays, burglaries, thefts (especially credit card and identify theft) and fires tend to increase. To assist the employees and residents… Read More Safety During the Holidays
Read MoreEmployees hired before February 12, 2003, who are not serving in skilled trades titles (which includes maintenance workers) are reminded that they are entitled to a “floating holiday” during calendar year 2015, in recognition of Lincoln’s Birthday. This paid holiday must be used this year (with prior supervisory authorization), as it cannot be carried over… Read More Floating Holiday – Use It or Lose It
Read MoreNYCHA has released a revised Human Resources Manual, effective December 1, 2015, which is being distributed Authoritywide. You also can access the HR manual on NYCHA Connect, by clicking Departments and then Human Resources.
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The Municipal Credit Union is currently accepting applications for its 2016 Scholarship Program. This year, MCU will award $66,000 in scholarship grants to college-bound high school seniors, including eight memorial scholarships worth $45,000 each and thirteen grants of $2,000 each, respectively. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2016. Eligibility for participation in the program… Read More Municipal Credit Union College Scholarship
Read MoreDear NYCHA Community, We regret to report the passing of Blanca Cedeno, former NYCHA Vice Chair, on December 2, 2015, at the age of 94. Ms. Cedeno began working for NYCHA in 1952 as a housing assistant and worked her way through leadership positions in the Intergroup Relations Division and the Office of Community Affairs.… Read More The Passing of Former Vice Chair Blanca Cedeno
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Attendees of the first Quality of Work Life Employee Recognition Awards ceremony in four years received a simple but appreciated gesture at the door — a hand stamp of a single, though meaningful, word: “Congratulations.” More than 200 NYCHA employees packed the house at labor union DC 37’s headquarters, just down the street from NYCHA’s… Read More Employees Honored at Quality of Work Life Awards
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For almost 10 years, staff from the Bronx Community Programs and Development Department (CP&D) have encouraged their colleagues to wear pink every Friday from April through October, to raise funds for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Those who do not wear pink are asked to donate $1.00 that day to the fundraising… Read More Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
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Customer service isn’t something that happens at NYCHA just during Customer Service Week (see p. 6). Recently, a letter praising Human Resources Administrative Staff Analyst Sharda Shrestha was sent to Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye by the sister of an employee who had passed away. The letter, printed below, tells the rest of the story.… Read More Letter of Commendation
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Janet Abrahams recently joined NYCHA as Vice President of Operations overseeing the Optimal Property Management Operating Model (OPMOM) program. The success of this pilot effort to improve basic maintenance and repair service is critical to the management and progress of our NextGeneration NYCHA goals. Ms. Abrams comes to NYCHA from the Newark Housing Authority, where… Read More Congratulations on the Following Recent Appointments and Promotions
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The Mets may not have clinched the World Series, but the Redbirds — Local 237’s softball league comprised of NYCHA employees — won the softball tournament sponsored by the MTA on October 6. NYCHA’s team was invited to join the well-established, 40-year-old league just a few years ago. “After coming in second last year, the… Read More NYCHA Redbirds Win MTA Softball Tournament
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The Office of Disaster Recovery hosted a Sandy Recovery Open House on October 1 for staff and invited guests to introduce them to design innovations that will vastly improve the lives of NYCHA residents living in Sandy-damaged developments. Improvements include new construction plans that feature protected mechanical and heating systems, flood barriers, and strengthened security… Read More Sandy Recovery Open House Shows NYCHA is Building Back Better & Stronger
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Community liaisons for elected officials are often called upon by NYCHA’s customers for assistance with the Authority’s public housing and Section 8 programs. On September 30, almost 100 of these frontline aides to City Council Members, State Assembly Members, State Senators, and Congress Members filled the Ceremonial Room at 90 Church Street to learn more… Read More Intergovernmental Affairs Hosts Public Housing and Section 8 Workshop
