Operations Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor Appointments

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce two new staff appointments as the final pieces in our recent organizational updates. Emma Barash is my new Chief of Staff, replacing Lauren Gray, who has taken on the role of Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance, Safety, and Technical Programs. Emma was born and raised in “our beloved… MORE

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Vlada Kenniff Named First-Ever President of the Public Housing Preservation Trust

Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to announce that after an extensive search, Vlada Kenniff has been named the first-ever President of the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust. The Trust’s Board approved Vlada’s appointment at its September 7 meeting. Vlada is a dedicated public servant with an in-depth understanding of NYCHA’s needs and challenges.… MORE

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It’s Safe + Sound Week

Launched by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held every August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and provides resources for keeping America’s workers safe. In observance this year, NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) would like to share the following… MORE

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David Rohde Appointed NYCHA’s General Counsel

It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of David Rohde as Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel. We have been hard at work making the changes and improvements necessary to strengthen our organization and deliver better for residents; David’s appointment further establishes the team of talented, committed professionals leading our transformation efforts.

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NYCHA’s New Physical Needs Assessment

NYCHA’s Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) is a critical resource for effectively evaluating capital investment needs, as well as for planning and prioritizing capital investments, across NYCHA’s properties. Conducted approximately every five years as recommended by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the PNA involves assessing when in the next 20 years the… MORE

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Inspiring a Compliance Culture: Read the Compliance Department’s Summer ’23 Newsletter

The Compliance Department: A Vital Part of NYCHA Staying in Touch The Compliance Department was created in 2019 as part of the federal Agreement between NYCHA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. NYCHA employees have made a lot of progress… MORE

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Meet Michael Sills, Housing Manager of LHD Central Office Operations

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact and contributions of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+). In honor of Pride Month, we highlight the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQIA+ employees.

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Transforming and Strengthening NYCHA 

As part of NYCHA’s efforts to strengthen our organization and improve service to residents, several structural improvements and new leadership appointments are underway across the Authority.   In line with our Transformation Plan, we are restructuring our Operations and other divisions to create more connections among our teams, expand subject-matter expertise, and evolve and improve as… MORE

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Meet Amanda Moore, Assistant Director of Intake, Assessment, and Zone Coordination  

Growing up in Tilden Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Amanda Moore always knew she wanted to work in public service. In the summers, she went to camp through her development’s community center and took part in the center’s after-school program: “The center gave us a place to go, and the staff were amazing! I’ll never forget… MORE

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It’s Heat Awareness Week

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes the third week of May as “Heat Awareness Week.” Extreme heat is defined as outdoor temperatures that are much hotter and/or humid than average. Heat-related issues are preventable – NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) would like to share the following safety tips for beating… MORE

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Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month: Henry Street Settlement Offers Vital Mental Health Resources

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize NYCHA’s partnerships with organizations and nonprofits throughout New York City that provide crucial mental health resources to residents. One such partnership is with Henry Street Settlement, a 130-year-old community-based organization that supports Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, the arts,… MORE

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It’s Air Quality Awareness Week

Every spring, during Air Quality Awareness Week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partners with federal agencies such as the National Weather Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Energy to raise awareness about efforts to protect and improve air quality, highlight available resources, and encourage people to incorporate… MORE

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It’s National Poison Prevention Week

Chemicals are an important part of the workplace, from specialized industrial chemicals to everyday cleaning products. However, for everyone’s safety, they must be handled properly. In recognition of National Poison Prevention Week, which is March 19 to 25, NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department would like to share the following guidance on properly handling and… MORE

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NYCHA and Resident Leaders Select PACT Partners to Address $85M in Repair Needs at Metro North Plaza and Gaylord White Houses

891 residents will receive comprehensive repairs and upgrades to all 523 apartments, common areas, public spaces, heating and cooling systems, elevators, security systems, and other building systems. The PACT project builds on the more than $2 billion driven in 2022 to renovate over 8,500 apartments across 17 developments, with support from the Adams administration.

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Celebrating Black History Month

During Black History Month, we are reminded of the opportunity that public housing has provided to countless families since its foundation and its role in fostering a society that is more fair and just. We spoke with Marvin Walton, NYCHA’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, who has spent decades working in public housing, to get his thoughts on the institution, what it’s like to help run the largest public housing authority in the nation, and what the future may bring.

