NYCHA Now

Author: Michael Corwin

Health & SafetyJune 2022

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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Exceptional ColleaguesHighlightedJune 2022

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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June 2022Public Housing Preservation Trust

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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Employee VoicesHighlightedJune 2022

Meet Cherry McCutchen, Director of Learning and Development

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, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.    “I’m ‘Cherry.’ I don’t ascribe to labels or pronouns. If someone asks how… MORE

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Ask the ChairJune 2022

Ask the Chair

Chair Russ Answers Your Questions Every month, Chair Greg Russ will respond to questions from staff on topics like operations, the future of the agency, and how we’re overcoming everyday challenges. Have a question for Chair Russ about NYCHA? Send it to AsktheChair@nycha.nyc.gov and check back here to see if it was selected to be… MORE

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May 2022PartnershipsSustainability

NYCHA Celebrates New Community Garden at Manhattanville Houses

NYCHA has a long-standing commitment to fostering resident access to green spaces at its developments. A 2017 survey of NYCHA gardens, conducted by the NYC Parks Department’s GreenThumb program, counted 595 gardens at 146 NYCHA developments. One recent community garden was created at Manhattanville Houses in West Harlem by former NYCHA residents in partnership with… MORE

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Health & SafetyMay 2022

Indoor Air Quality at NYCHA

NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department’s Indoor Air Quality Oversight Team (IAQOT) identifies and addresses hazards that impact air quality, such as mold, leaks, asbestos, toxic gases, and other airborne contaminants. The IAQOT includes one administrator and five specialists, who perform a range of health hazards investigations and oversight of mold remediations to ensure that… MORE

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May 2022PACT

$434 Million in Comprehensive Renovations Completed at 9 Developments

Resident Association Leaders, PACT Partners Deliver Comprehensive Apartment Upgrades, Renovated Community Spaces, and Infrastructure Enhancements That Will Improve Public Safety and Quality of Life for More Than 6,000 Brooklynites On May 20, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel, NYCHA Chair and CEO Greg… MORE

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Employee VoicesHealth & SafetyMay 2022

Meet the OEM Field Coordinators Team

NYCHA’s Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) Field Coordinators program improves the coordination of response efforts to emergency incidents across the Authority. Before becoming a permanent program, the initiative was launched in 2019 as a six-month pilot program, with 12 on-call field coordinators managing day-to-day communications between different responding departments (and, in some cases, other City agencies).… MORE

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May 2022PartnershipsSustainability

NYCHA’s Mattress Recycling Featured in Circular City Week

On May 3, NYCHA’s mattress recycling program, NYC’s first and only mattress recycling program, was discussed during Circular City Week, an open collaborative festival dedicated to topics about circular economy (that is, an economy where goods are reused and recycled as much as possible). Circular City Week is the biggest circular economy festival in the… MORE

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May 2022NYCHA Leadership

Discussing Data Sharing with NYCHA’s Chief Information Officer

NYCHA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Patti Bayross recently participated in City & State’s Creating a Culture of Data Sharing panel, which brought together data and information leaders in public service to discuss how to foster a data-sharing culture in government.   Ms. Bayross spoke about how information technology and data sharing at… MORE

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Ask the ChairMay 2022

Ask the Chair

Chair Russ Answers Your Questions Every month, Chair Greg Russ will respond to questions from staff on topics like operations, the future of the agency, and how we’re overcoming everyday challenges. Have a question for Chair Russ about NYCHA? Send it to AsktheChair@nycha.nyc.gov and check back here to see if it was selected to be… MORE

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May 2022

April Work Anniversaries

Kudos for Longtime Service to Residents and the City Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in April! 5 Years of Service 10 Years of Service 15 Years of Service 20 Years of Service 25 Years… MORE

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April 2022Sustainability

NYCHA’s Waste Calculator to Efficiently Manage Waste and Increase Recycling

Waste management is one of the most complex challenges that NYCHA faces. Since the release of NYCHA’s 2.0 Waste Management Plan in 2019 and NYCHA’s new Sustainability Agenda in 2021, NYCHA is making comprehensive changes to its waste management practices and infrastructure. One outcome of these changes has been the NYCHA Waste Calculator. NYCHA generates… MORE

