NYCHA Now

Author: Michael Corwin

November 2020

Final “Where We Live NYC” Plan Released

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been released the final Where We Live NYC Plan, the City’s blueprint for fair housing in the five boroughs.   Where We Live NYC is the City’s five-year plan to break down barriers to opportunity and build more integrated, equitable neighborhoods. Updated to reflect the disproportionate impact the COVID-19… MORE

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November 2020

Former NYCHA Resident Awarded $200K Grant for Sustainability Activism

As a young man growing up at NYCHA developments across all five boroughs, Domingo Morales never used to think about the best uses for his trash.   It wasn’t until he came across a Green City Force (GCF) training program flyer at his mother’s home in Wilson Houses that he was put on a pathway toward promoting a more sustainable future. GCF partners with NYCHA’s Office… MORE

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November 2020

Fire Safety Tips

NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) Department works to ensure decent, safe, and sanitary environments for our residents and employees. To promote safe and healthy environments, EH&S inspects work performed at NYCHA related to mold, lead, asbestos, heat, elevators, fire safety, and pests. EHS&S also maintains a complaints forum and investigates reports of unsafe EH&S… MORE

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October 2020

Recognizing Exemplary Members of NYCHA’s Team

The Mayor’s Office of Operations announced its individual and group winners of the 2020 Excellence in Customer Service Awards. The awards, which are presented across City agencies, recognize “outstanding City workers and teams that demonstrate their dedication and commitment to New York City through their customer service achievements.”  Representing NYCHA this year is individual award… MORE

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October 2020

NYCHA Unveils Strategic Roadmap for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

NYCHA recently released its Climate Mitigation Roadmap, a portfolio-wide strategic plan for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from NYCHA operations. It’s the Authority’s most ambitious effort in more than 25 years of energy conservation programs.  NYCHA developed the Roadmap to meet the City’s Local Law 97 requirement of a 40 percent reduction in GHG emission… MORE

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October 2020

October Is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Resources for Survivors During COVID-19 October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In the United States, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience severe physical violence by their partners. In 2019, the NYPD responded to over 245,000 domestic violence incidents. Domestic violence affects people from all walks of life and includes intimate partner violence and family violence. … MORE

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October 2020

NYCHA Employee Awarded for Care of Older Adults

On October 1, 2020, CABS Home Care, a nonprofit, licensed home care service agency, honored NYCHA Service Coordinator Ginette Scafidi with an award for her commitment to caring and advocating for vulnerable older adult NYCHA residents.  Since 2019, CABS has partnered with NYCHA’s Family Partnerships Department to provide home care resources to disabled and elderly residents.   CABS celebrated Ms. Scafidi and others with the “Circle of Care Award” during an online awards… MORE

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October 2020

New Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaisons

Helping NYCHA Residents Create Healthier Communities Two years ago, NYCHA and public housing authorities across the country went smoke-free to help create healthier environments for public housing residents by curbing exposure to secondhand smoke.  A major part of the Smoke-Free NYCHA initiative is educating residents about the policy and providing resources and referrals to residents who want to stop smoking. NYCHA’s smoke-free policy prohibits the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and hookahs anywhere inside… MORE

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October 2020

NYCHA’s New Digital Signage Pilot at Polo Grounds Towers

NYCHA recently launched a Digital Signage Pilot at Polo Grounds Towers in Manhattan to expand communications to residents, providing them with an additional, convenient platform to learn about NYCHA news, outages in their building, work being done on the grounds, capital projects underway, important health and safety information, and available activities and programs.   The first digital monitors have been installed and the remaining… MORE

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October 2020

Public Art Project Launches at Red Hook Houses

Red Hook Houses is the first NYCHA campus to host a new public art project that repurposes temporary construction fencing and sidewalk sheds into a wide range of large-scale photography, digital print works, murals, and mixed-media art installations to improve the pedestrian experience and increase opportunities for artists.   Red Hook’s new art is thanks to a multi-part series of artist fellowships through the City Canvas pilot… MORE