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Read “Healthy Happenings,” the EHS Newsletter

Happy New Year!

I hope this latest edition of the Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) newsletter finds you and your family well.

Because we all play a part in creating and maintaining a healthy and safe environment at NYCHA, EHS engages with residents, colleagues across the Authority, and the Federal Monitor to develop long-term solutions that address any environmental health and safety-related issues.

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Celebrating Chanukah

NYCHA’s Organization of Jewish Employees (Batei Tsibur) held its annual Chanukah celebration via Microsoft Teams on December 20, 2022 (26 Kislev on the Jewish calendar). Chanukah, the eight-day Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the year 139 BCE.  Guest speaker Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin, co-founder of Congregation B’nai Avraham in… MORE

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Digital Van Driver Will Be NYCHA’s First ‘Neighborhood Tech Supervisor’ 

Kim Maxwell, a senior driver with NYCHA’s Digital Van program, has been tapped to become NYCHA’s first Neighborhood Tech Supervisor. He will lead a new mobile team of IT technicians who will visit property management offices to help staff troubleshoot their computers and train them on new software. Mr. Maxwell has been a digital van… MORE

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Celebrating Community at the Chinese-American Association’s Holiday Luncheon

After three years of hiatus due to the pandemic, NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association (CAA) again held its annual winter holiday luncheon on December 9. “We’ve been trying to do this since 2019,” CAA President Linda “Qi” Zhang said.   More than 80 CAA members – all NYCHA employees and a few NYCHA retirees – enjoyed the… MORE

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Eight Questions for Lisa Bova-Hiatt, NYCHA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer

Lisa Bova-Hiatt was appointed NYCHA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in September 2022. She was previously the Authority’s Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, a role she held for nearly three years. With more than 25 years of experience at various City and State agencies, Ms. Bova-Hiatt brings deep knowledge of how… MORE

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Guidance Regarding COVID-19 (Updated 2/8/23)

2/8/23 update (COVID-19 Vaccination Now Optional for City Employees): Dear Colleagues, Due to the success of the City’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate, over 331,000 City workers – more than 96 percent – are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. On February 6, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the City will make vaccination optional for current City employees and prospective… MORE

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NYCHA’s Language Services Unit Completes Its 10,000th Translation 

The Spanish-language flier posted at the Bronx’s Butler Houses announcing a planning meeting for basketball court and playground upgrades is no ordinary flier: It is the 10,000th document translated into a foreign language for NYCHA residents in the 14 years the Language Services Unit (LSU) has been keeping track.   “It’s a huge achievement that we… MORE

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Meet Eva Trimble, NYCHA’s Chief Operating Officer

Eva Trimble was appointed NYCHA’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) in July 2022. She was previously the Authority’s first-ever Executive Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, a role in which she led efforts to develop and implement the Transformation Plan to strengthen our organization and the ways we serve residents. Read on to learn more about COO Trimble and… MORE

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Gas Restored at 17 Developments Impacting More Than 1,000 Households in Time for Thanksgiving

NYCHA additionally repaired or replaced more than 5,000 stoves in more than 150 developments and, alongside staff and volunteers, is distributing approximately 9,000 Thanksgiving meals at 210 developments NYCHA announced today that since the beginning of November, gas service has been restored at Breukelen, Coney Island I (Sites 4 & 5), Bland, East River, Gun… MORE

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With Help from NYCHA, Parkside Houses Resident Starts and Advances Public Service Career

Tytionna Peterkin was looking for a better job. Working as a caterer wasn’t what the 20-something Parkside Houses resident had in mind for herself when she attended college.  Unfortunately, financial pressures had forced her to cut short her college career at Albright College in Pennsylvania and the Borough of Manhattan Community College. But her previous… MORE

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Recognizing NYCHA’s OMAR Staff

On June 9, NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR) held a ceremony to recognize more than 50 staff who worked on NYCHA’s ventilation programs. Notably, OMAR staff completed an Authority-wide roof fan project, which involved replacing 6,188 roof fans and confirming that an additional 2,248 fans are functional and can be kept in… MORE

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NYCHA Observes ‘America Recycles Day’ Every Day of the Year