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April 2022NYCHA Leadership

NYCHA Chair Russ Discusses Housing Preservation at Crain’s Power Breakfast

On April 6, NYCHA’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer Gregory Russ was interviewed by Crain’s New York Business Editor-in-Chief Cory Schouten as part of this year’s first “Crain’s Power Breakfast.” Approximately 150 business and nonprofit executives and government leaders attended the event, including Jessica Katz, the City’s Chief Housing Officer. Chair Russ discussed how a… MORE

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April 2022Partnerships

13 NYCHA-owned Houses to Be Rehabilitated and Sold to Low- and Moderate-income New Yorkers

Sixteen eligible families will have an opportunity to purchase their first home through “Habitat Net Zero,” a project bringing long-term affordable homeownership opportunities to Southeast Queens. Through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Open Door program, 13 vacant, dilapidated, previously NYCHA-owned houses will be rehabilitated into 16 new Passive House standards homes… MORE

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April 2022Ask the Chair

Ask the Chair

Chair Russ Answers Your Questions  Every month, Chair Greg Russ will respond to questions from staff on topics like operations, the future of the agency, and how we’re overcoming everyday challenges. Have a question for Chair Russ about NYCHA? Send it to AsktheChair@nycha.nyc.gov and check back here to see if it was selected to be… MORE

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Exceptional ColleaguesMarch 2022

Women’s History Month: A Spotlight on Women at NYCHA

This year’s National Women’s History theme, “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless and vital work of caregivers and front-line workers (especially during a pandemic) as well as a recognition of the countless ways that women have provided healing and hope throughout history. We’d like to honor the contributions to… MORE

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IT News and NotesMarch 2022NYCHA Leadership

NYCHA’s Chief Information Officer Talks About Our Tech

NYCHA’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Patti Bayross recently participated in City & State’s 2022 Digital New York Summit, which brought together technology and information leaders for thought-provoking conversations about their work. Ms. Bayross was part of a panel titled “Using Technology to Impact our Communities,” which provided her the opportunity to present… MORE

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Health & SafetyMarch 2022Sustainability

NYCHA Observes World Water Day

March 22 is World Water Day, an opportunity to reflect on the importance of access to safe, fresh water. Stormwater management solutions, for example, are a vital part of NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda, and several initiatives focused on this important work are currently underway. One of them is NYCHA’s  Climate Adaptation Plan, which outlines the Authority’s approach to… MORE

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March 2022NYCHA Leadership

Chair Russ Featured on “YIMBY Nation” Podcast

NYCHA’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer Greg Russ was recently featured in an episode of “YIMBY Nation,” a podcast hosted by Jimmy Lee Miller, Vincencia Adusei, and Peter J. Wood that provides a forum for affordable housing professionals to discuss their work. During the half-hour conversation, Chair Russ highlighted the Authority’s efforts to revitalize its buildings, the… MORE

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Health & SafetyMarch 2022

Healthy Start @ NYCHA Program Launches with Baby Shower at Ingersoll Houses

On March 5, NYCHA’s Health Initiatives team, in partnership with over 20 organizations, hosted a Baby Shower Resource Fair at Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn. Expecting and pregnant NYCHA residents from across the city received baby and child supplies such as diapers, blankets, books, baby bouncers, pajamas, stuffed animals, baby bags, medicine kits, gift cards, baby… MORE

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March 2022Sustainability

Presenting NYCHA’s Decarbonization Efforts

Two NYCHA leaders – Vice President for Energy and Sustainability Vlada Kenniff and Acting Deputy Director of Energy and Sustainability Edwin Mendez – discussed the Authority’s work on decarbonization and sustainability at two notable public events recently.  Edwin Mendez attended the “AEG Thought Summit 2022: Critical Infrastructure, Equity and Resilience,” where he discussed NYCHA’s energy… MORE

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Ask the ChairMarch 2022

Ask the Chair

Chair Russ Answers Your Questions  Every month, Chair Greg Russ will respond to questions from staff on topics like operations, the future of the agency, and how we’re overcoming everyday challenges. Have a question for Chair Russ about NYCHA? Send it to AsktheChair@nycha.nyc.gov and check back here to see if it was selected to be… MORE

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March 2022PACT

PACT Partners to Provide $360M in Comprehensive Repairs for Reid Apartments and Park Rock Consolidated