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September 2020

NYCHA’s Connected Communities Initiative Wins Wellbeing Cities Award

Dear Colleagues,  We’re excited to present Connected Communities, a powerful NYCHA initiative that prioritizes community-centered urban design for the largest housing authority in North America. Today, NYCHA was named as one of five award-winning laureates from across the world for the 2020 Wellbeing Cities Forum by the New Cities Foundation for our work supporting cohesive… MORE

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September 2020

Going Above and Beyond

Celebrating NYCHA Heroes 1010 East 178th St. Consolidation Property Manager Angelinah Adegboyega praised Supervising Housing Groundskeeper Andres Rodriguez and his grounds team: “Tropical Storm Isaias hit the city, and the 1010 East 178th Street consolidated development was not spared – there were downed trees and branches. “With all the trees that needed to be cut… MORE

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September 2020

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Every year from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated to acknowledge the contributions made to America by Hispanic people and Americans with ancestry from Spanish-speaking countries. To commemorate the month, The NYCHA Journal is highlighting the Authority’s developments named after prominent Hispanic people.   Bracetti Plaza: Mariana Bracetti (1825-1903) – She was a leader of the Puerto Rican independence movement in the 1860s and known as “Arms of… MORE

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September 2020

Comment on NYCHA’s Proposed Improvements to Its Criminal Justice Policies

Dear Colleagues, NYCHA is working to modernize criminal justice-related policies to create a fairer system for our residents – one that promotes healthy families and stable housing while ensuring community safety at our developments and within our communities.  NYCHA is committed to improving policies that keep employees and residents safe while addressing the challenges faced by justice-involved applicants and residents, as well as their family members.    We have already incorporated policies that make it possible for individuals re-entering the community from… MORE

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Employee VoicesSeptember 2020

Responding to COVID-19 During My National Guard Service

By Nekoro Gomes, NYCHA’s Department of Communications As a member of NYCHA’s Department of Communications, a large part of my job calls for being able to find the right words to convey what’s happening across the Authority’s more than 300 developments at any given time. That task involves quickly sourcing, verifying, and accurately relaying information… MORE

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August 2020

Prepare for Coastal Storms

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 to November 30. Coastal Storms  Coastal storms such as Nor’easters, tropical storms, and hurricanes often bring strong winds, coastal flooding, and rain. They can also bring severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, snow, or ice, depending on the type of storm  What to Do During a Coastal Storm If… MORE

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August 2020

100,000 Face Masks Donated to Manhattan NYCHA Residents

Thanks to a generous donation of 100,000 three-ply surgical masks from SC Health, a medical supply vendor based in South Carolina, NYCHA residents in Manhattan will have the additional supplies they need to help keep themselves and their neighbors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.  “During this crisis, SC Health has had the privilege of being able to donate more than 300,000 masks to citizens in communities throughout… MORE

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August 2020

Astoria Houses Invests in Children’s Futures

Through its campaign to raise $134,000 to support the college savings plans of its youngest residents, the Astoria Houses Tenant Association is expanding the well-known African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” to show that, sometimes, it takes a community to send children to college.  Led by President Claudia Coger, the Tenant Association is raising money to deposit $1,000 into the college savings accounts… MORE

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August 2020

Remembering Brandon Hendricks

On July 7, family, friends, and neighbors of the late Brandon Hendricks held a memorial event at the Jackson Houses basketball court in the Bronx to honor his life on what would have been his 18th birthday.  The day’s events included a basketball tournament, cookout, vigil, and balloon release. Members of local community organizations called for an end to gun violence.  Mr. Hendricks had recently graduated from high school and was excited about attending college in the… MORE

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August 2020

July 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 July! 5 Years of Service Bastaros, Andrew Joseph Cummings, John Anthony Horan, Michael Matthew Jung, Bomee Kruchenetskiy, Mikhail Lawal,… MORE

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Blueprint for ChangeJuly 2020

Transforming NYCHA: New Staff Appointments and New Departments

Dear Colleagues, As part of our ongoing work to transform the structure and business operations of the Authority, we are pleased to announce new staff appointments in NYCHA’s Department of Operations. We are committed to improving NYCHA operations and services for our residents. Therefore, we have implemented three new departments reporting to the General Manager… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

Free Masks Distributed at Baruch Houses

New York City continues to make progress during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now in Phase III of reopening. However, it’s still important for New Yorkers to be safe and cautious by practicing good hand hygiene, maintaining social distance, and wearing a mask or face covering that covers both the nose and mouth.  NYCHA is helping ensure residents have the face coverings they need to keep themselves and their neighbors safe. On July 7, free masks were distributed to residents… MORE

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July 2020

Congratulations to Sideya Sherman!