November 15 is America Recycles Day, but NYCHA recognizes the importance of recycling every day – the Authority has renewed its focus on recycling and created new programs to improve the collection of recyclables.  NYCHA’s Waste Management Department launched its Recycle First initiative in Staten Island in September 2021, working closely with development staff and… MORE

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NYCHA’s Policy Advisor Presents at International Sustainability Conference 

NYCHA Policy Advisor Debora Lopes discussed the latest developments in sustainability and wellness in built spaces at the 2022 Greenbuild International Conference in San Francisco last week.   “It was fantastic to present on NYCHA’s decarbonization roadmap, especially our Clean Heat for all Challenge,” Ms. Lopes said. “Decarbonization in affordable housing requires ambitious policies and… MORE

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Say ‘Hola’ to NYCHA’s Newest Employee Association, OHLA

NYCHA has a new Hispanic and Latin American organization. Say Hola to NYCHA’s Employee Association, OHLA, the Organization of Hispanic and Latin American. Human Resources Department Associate Staff Analyst Franklin Velez launched this new employee association to share Hispanic and Latin American cultural celebrations with NYCHA employees.   Mr. Velez got the idea of starting… MORE

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Workplace Safety

Workplace Violence Prevention Is Everyone’s Responsibility NYCHA employees and contractors should immediately report any potential or actual workplace violence by calling the Office of Safety & Security at (212) 306-8800. In case of a workplace violence incident: Retreat from, and do not engage in, a potential workplace violence situation. Act professionally and calmly when confronted… MORE

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NYC Celebrated as Finalist for C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award

New York City was celebrated as one of 20 finalists for a 2022 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award at a ceremony held on October 19 at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   The award celebrates the most impactful projects or programs spearheaded by cities from around the world to tackle the… MORE

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It’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) partner to raise awareness about the risks of lead poisoning during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 23-29 this year). This year’s theme, “Get the Facts, Get Your Home Tested, and… MORE

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It’s Fire Prevention Week

The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week – Fire won’t wait; plan your escape – highlights the importance of creating a home fire escape plan. In observation of this national event and to promote your family’s safety, NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department would like to provide the following information. NYCHA Fire Safety Notice:          … MORE

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Mayor Adams Honors NYCHA Employee for Supporting Resident Associations

It’s not every day that one gets singled out by the mayor of New York City for doing a great job. But earlier this month, Mayor Eric Adams honored Jacqueline Howard, a 32-year veteran NYCHA employee, for her work as project coordinator in the Resident Participation & Civic Engagement department. The ceremony took place at… MORE

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Advancing NYCHA’s Transformation Plan with an Updated Leadership Structure

Dear Colleagues, Over the last several years, we have made significant changes across NYCHA. As part of NYCHA’s Transformation and Implementation Plans, earlier this year the Board amended NYCHA’s by-laws to separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chair of the Board of Directors. This leadership model is what we have been working toward… MORE

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NYCHA Distributed Welcome Baby Bags to Expecting Families

More than 205 bags with baby essentials and toys were distributed to NYCHA families who registered their expecting status through the Authority’s Self-Service Portal. NYCHA’s Resident Engagement Department, in cooperation with Health Initiatives and the Fund for Public Housing (the Fund), partnered with Baby2Baby and Moms for Moms to purchase, assemble, and deliver door to… MORE

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Meet the EHS Lead Oversight Team (LOT)

NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) Lead Oversight Team (LOT) oversees all lead-based paint (LBP) activities to identify, prevent, or correct any non-compliance with the applicable requirements. The team consists of three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified Risk Assessors who are led by a certified Field Supervisor. As part of NYCHA’s Lead Compliance Assurance program,… MORE

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NYCHA Conducts Coastal Storm Preparedness Tabletop Exercise

On August 4, NYCHA’s Emergency Management and Services Department conducted a coastal storm preparedness tabletop exercise with Operations’ borough vice presidents and neighborhood administrators at the Emergency Operations Center in Long Island City. The tabletop exercise and dialogue with Operations leadership was designed to provide a better understanding of preparedness issues or gaps that impact… MORE

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NYC Selected as Finalist for C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award, Spotlighting NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda

