The NYC/EAP is a professional service for City employees that provides free, confidential assistance to employees and their family members with a wide range of personal and social problems. Areas of service include marital or family conflict, mental or emotional stress, problems with alcoholism and substance abuse, elder care, child care, financial problems, and traumatic… Read More NYC Employee Assistance Program
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Summer is here—as is the hot weather. To ensure that employees who work outdoors are not overcome with heat induced stress or illness, here are some safety tips. Supervisors should ensure that there is plenty of drinking water located as close as possible to employees. Employees should: drink water about every 15 minutes even if… Read More Summer Safety Tips for Field Employees
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Take advantage of big savings in commuting costs with the Commuter Benefits Program. You can deduct up to $130 a month from your taxable income for MTA, LIRR, N.J.Path and other mass transit expenses, and up to $250 a month for qualified commuter parking. This can save you more than $400 a year in tax—or… Read More Save on Commuting Costs with the NYC Commuter Benefits Program
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Batei Tsibur, the organization of Jewish employees at NYCHA, held its annual Jewish Heritage Month Celebration in the Ceremonial Room at 90 Church Street on May 11. As in years past, Harley Diamond, Assistant Chief in the Law Department and a professionally trained singer, led the group in the U.S. and Israeli nation anthems, and… Read More Jewish Heritage Month Celebration
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Some clouds bring storms but NYCHA’s cloud brings safety from the storm—thanks to the Emergency Response Reporting System developed by IT Computer Specialists Ned Epstein and Girish Nori, and Computer Services Manager Rajat Lala. Following Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy one year later, Mr. Epstein worked on the application development for the emergency… Read More NYCHA is Ready for the Hurricane Season and Much More
Read MoreOn May 14, NYCHA held its third annual Minority-owned, Women-owned, and Small Business Enterprises (MWSBE) Trade Show at BNY Mellon. Approximately 240 MWSBEs attended to learn how to do business with NYCHA or companies with large NYCHA contracts, as well as with city, state, and federal agencies. Twenty-eight organizations staffed exhibits, including Con Edison, the… Read More NYCHA Hosts MWSBE Trade Show
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Assistant Property Maintenance Supervisor Michael Johnson has been honored with a 2015 Sloan Public Service Award. Ceremonies were held with his colleagues and senior administrators at Johnson Houses in Manhattan on June 2, and later the same day in the Great Hall at Cooper Union, with Mayor Bill de Blasio and hundreds of others in… Read More APMS Michael Johnson Honored with Sloan Public Service Award
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On May 18, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that NYCHA and Teamsters Local 237, which represents about 5,500 NYCHA employees, reached a tentative contract deal. The employees affected by the new contract includes caretakers, housing assistants, and building superintendents, among others. The proposed contract includes a 10 percent raise over seven and a half years,… Read More NYCHA and Teamsters Local 237 Reach Tentative Contract Agreement
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Kathie Shoulders was a property manager for two years at Harlem River Houses before applying to participate in the Optimal Property Management Operating Model (OPMOM) pilot that launched in January. “The minute I heard about OPMOM, I was excited,” she said “because I wanted an opportunity to really take control of day to day operations.”… Read More An Interview with OPMOM Property Manager Kathie Shoulders
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General Manager Michael Kelly announced the official launch of NYCHA’s recycling program on May 29 at Steepshead/Nostrand Houses in Brooklyn, where he was joined by NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY)Commissioner Kathyrn Garcia and Mayor’s Office of Sustainability Director Nilda Mesa. “We are very excited to implement recycling at all of our 328 developments over the… Read More NYCHA Joins City’s Greening and Sustainability Initiative
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NYCHA received $633,534 from Con Edison for $10 million in energy saving investments at NYCHA developments in Harlem, including 131 Saint Nicholas Avenue, Washington Houses, and Lexington Houses. The incentives offered by Con Edison were for investments NYCHA made to replace aging oil boiler equipment with 11 new, high-efficiency natural gas boilers and installation of… Read More NYCHA and ConEd Partner for Cost Savings and Energy Efficiencies
Read MoreGOAL 1: A SECURE FINANCIAL FUTURE—achieve short term financial stability and diversify funding for the long term Stabilize Finances: City relief of NYCHA’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), building on the already-waived $70 million annual payment to the NYPD, to achieve an additional $30 million in operating savings per year. Streamline Operations: Integration and… Read More Summary of Goals for NextGeneration NYCHA
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“People usually tell you when you do something wrong but say nothing when you do something right,” explained Cassidy/Lafayette Houses Resident Association President Dr. Brenda L. Harris. That’s why she decided to write a letter to Queens-Staten Island Property Management Deputy Director Brenda Allen to commend Property Manager Prince Menjor, Property Maintenance Supervisor Eva Gonzalez (since reassigned),… Read More Letter of Commendation to Staff at Cassidy/Lafayette Houses
Read MoreNYCHA’s diverse group of employee affiliation organizations will soon have a new member, with the inaugural membership meeting of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) Employee Organization. “I realized after the Black History Month celebration and the Women’s History Month celebration that there was another part of me that was not being recognized said… Read More New Employee Organization Joins the Mix
Read MoreIn case you haven’t noticed, NYCHA’s website has a new look. Launched on May 1, the website was redesigned with the needs of residents, employees, and other stakeholders in mind. In addition to photos that provide helpful information, the site has a host of new features that make it more user-friendly, and it is accessible… Read More NYCHA’S Website Makeover