Dear Colleagues, We are proud to announce that Sideya Sherman, NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Community Engagement & Partnerships (CEP), has been named the Executive Director of the City’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity. The Taskforce, which is co-chaired by First Lady Chirlane McCray, Deputy Mayor J. Phillip Thompson, and Deputy Mayor Dr. Raul… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

Checking in With Each Other

NYCHA’s Community Engagement & Partnerships Staff Make 100,000 COVID-19 Wellness Calls The dedicated and hardworking staff from NYCHA’s Community Engagement & Partnerships Department have made over 100,000 “wellness check” phone calls during the COVID-19 pandemic to date, resulting in nearly 60,000 personal conversations with our most vulnerable residents, including seniors, to make sure that they… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

Kudos to Marcia Babb-Rhine, Administrative Manager in Community Development

Anette Barry, Financial Officer of the Saint Mary’s Park Houses Tenant Council (pictured above), sent the below letter about Marcia Babb-Rhine, Administrative Manager in NYCHA’s Community Development Department, who is enrolling seniors in the GetFoodNYC program during the pandemic. Regarding her efforts, Ms. Babb-Rhine noted: “The seniors I enroll in the GetFoodNYC program are very… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

Thanking NYCHA’s Essential Workers

New York Knick Taj Gibson grew up at Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn and has never forgotten the people or place that helped shape his childhood. In May, he went back to Ingersoll to acknowledge staff members —part of NYCHA’s team of 9,000 essential workers — for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his Taj Gibson Foundation, he provided them with free lunches as a thank you.  “We thought it would be a… MORE

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July 2020

Complete the 2020 Census!

There’s still time to complete the 2020 Census! The more New Yorkers who complete the census, the more money our neighborhoods get.  Completing the census is critical for the future of New York City. The census determines how important resources and political power are distributed, including funding for affordable housing, hospitals, public education, senior centers, roads, and more.   The census is easy, safe, confidential, and takes… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

Working Together for Residents

NYCHA is working with a number of partners, including the Mayor’s Office and various government agencies, non-profits, elected officials, and resident associations, to ensure residents have the resources they need during the COVID-19 pandemic, including food, masks, and hand sanitizer.  In mid-April, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office announced that all residents in NYCHA’s senior buildings would be enrolled in the City’s food delivery program… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

Practicing Tennis at Home

Children across the city are adapting to a new normal brought about by COVID-19: online learning, closed playgrounds, and being indoors a lot more. Kings County Tennis League (KCTL), a non-profit that provides tennis and youth development to children living in and around NYCHA developments in Brooklyn, has been trying to provide its students with a sense of continuity and normalcy through virtual tennis sessions at home, as well as by making sure students’ families have the food and other resources they need during… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

NYCHA ThankstThe Shawn Carter Foundation and #startsmall for Helping Residents Buy Groceries

Thanks to a generous donation from the Shawn Carter Foundation and #startsmall, every household at Marcy, Sumner, and Tompkins Houses received a supermarket gift card to assist in purchasing the food they need.  The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardships for many New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents, and access to food has been the most basic necessity that… MORE

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July 2020

June 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 June! 5 Years of Service Bartlett, Josephine Anne Boundy, Emma Catherine Buckland, Douglas Charles Canady, Katrina Cesar, Kerly Davis,… MORE

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COVID-19July 2020

Summer Resources

Summer in New York City is going to be different this year. As the city begins slowly re-opening, we still need to wear face coverings, maintain social distancing, and practice good hand hygiene, though there are still many ways to have fun this summer.  Here are some resources to help you have a safe and enjoyable summer.  Recreation  There are miles of city streets that are closed to through-traffic so that pedestrians, bicyclists,… MORE