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NYCHA took part in the City’s celebration of Customer Service Week with a series of events from October 5-9 organized around the theme of “Everyday Heroes.” Below are some highlights of activities throughout the Authority and ways that our employees were recognized by NYCHA and the City for their commitment to providing excellent customer service.… Read More Customer Service Week
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Director of Emergency Services Erenisse Tavarez welcomed more than 100 employees from all walks of the Authority to the 2015 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, co-hosted by NYCHA’s Department of Communications and its Hispanic Society in the Ceremonial Room on October 22. Guests at the reception first enjoyed contemporary salsa music from Tres del Solar and… Read More NYCHA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
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Congratulations to Kenneth Cox, Administrative Staff Analyst in the Customer Operations Department, who is the winner of the fourth What’s the Big Idea contest. The Challenge Question concerned how to improve the relationship between employees and their supervisors. Mr. Cox’s winning idea is to initiate a training program that develops supervisors’ skills to build and sustain… Read More A Big Idea for Improving Supervisor-Employee Relations
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From the NYC Office of Labor Relations Employee Benefits Program (www.nyc.gov/olr) National Retirement Security Week (Oct. 18-24) was the first national event formally calling on all employees to take full advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans. The New York City Deferred Compensation Plan, which consists of a 457 and 401(k) Plan, allows you to set aside… Read More National Retirement Security Week
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Dear NYCHA System Users, NYCHA Information Technology (IT) is proud to announce its newly formed Cyber Security Education and Awareness program. This program will provide you with information and training on ways to protect sensitive and confidential information and alert you to the pitfalls of unsafe security practices. Over the next few weeks, you will… Read More IT Information Security Training is Coming
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Senior Photographer Peter Mikoleski — the man behind the lens who has documented 33 years of NYCHA history — is in the frame in this photo, taken during the QWL Employee Recognition Awards ceremony (see p. 1). With him is Millie Molina, DOC’s Senior Manager for Events and Communications. For more than two-thirds of NYCHA’s… Read More Peter Mikoleski: The Man Behind the Lens
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Marking NextGeneration (NextGen) NYCHA’s first 100 days, Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye announced progress, major achievements and reforms since the Authority’s 10-year strategic plan was launched in May. With increased transparency, infrastructure improvements, and stakeholder engagement, NYCHA is taking meaningful steps to change the way it does business and become a more modern, effective and… Read More NextGeneration NYCHA: First 100 Days
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The following op-ed piece by Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye was published in the Sept. 28, 2015, issue of Gotham Gazette. Public housing has been an integral feature of New York City life since Fiorello La Guardia opened the doors of First Houses eighty years ago, and roughly five percent of the city’s population lives… Read More A True, New NYCHA Development Plan
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“They call me a legend,” John DeCarlo Memorial Award winner Victor M. Cortes said of colleagues and residents at Monroe Houses, where he has worked as a caretaker for the past 50 years. “I saw three generations growing up here and have never had a problem because I show respect and make friends with everyone,”… Read More NYCHA Notables
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Some of NYCHA’s and the City’s most promising young scholars were honored at the 10th annual NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship Awards Ceremony held at Borough of Manhattan Community College on September 22. The 15 highly motivated young residents, all enrolled full-time at a CUNY college, were selected for the $1,000 award from more than 100 NYCHA… Read More The Sky’s the Limit for NYCHA-CUNY Scholars
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Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, the Director of NYCHA’s Office of Public/Private Partnerships, has been hard at work launching the Fund for Public Housing, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. A key NextGeneration NYCHA strategy, the Fund will increase investment in NYCHA communities, making them safer, cleaner, and more connected. It will be an important part of NYCHA’s transformation… Read More Launching the Fund for Public Housing