Recognizing its leadership in addressing climate change, New York City was selected as one of 20 finalists for the 2022 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award. The awards celebrate the most ambitious and impactful projects or programs spearheaded by cities from around the world to tackle the climate crisis. The theme of this year’s awards is… MORE

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The Clean Energy Academy Will Prepare Residents for Green Careers

The Fund for Public Housing (the Fund) and NYCHA, in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), National Grid, New York Power Authority (NYPA), Trinity Church Wall Street Philanthropies, NorthLight Foundation, and Rise Light & Power, recently announced the launch of the Clean Energy Academy. Over two years, the $2… MORE

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NYCHA Plumber Organizes Workshops for Girls

“Jobs don’t have genders,” says Judaline Cassidy, who first picked up plumbing tools 25 years ago and has been working in the industry ever since. Five years ago, she founded Tools and Tiaras, a non-profit committed to advancing the participation of females in traditionally male-dominated industries such as electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and auto mechanic trades.… MORE

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$70M Initial Investment Will Decarbonize NYCHA Buildings with New Electric Heat Pumps

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams joined the NYCHA, New York Power Authority (NYPA), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to announce the Clean Heat for All Challenge (#CleanHeat4All or #CH4A) — making an initial $70 million investment in the development and production of 30,000 new heat pump units for use in New York City public housing facilities.

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NYCHA’s “M/WBE In Action” Virtual Procurement Fair

NYCHA’s “M/WBE In Action” virtual event was hosted by the Authority’s Supply Management and Procurement Department on July 13, 2022, with over 100 City-certified Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) firms from various industries in attendance. “M/WBE In Action” commemorated the one-year anniversary of the launch of NYCHA’s formal M/WBE program and was the first… MORE

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Making a Difference 

Meet Ernesto Rodriguez, Administrative Training Coordinator at Learning & Development’s Maintenance Training Center Whenever Ernesto Rodriguez goes to a NYCHA development, he recognizes most of the property management and maintenance staff – because he trained them. Mr. Rodriguez is the Administrator of HR’s Maintenance Training Center, which equips assistant superintendents, superintendents, and field staff with… MORE

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NYCHA Employee Elected Treasurer of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association

Raquel Miranda, Agency Attorney in NYCHA’s Law Department, was recently elected Treasurer of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA). The BWBA was established more than a century ago by nine women lawyers to achieve equality, diversity, fairness, and opportunities for women. It is affiliated with the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York… MORE

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NYCHA Begins Design and Construction of State-of-the-Art Pneumatic Waste Collection System at Polo Grounds Towers

On Thursday, June 30, NYCHA officially gave a Notice to Proceed (NTP) to a construction team comprised of Navillus Contracting, Dewberry Engineers Inc., Marvel Architects, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, PLLC, and Atreo (Pneumatic Waste Collection Systems), for work on a $31 million large-scale installation of a pneumatic waste collection system that will serve the NYCHA… MORE

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Nominate Yourself or a Colleague for a Safety Award

​In celebration of National Safety Month, which is every June, NYCHA is re-launching the Safety Awards Program. This year’s theme is “Safety Starts with Me,” which reaffirms the Authority’s commitment to preventing workplace injuries and to promoting workplace safety awareness. NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) is accepting nominations for the NYCHA Safety Awards… MORE

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Meet Antonia Zambrano, Assistant Director of LHD Central Office Operations

Twenty-three years ago, Antonia Zambrano submitted her resume at a job fair and shortly after became a NYCHA employee. Starting out as a Bilingual Housing Assistant for the Leased Housing Department, she is now the Assistant Director of the Leased Housing Department’s Central Office Operations. All of the positions Ms. Zambrano has held at the… MORE

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Spotlight on NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association

The Chinese-American Association (CAA) is one of many employee associations at NYCHA. The association was created almost three decades ago to promote Chinese language and culture and to strengthen bonds among co-workers. Currently, the CAA has more than 200 members, including several retired employees who remain active in the association.  In May, the CAA observed… MORE

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Governor Signs Legislation Establishing the Public Housing Preservation Trust

On June 16, Governor Kathy Hochul signed new legislation S.9409-A /A.7805-D establishing the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust and paving the way for the overdue repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of 25,000 apartments under control of the New York City Housing Authority. Governor Hochul signed the bills alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Assembly Member Steven… MORE

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