Over 3,600 residents will receive renovated apartments, building infrastructure upgrades, and redesigned public spaces A team with several New York-based MBEs and the Local Development Corporation of East New York will guide the scope of repairs and coordinate social services On March 2, NYCHA formally announced the selection of BRP Companies, Urbane, and Fairstead as… MORE

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February 2022NYCHA Leadership

Chair Russ Participates in Future of Construction Summit

On February 24, NYCHA’s Chair and Chief Executive Officer Greg Russ participated in a virtual panel discussion organized by “City and State,” a media organization covering New York’s local and state politics and policy. The event, titled “Future of Construction in New York,” was moderated by Deputy State Politics Reporter Rebecca Lewis. The panel consisted… MORE

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February 2022PACT

NYCHA and HDC Finalize Deal to Begin $236 Million Renovation at Harlem River

On February 17, NYCHA and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) closed on the financing of the latest Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) transaction to fund comprehensive renovations for 690 apartments (as well as the construction of three apartments) at Harlem River Houses and the adjoining Harlem River II campus. This latest conversion… MORE

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February 2022PACTPartnerships

NYCHA Establishes PACT Resource Team to Facilitate Resident Involvement in PACT

NYCHA has partnered with local organizations to launch the new PACT Resource Team. The team is currently recruiting technical advisors who will consult with and support residents in developments selected for PACT (the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together program). NYCHA’s partners in the initiative include Local Initiatives Support Corporation New York City (LISC NYC), Public Works… MORE

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January 2022

New Executive Appointments

Dear Colleagues, We continue to make updates to our organization to strengthen the Authority and our service to residents. I am pleased to announce the following appointments to our leadership team that were made this month. Daniel Sherrod, our new Chief Operating Officer, is now on board at NYCHA. In collaboration with his current employer, the U.S. Department of… MORE

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January 2022PACT

NYCHA Reopens Annual Request for Qualifications for a Range of PACT Partners

NYCHA has pre-qualified 201 entities, 37 minority- and women-owned firms, and 38 non-profit social service providers in the effort to bring comprehensive repairs and resources to 62,000 apartments with PACT On January 19, NYCHA announced the re-release of the PACT Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit partners for the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. The RFQ supports the… MORE

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January 2022

NYCHA Boosts Emergency Response with Field Coordinators Program

NYCHA’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) created a permanent Emergency Field Coordinators program to improve the coordination of response to emergency incidents across the Authority. The initiative was tested in 2020 when OEM launched a six-month pilot program, hiring 12 on-call field coordinators who managed day-to-day communications between different responding agencies. After the pilot program… MORE

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ComplianceJanuary 2022

Inspiring a Compliance Culture

Read the Compliance Department’s Quarterly Newsletter Development Risk Scoring Assessment Background Compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations and NYCHA’s standard procedures (SP) is vital to NYCHA’s mission to provide safe and affordable housing to its residents. To help meet this goal, the Compliance Integration Reporting and Evaluation (CIRE) Unit in the Compliance… MORE

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December 2021

NYCHA STAT Monthly Meetings Return

Throughout 2021, the Authority’s executive team held monthly virtual meetings to conduct a transparent review of performance at the NYCHA-wide, borough, neighborhood, and development levels.  During these NYCHA Statistics, Trends, and Tracking (STAT) meetings, over a hundred employees from various departments, including property management, gather to review and explain trends on key performance metrics such… MORE

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December 2021PACT

New PACT Projects to Bring Repairs & Quality Property Management for 3,100 Apartments

The latest Request for Expressions of Interest will maintain the Authority’s focus on proposals that showcase robust resident engagement approaches, diverse partnership teams, and community-enhancing urban designs. On December 22, NYCHA released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to attract development partners for new projects under the Authority’s Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program… MORE

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December 2021

Hernandez Houses Residents Celebrate New Playground

On December 17, residents and staff of Rafael Hernandez Houses in Manhattan organized a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the comprehensive grounds renovations at the development. The million-dollar project, which was funded by Council Member Margaret Chin, involved renovation of the entire front yard, including replacement of the entrance stairs and handicap ramp and creation of… MORE

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December 2021Sustainability

NYCHA & Partners Announce Innovation Challenge for “Clean Energy” Heating/Cooling Systems

On December 20, NYCHA, the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) launched the Clean Heat for All Challenge (#CleanHeat4All), an industry competition directed at heating and cooling equipment manufacturers to develop a new electrification product that can better serve the needs of existing multifamily buildings… MORE