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The John DeCarlo memorial Award — NYCHA’s premier employee prize — was presented on September 18 to two outstanding caretakers whose job dedication best perpetuates the legacy of the renowned caretaker for whom the award is named. To the applause of proud family and management department members gathered in the Ceremonial Room at 250 Broadway,… Read More A Proud Tradition Continues
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The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has presented NYCHA with its prestigious Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its current budget. The award represents a significant achievement by the Authority as it reflects the commitment of NYCHA’s leadership and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. Along with the award, a Certificate of Recognition… Read More Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting
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Since the launch of NYCHA’s 10-year strategic plan, NextGeneration NYCHA, the Authority has debuted key pieces of our strategy to address our chronic operating deficit and $17 billion in unmet capital needs. In September, we continued the rollout of our strategic plan with the introduction of NextGeneration (NextGen) Neighborhoods, a program to build 50 percent… Read More NYCHA Announces NextGen Neighborhoods
Read MoreNYCHA is committed to a workplace free from violence and hostilities and to providing our employees with a safe and professional work environment. All 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 have been told that… Read More A Safe and Secure Workplace
Read MoreChair and CEO Shola Olatoye shared an interesting article on public housing with Department of Communications (DOC) staff and others, from this month’s Atlantic magazine. Needless to say, NYCHA is amply discussed. The article, “The Real Power of Public Housing,” will no doubt be included in the news clips that DOC sends out but since… Read More Learning More About Public Housing
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In June, we reported on the newest employee oganization— LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning). Since then, two more employee organizations have entered the scene. In fact, there are so many employee organizations that one of the new ones—the Coalition of NYCHA Employee Organizations (CoNEO)—has been formed to provide all of them with a… Read More Two New Employee Organizations Join the Mix
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Nicole Ferreira rejoined NYCHA in February 2015 as a Senior Director in the Development Department. As a leader of the senior team, Ms. Ferreira oversees the development pipeline and ensures the development process is timely and well-organized. She is also responsible for leading the team to execute NextGerneration NYCHA strategic initiatives for both the preservation… Read More Congratulations on the Following Appointments and Promotions
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Per Scholas is offering free IT job training courses for NYCHA residents and community members (including NYCHA employees) interested in receiving their CompTIA A+and MCTS certifications. CompTIA A+ is an entrylevel computer certification for PC computer service technicians. The exam is designed to certify the competency of entry-level PC computer service professionals in installing, maintaining,… Read More Free IT Job Training Courses
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On August 24, Mayor Bill de Blasio and General Manager Michael Kelly announced the start of rooftop replacement construction at Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City, underscoring a core commitment of NextGeneration NYCHA to preserve and maintain NYCHA’s precious housing stock. “Having a roof over your head isn’t good enough if it leaks all the… Read More Roof Replacements Start at Queensbridge Houses
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“Collaboration and transparency… get the best results.” Bomee Jung joined NYCHA as Vice President for Energy and Sustainability on July 6. Prior to that, she served in various leadership positions at Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., a national leader in greening affordable housing, and on the City’s Planning Commission. During her tenure with Enterprise, Bomee is… Read More Get to Know NYCHA Leadership: Say Hello to Bomee Jung
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“Back Home in Housing” Gerald Nelson joined NYCHA as Vice President for Public Safety on August 3. He began his career in 1973 as a patrolman in the then-NYCHA Housing Police Bureau and recently retired as Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn North after more than 40 years of service with the NYPD. In his… Read More Get to Know NYCHA Leadership: Say Hello to Chief Nelson
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Volunteering doesn’t have to be a chore. Just ask the more than 230 residents, Property Managers, Caretakers, Superintendents, development office staff, and community partners who spent a few hours on August 6 sprucing up the fences at Van Dyke Houses with a fresh coat of paint. According to NYCHA Project Manager Helga Nyanffor, residents raised… Read More Fence Painting Shows Community Cares