Read MoreWith the college year now over, there’s still one more important thing NYCHA’s hard working college students should do—apply for a $1,000 scholarship for NYCHA residents. The NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarship is awarded competitively to residents enrolled full-time as a sophomore, junior or senior at any City University of New York college, in an Associate or Baccalaureate degree… Read More $1,000 Scholarships for NYCHA Residents
Read MoreIn an email message to employees, General Manager Michael Kelly addressed aspects of the NextGen plan that concern some staff. “One aspect of the plan that I know employees have questions about is the strategy to reduce central office staff by approximately 1,000 employees over the course of the next three years….I want to emphasize… Read More Message from GM Kelly
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On May 19, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye announced NextGeneration NYCHA (NextGen), a comprehensive ten-year plan to stabilize the financial crisis facing New York City’s public housing and deliver long-needed improvements to residents’ quality of life. The plan will change the way NYCHA is funded, managed, and how it serves… Read More NextGeneration NYCHA is Here
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Sibyl Colon When Manhattan Administrator Sibyl Colon heard frantic knocking on her apartment door last fall, she rushed out of the shower to find her neighbor of 25 years collapsed in the hallway. After screaming for her son to call 911, Ms. Colon knew exactly what else to do. She applied CPR to the unconscious… Read More NYCHA Notables
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Q: Why did you want this position at NYCHA? A: It seemed like a wonderful opportunity. I had just gone through the process of helping to re-establish core values and a new culture in my previous position as Vice President at HELP/PSI, a health and social services provider for New York City’s under served populations.… Read More Say Hello: Get to Know NYCHA Leadership
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Earlier this year, 11 caretakers were hard at work demolishing old plaster walls and putting up new ones at Manhattanville Houses. But they weren’t working in residents’ apartments or common spaces. They were in the basement at the Training Center, taking their final exam. Through an agreement with Teamsters Local 237, the caretakers performed expanded… Read More Caretakers Build Career Path
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On April 18, while supervising a roof repair from the top of a building at Unity Plaza in Brooklyn, Technical Advisor Anthony Vecchi saw something that grabbed his attention: A baby in diapers was holding onto a window ledge by one hand, swinging back and forth. “I immediately screamed down for somebody to do something,”… Read More Employee Saves Baby from Fall
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In line with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s goals for a healthier, more sustainable New York, NYCHA is introducing a recycling initiative that will affect every NYCHA family. A letter from NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye and the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is introducing residents to the recycling initiative. Included in NextGeneration… Read More Recycling is Coming to all NYCHA Developments
Read MoreDear NYCHA Colleagues, As you may know, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer is in the process of auditing NYCHA’s supply and inventory management activities. The preliminary findings of this audit reveal a number of serious deficiencies in our business practices that hamper our ability to provide timely and quality service to NYCHA’s residents. We… Read More A Letter from the Chair: Supply Management Leadership Changes
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Q: You served as NYCHA’s GM previously (2009-2011). How does it feel to be back? A: It’s fantastic. I’m so impressed by the incredible talent and dedication of NYCHA employees, and it’s such an honor and privilege to work with them again to serve residents. Q: What are your thoughts on OPMOM, a decentralized property… Read More An Interview with General Manager Michael Kelly
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What is NextGeneration NYCHA? NextGeneration NYCHA is a ten-year strategic plan that will guide NYCHA in changing the way we do business. We understand that NYCHA residents, like all New Yorkers, want communities that are safe, clean and connected. To create and sustain those communities, NYCHA must make fundamental changes to our business model. NextGeneration… Read More NextGeneration NYCHA: Frequently Asked Questions
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Dear Colleagues: I am proud to tell you about NextGeneration NYCHA, the New York City Housing Authority’s 10-year strategic plan to create safe, clean, and connected communities and to protect and preserve the City’s vital public housing resource for today and the next generation of New Yorkers. Since it was established 81 years ago, NYCHA… Read More Chair Announces Launch of NextGeneration NYCHA
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Physically secure your work area and data before leaving it unattended. Lock your screen. Remember, you are responsible for activity performed using your user ID. Use passwords that can’t be easily guessed. A non-word with one or more numbers inserted in the middle (not at the end) is the best choice. To make a memorable… Read More General Cyber Security Tips
Read MoreInterested in advancing your career with a new credential in public administration? The School of Professional Studies at the City University of New York is offering a Public Administration Certificate program beginning this Fall. In addition to receiving a certificate upon completion of the program, you’ll also earn either 16 undergraduate credits toward a Bachelor’s degree… Read More Public Administration Certificate Program
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If you think that IDNYC—the City’s government-issued identification card—is only valuable to people without government-issued photo IDs, think again. In addition to providing legal identification and access to City services, IDNYC brings many other advantages. Free, one-year memberships at 33 of the City’s leading cultural institutions, including the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center,… Read More You’ll Want to Get an IDNYC Card