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COVID-19June 2020

Celebrating NYCHA Heroes: Yuet-Sim Cheung

Sybille Louis, Director for Performance Tracking and Analytics, praised Yuet-Sim Cheung and her team: “Yuet-Sim Cheung, Assistant Director in the Performance Tracking and Analytics Department, has been instrumental in providing complex data analyses involving demographics of our residents. Her unit has also created various maps of NYCHA developments to assist with NYCHA’s planning and response efforts. Early… MORE

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COVID-19June 2020

Celebrating NYCHA Heroes: Adiba Chowdhury

Kudos to Adiba Chowdhury, Legislative Coordinator in the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, from Brian Honan, Vice President of Intergovernmental Relations, and Erin Burns-Maine, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Relations: “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Adiba has worked tirelessly to communicate important information out to community leaders, partners, and elected offices. She is responsible for… MORE

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COVID-19June 2020

NYCHA’s Resident Leaders Helping Their Communities

When Carmen Quiňones first heard news of COVID-19 affecting New Yorkers, she knew she wanted to take action to help the seniors at her Manhattan development, Douglass Houses, where she serves as Resident Association President.  Ms. Quiňones contacted La Fonda Boricua restaurant owner James Gonzalez for assistance. The restaurant is participating in the World Central Kitchen’s COVID-19… MORE

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June 2020

May 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 May! 5 Years 10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years 35 Years Abdur-Rahman, Nafeesa Ades, Constantine… MORE

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COVID-19May 2020

Rising to the Occasion

The Heroes of the Heating Management Services Department (HMSD) From Javier Almodovar, Director of the Heating Management Services Department: “While the HMSD management team would like to commend the following employees, I want to send kudos to the entire department for their diligence and their commitment to the residents we serve. I am proud to… MORE

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COVID-19May 2020

Kudos to the West Brighton Houses Team

From Cesar Gonzalez, Acting Director of the Queens/Staten Island Property Management Department: “Property Maintenance Superintendent Ms. Eva Gonzalez, Property Manager Ms. Gloria Fields, and their staff at West Brighton Houses are exemplifying true commitment to the residents we serve. They are conducting muster outside, practicing social distancing, and communicating important messages to staff every day.… MORE

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COVID-19May 2020

Covering Each Other

Atoms Shoe Company Donates Over 20,000 Masks to NYCHA Residents Thanks to its buy-one, donate-one campaign, a Brooklyn-based shoe company, Atoms, is donating over 20,000 face masks to NYCHA residents. Atoms started producing the masks in April in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is donating one mask for every mask that it sells.… MORE

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May 2020

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 Adolph, Conroy Everton Alvarado, Kristopher E Andrews, Selwyn Florian Bencosme, Enio Rafael Blair, Hilen… MORE

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April 2020COVID-19

Mayor’s New Plan to Combat COVID-19 at NYCHA

Ensuring NYCHA Residents Are Safe and Supported The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing the challenges New Yorkers are facing, including for NYCHA’s 400,000 residents. On April 22, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a new plan to expand the City’s response to COVID-19 at NYCHA to ensure that these hardworking New Yorkers are safe and supported during this crisis.    “NYCHA residents… MORE

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April 2020

NYCHA Women and the Vote

Throughout March, the contributions women have made to society are honored and recognized during the national Women’s History Month celebration.  This year’s theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote,” which pays tribute to the women who marched and fought for women’s voting rights, as well as the women of today who continue to advocate for voting rights for all.   The NYCHA Journal spoke to two women, NYCHA residents actively engaged in their… MORE

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April 2020COVID-19

The Heroes of ESD

NYCHA’s Emergency Services Department Steps Up During COVID-19 Crisis “I would like to thank all my colleagues in the Emergency Services Department (ESD) who are showing up every day to assist NYCHA’s residents, as they do every day and night. I am extremely proud of my team for their dedication, flexibility, and understanding during this… MORE

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March 2020

Meet Latonya Grimes

I have been at NYCHA for over 20 years. Currently I’m an Assistant Property Manager in Queens. Previously, I worked at many housing developments in Queens as a Housing Assistant, and was an Assistant Property Manager at Johnson Houses in Manhattan. I have also worked in the Management Services Department’s Business Improvement Division, which was… MORE

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