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This summer General Counsel David Farber invited NYCHA’s attorneys to a series of visits to the field. Seventy-five attorneys along with legal interns accepted the invitation. These trips provided an opportunity for the attorneys to meet NYCHA’s borough leadership, development management, and other teams; inspect NYCHA buildings from roof to basement; and interact with development… Read More NYCHA Attorneys Make House Calls
Read MoreThank you to Catherine Santiago and General Services for printing and distributing 5,000 copies of NYCHANow for distribution to employees without desktop computers. Employees who have seen these hard copies will agree that Catherine is doing an excellent job using some new equipment now available at the print shop located at 90 Church Street. And… Read More NYCHANow is Printed by NYCHA
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“Everyone has a role in their own destiny.” Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer Natalie Y. Rivers will leave NYCHA after more than 27 years of service on September 25. Natalie began her singular career here as a Staff Analyst in the Human Resources Department, “to pay off a college loan,” she recalled. She… Read More Farewell Interview with Natalie Y. Rivers
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“Hello. This is the New York City Housing Authority. We’re calling to remind you that your rent and other charges are due on the first of the month. Our records indicate that you have an overdue balance…” Beginning in August, the first round of “robocalls” went out to residents with rent and other charges in… Read More Hello…NYCHA Calling
Read MoreGeneral Manager Michael Kelly joined Mayor Bill de Blasio, elected officials, and community leaders in Lower Manhattan on August 27 as the Mayor announced a new City capital commitment of $100 million to help protect Lower Manhattan from flooding. General Manager Kelly participated in a round-table discussion hosted by the Mayor on resiliency issues. “Superstorm… Read More Lower Manhattan Flood Protection
Read MoreESCAPE (Employee Smoking Cessation Assistance Program) is a resource available at no charge to all eligible New York City employees who would like to quit smoking. According to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, whose website features this information, making a decision to quit is the first and most important step in successfully… Read More Stop Smoking … For Free
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On July 12, General Manager Michael Kelly marked 100 days on the job by announcing “Fix-It-Forward,” a major initiative to overhaul maintenance and repair operations and advance the NextGeneration NYCHA goal of operating as an efficient and effective landlord. Fix-It-Forward is in line with the Authority’s 10-year strategic plan to focus on its core business… Read More GM Kelly Announces ‘Fix-It-Forward’ Initiative
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When NYCHA’s Digital Van parked at Mott Haven Houses in the Bronx on July 16, it wasn’t only to provide free Internet access to public housing residents. The visit celebrated the announcement of new initiatives that will significantly expand NYCHA’s pioneering efforts to breach the digital divide for public housing families. “We are here this morning… Read More NYCHA Connects with Broadband Access
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Now that NYCHA’s strategic plan for the next 10 years has finally been publically launched, our NextGeneration NYCHA work has just begun. That was the message with which Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye welcomed senior staff on July 14 for the second Quarterly Leadership Meeting, after attendees watched a video compilation of NextGeneration NYCHA media… Read More Deputy Mayor Buery Visits Managers’ Quarterly Forum
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Gerald Nelson joined NYCHA as Vice President for Public Safety on August 3, 2015. In this role, he is responsible for planning, organizing and directing all of NYCHA’s public safety services and activities, ensuring the provision of general law enforcement, criminal investigation, fire suppression and prevention, rescue and emergency medical services, disaster responses, nuisance abatement… Read More Say Hello: Get to Know NYCHA Leadership
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Some residents saw posters at their developments, others learned from resident associations, and still others found the good news on Facebook or Twitter: NYCHA was hiring again for its Seasonal Program. After a hiatus of two years from lack of funding, the Seasonal Program is again providing valuable job experience and income for housing development… Read More Seasonal Employees Seek Summer Jobs and Permanent Opportunities