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NYCHA employees may have noticed some very special guests touring the offices at 90 Church Street, 1200 Waters Place, and Long Island City on April 23. These weren’t new employees; they were children of employees participating in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work. NYCHA and the Committee on Women’s Concerns celebrated by welcoming 114… Read More NYCHA Celebrates Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
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On March 25, NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye announced that Michael Kelly is re-joining NYCHA as General Manager, replacing GM Cecil House who has resigned effective April 15. Some NYCHA employees may remember Mr. Kelly, as he served as NYCHA’s GM from 2009-2011 before being tapped by the Obama Administration to run the then-troubled… Read More Chair Announces New General Manager
Read MoreDear NYCHA Colleagues, I would like to extend my gratitude to Cecil for his two and a half years of service to the residents and employees of the Authority. From leading the effort to signifi cantly reduce maintenance backlogs to introducing tools to effi ciently manage NYCHA properties and improve customer service, he has been… Read More GM Cecil House Departs
Read MoreNYCHANow is continuing the “Wit and Wisdom in the Workplace” proverb contest! Here’s a chance to share sayings, axioms or mottoes from your childhood or cultural background that many of us may not have heard. Originality counts; less familiar or original proverbs will be rated higher by our judges. Don’t put off for tomorrow what… Read More Proverb Contest: It’s the Thought That Counts
Read MoreEvery employee should complete a Designation of Beneficiaries form to ensure that any monies due upon the employee’s death are given to only the individuals they have selected. Updating beneficiaries for your pension does not change the beneficiaries for other payments to which survivors may be entitled. The NYCERS change of (pension) benefi ciary form… Read More HR News to Use
Read MoreIf you earned money in 2014, you could get a refund of up to $10,000 for you and your family, just by qualifying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Care Tax Credit. One out of five, or about 250,000, New Yorkers who qualify for the EITC don’t claim it, leaving thousands… Read More Free Tax Preparation Services
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Kilsys Payamps-Roure, Special Assistant to NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, was honored by the New York City Council during its celebration of Dominican Republic Independence Day on February 23. About 200 people joined in the festivities at the City Council, which featured performances by Shacara McLaurin, who sang the National Anthem, the P.S. 257… Read More Kilsys Payamps-Roure Honored
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On Tuesday, March 24, about one hundred NYCHA employees celebrated Women’s History Month. The event featured a keynote address by Terri McCullough, Director of No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project, a Clinton Foundation initiative. The evening was emceed by Community Programs and Development EVP Melanie Hart. NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye introduced Terri McCullough… Read More Women’s History Month Celebration
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Q: What are your job responsibilities? A: In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Chair’s office, I support the planning and implementation of policies and directives; communicate with NYCHA departments on agency initiatives; and serve as a liaison to the Authority’s many external partners. Q: You worked in several key positions for the… Read More Say Hello: Get to Know NYCHA Leadership
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On the first Friday of every month, small groups of employees may be seen waiting outside the Executive Board Room before 8:30 a.m. They may be dressed in suits or jeans, dresses or NYCHA blues. They may work in housing developments or satellite, central, or borough offices. What they have in common is an invitation… Read More Coffee with the Chair
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February was a momentous month for Nathaniel Williams Jr. The Supervisor of Housing Caretakers (SOHC) at Lincoln Houses celebrated his 36th anniversary as a NYCHA employee. And the president of the Local 237 Teamsters Union, Gregory Floyd, presented him with the Teamsters’ President’s Award at the union’s annual Black History Celebration. The event celebrated the… Read More Teamsters President Recognized Longtime NYCHA Employee
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Two of the most powerful words in any language – thank you – were spoken to 92 Language Bank volunteers honored at the 19th Annual Language Bank Recognition Ceremony held in the Ceremonial Room on February 4. These volunteers are among 250 NYCHA employees who collectively speak 39 languages, making NYCHA’s Language Bank one of… Read More Language That Reaches the Heart
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On February 26, NYCHA’s Chinese American Association (CAA) and their 300-plus guests brought in the Chinese New Year, 4713, with music, dancing, and belly-warming food at the Grand Harmony Restaurant in Chinatown. Before rousing performances from the Joyful Dance Ensemble and singer Danny Pao, NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye wished everyone a happy and… Read More CAA Hosts Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration
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On February 19, NYCHA hosted its 48th annual Black History Celebration in the Ceremonial Room at 90 Church Street. This year’s theme – “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture” – was introduced by Community Operations Bronx Borough Director Marlon Forbes, who noted that NYCHA has its own Black history to celebrate, including the… Read More NYCHA Celebrates Black History
Read MoreWelcome to NYCHANow, our new and improved employee newsletter. We’ve updated the design and distribution plan: you’ll receive NYCHANow in your email once a month to start. Please let us know how you like the newsletter and if you have events, accomplishments, program changes or other news that you want covered. You can reach us… Read More Welcome Readers
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… Read More Staff Changes Support New Strategic Direction
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