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December 2021PACT

$260 Million in Comprehensive Repairs Coming to Frederick Samuel Apartments

On December 17, NYCHA formally announced the selection of Genesis Companies and Lemor Development Group as the development team to deliver comprehensive building and apartment upgrades for nearly 1,400 residents and more than 660 apartments at Frederick Samuel Apartments in Manhattan. The selected PACT partners will further engage residents and continue to refine their plans… MORE

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December 2021Sustainability

Green Infrastructure Installations Help Tackle Excess Stormwater

On November 8, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced its progress on drainage upgrades at 19 NYCHA properties. The $29 million project involves the construction of “green infrastructure” installations that will capture approximately 55 million gallons of stormwater in a typical year, easing pressure on neighborhood sewers during rainstorms and extreme… MORE

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December 2021PACT

$445 Million in Comprehensive Repairs Coming to Edenwald Houses

On December 10, NYCHA formally announced the selection of Camber Property Group, Henge Development, and SAA | EVI Development as the development team to deliver comprehensive building and apartment upgrades for nearly 4,800 residents and more than 2,000 apartments at Edenwald Houses in the Bronx. The selected partners will further engage with residents and continue… MORE

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December 2021PACT

$366 Million in Investments Coming to Four NYCHA Developments in Chelsea

On December 1, NYCHA and resident leaders for Elliott-Chelsea and Fulton Houses announced the selection of Essence Development and The Related Companies as the development team that will deliver comprehensive building and apartment upgrades for nearly 4,500 residents living in more than 2,054 apartments at four NYCHA campuses: Chelsea, Chelsea Addition, Elliott, and Fulton Houses… MORE

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November 2021Partnerships

NYCHA Residents Take Construction Business Training

Twenty NYCHA public housing and nine Section 8 residents were selected to participate in the Construction Business Pathways (CBP) program, which is helping them build and grow their own construction businesses. The program is being implemented by the Fund for Public Housing (the Fund) and NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), with… MORE

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Exceptional ColleaguesNovember 2021

Making a Difference

Meet Janine Rodriguez, Housing Manager in Manhattan Property Management We’re periodically featuring the female property managers who help NYCHA carry out its mission to better serve residents and strengthen our partnership with them. NYCHA supports and encourages women in leadership positions in all departments, including property management. Currently, there are about 260 women working as… MORE

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November 2021SafeNYCHA

Fire Safety at NYCHA

In this photo essay, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department which, among other things, ensures fire safety for our residents and employees. The Department’s five Fire Safety Specialists, led by a Team Administrator, are certified fire safety professionals. In addition to ensuring that the Authority complies with all applicable fire… MORE

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November 2021

Read the Privacy Office’s First newsletter

Greetings from the Privacy Office Welcome to the Privacy Office’s first newsletter! Who are we? NYCHA’s Privacy Office was established to ensure the Authority meets its ongoing responsibility to safeguard and properly handle personally identifiable information (“PII”). The Privacy Office is the focal point for NYCHA’s privacy compliance-related activities and partners with all of NYCHA’s… MORE

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October 2021

NYCHA Employees Participated in Business Engagement Learning Lab

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, when unemployment was at record highs and many employers were operating primarily on a remote platform, Workforce Professionals Training Institute (WPTI) launched its 2021 cohort of the Business Engagement Learning Lab (BELL) development series, which focused on the theme of “Refining Employer Marketing & Outreach.”… MORE

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October 2021

NYCHA Installs Flood Panels to Protect Developments from Heavy Rain

Since 2018, 16 NYCHA campuses have been outfitted with storm surge protection measures (over 8,200 deployable components at a total of 103 buildings). For the 2021 Hurricane season, NYCHA installed 3,700 deployable floodproofing panels at 67 buildings at 12 developments to protect them from flood risks, as part of the Authority’s Recovery and Resilience program. These… MORE

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October 2021Sustainability

NYCHA Releases Climate Adaptation Plans for Addressing Extreme Weather Hazards

The strategic plans informed by NYCHA’s climate resiliency work on developments affected by Hurricane Sandy take a three-pronged approach to retrofitting buildings against rising sea levels, hotter temperatures, and heavier rainfalls expected in the coming decades. On October 25, NYCHA announced the release of three major reports outlining the Authority’s approach to protecting its portfolio… MORE

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