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The best praise comes from home. Kudos to NYCHA’s HR team for the letter they inspired from Elevator Mechanic’s Helper Sun Tsang. Director Kenya Salaudeen, My name is Sun Tsang. I had recently changed City agencies to NYCHA and my daughter had to see the doctor. My wife called me and said the girls were… Read More Letter From Elevator Mechanic’s Helper Sun Tsang
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As the Broadband Initiatives manager in IT’s Infrastructure Department, Anthony Palermo has been working to provide telecommunications and other services for residents since the TIES (telecommunications, internet, entertainment and security) initiative he began in 2001. Since 2006, the 36-year NYCHA veteran has focused on utilizing existing and providing additional infrastructure for broadband. “NYCHA has been… Read More NYCHA Notables
Read MoreIn a July 10, 2015, email to staff, General Manager Michael Kelly announced a series of organizational changes and staff appointments that followed an agency-wide assessment of functions and operations at the development level and at central offices. “If we are to create safe, clean, and connected communities, we must fundamentally change the way we… Read More GM Kelly Announces Organizational Changes
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Get the most out of summer and the most out of New York with an array of employee discounts you may not even know about! When you check out Employee Discounts on NYCHA Connect, under the HR tab on the top, you will find access to some awesome offers. How about: a 10-50% discount on… Read More Take Advantage of Employee Discounts
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The IT Department will be upgrading two frequently used programs that will improve service for NYCHA’s approximately 6,000 desktop computer users. Internet Explorer is being upgraded to version 11 and Adobe Acrobat also is being upgraded to version 11. The upgrade is expected to begin mid-August and should take several weeks to complete. Upgrading will… Read More Computer Program Upgrades Are Coming
Read MoreApproximately three months prior to retirement, employees should schedule an appointment with Human Resources’ ASKHR at (212) 306-8000. Prior to the appointment, you must visit the NYC Employees Retirement System (NYCERS) to obtain a printout of your pension estimate. NYCERS, located at 340 Jay Street in Brooklyn, is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.… Read More Approaching Retirement?
Read MoreDear NYCHANow: On January 20, 2015, my sister, Cardell Stokes Phillips, passed away. Cardell was an employee of the Authority for over 40 years; 15 plus of which were spent in the title of PAA 3, in the Office of the Chair of the Authority. Cardell loved the Authority, and as such, treated it as… Read More Retirees — Your Letters are Welcome
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Kudos to Mario Nelson, Maintenance Worker at LaGuardia Houses in Manhattan, for telling New Yorkers and social media followers around the world about how he fells working for NYCHA. When Mr. Nelson was approached in early June during his lunch hour by photographer Brandon Stanton—creator of the popular photo-blog Humans of New York—he described the… Read More NYCHA Notables: Maintenance Worker Mario Nelson
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NYCHA’s Running Team turned out in force at the 39th Corporate Challenge run in Central Park on June 4. Led by veteran team captain Bob Nordman, 15 staunch members participated in the 3.2 mile race, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase to raise funds for the preservation and maintenance of Central Park. Marathon runner Bob Nordman and… Read More NYCHA’s Running Team at the Corporate Challenge
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Brooklyn Workforce Innovations (BWI), an organization that helps unemployed and working poor New Yorkers gain access to careers, honored NYCHA’s Resident Training Academy (NRTA) and the Department of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) with the Exceptional Employer Award on Monday, June 11. Accepting the award at its annual gala on behalf of REES, General… Read More REES Honored as Exceptional Employer
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REES Assistant Director Shanna Castillo was honored as a graduate of the City’s Leadership Institute at the Executive Development Recognition Ceremony held at One Police Plaza on June 17. The highly competitive Institute prepares mid-level executives to be innovative leaders for the City of New York. “Shanna is an exceptional leader and the REES team… Read More REES Assistant Director Graduates from Leadership Academy
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James Artis was a property maintenance supervisor at Gompers Houses before his promotion to asset manager in the Optimal Property Management Operating Model (OPMOM) pilot. Asset managers work collaboratively with OPMOM property managers (PMs), offering a broad range of administrative, management and technical support, and sharing best practices based on resources in their geographic area.… Read More An Interview with OPMOM Asset Manager James Artis
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NYCHA has launched its own account called @nychagram on Instagram, the popular picture sharing platform for social media where photos are tagged by category with hashtags. “We’re excited about the account, launched last month by DOC’s digital communications team,” said Interim Digital Communications Manager Thomas Ngo. “We think it will be a great way to engage… Read More Come Join the Fun on Instagram
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“Today we are here for you,” General Manager Michael Kelly told more than 350 property managers and supervisors, along with department directors and executive staff, at NYCHA’s third Safety Symposium, hosted by the Office of Safety Security at Johnson Houses on June 18. The symposium reported on the state of NYCHA’s safety program, including the… Read More NYCHA Holds Safety Symposium
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Sibyl Colon, formerly Administrator in the Manhattan Management Department, was promoted to Director of the Optimal Property Management Department (OPMOM). Ms. Colon is responsible for ensuring that the decentralized property management model adheres to all of NYCHA’s standard operating procedures and quality standards while streamlining operations. Robert Knapp, formerly Director of the Manhattan Management Department,… Read More Congratulations on the Following Recent Appointments and Promotions
Read MoreThe Authority’s second agency-wide Safety Strategic Plan (SSP) was unveiled at the Safety Symposium. The purpose of the Plan is to provide common goals to foster a safer work environment. The following goals have been established: Conduct hazard assessments of each work location to identify opportunities for safety improvements. Increase safety communication within and across… Read More NYCHA’s 2015 Safety Strategic Plan
Read MoreThe Chief-Leader, a weekly newspaper aimed at the City’s civil service employees, reported on NYCHA’s Safety Symposium in its June 22 issue. The “agency and the union that represents nearly 8,000 HA workers, Local 237, credited their collaboration for reducing the number of injuries over the last couple of years,” paper said. For the full… Read More The Chief Reports on Safety Symposium
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Lorraine Aponte, Chief Caretaker, Claremont Consolidated “for working with her supervisors as a Safety Asso-ciate, tackling safety issues and suggesting ways to prevent injuries ” Diane Babb, Caretaker J, Williamsburg Houses “for ensuring that improper practices were raised and addressed” Laverne Jusino, Caretaker X, Boston-Secor Houses “for being an effective Safety Associate, regularly reporting safety… Read More NYCHA’s 2015 Safety Leaders
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More than 200 residents of Ocean Bay/Bayside Apartments and members of the Far Rockaway community attended a meeting held by Councilmember Donovan Richards and NYCHA on June 24 to discuss the benefits of HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. RAD enables public housing authorities to convert a select number of their traditional public housing units… Read More Rental Assistance Demonstration Brings Hope to Far Rockaway Residents
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Employees are used to doing more with less — but working in the dark is something new! On June 19, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the Building Energy Exchange asked NYCHA to join in Daylight Hour 2015. This event called for buildings all over the world to turn off the lights from 12:00 p.m.… Read More Working in the Dark and Saving Energy
Read MoreOn July 1, NYCHA released the “Request for Proposal” (RFP) for potential developers to expand 100 percent affordable housing opportunities at three NYCHA developments, including Ingersoll (Fort Greene, Brooklyn), Van Dyke (Brownsville, Brooklyn) and Mill Brook (Mott Haven, the Bronx.) The plan to create affordable senior and family housing on underused NYCHA property was the… Read More Request for Proposals Released for Affordable Housing on NYCHA Properties
Read MoreEmployees who serve in titles which require uniforms must wear them during work hours. All other employees are expected to dress in a manner that is appropriate for a business environment. All clothing worn during business hours should be neat and clean in appearance. Extremely informal and/ or clothing that reveals your cleavage, back, stomach… Read More Summer Attire
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A major upgrade in customer service is scheduled to roll out this summer with MyNYCHA, an “app” that will enable public housing residents to create, submit, view, track, and update maintenance service requests. Along with increasing customer convenience, the app will also reduce call volume to the Customer Contact Center. Residents can also sign up… Read More MyNYCHA App Arrives Soon
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