NYCHA Now

Author: Michael Corwin

January 2019

First Saturday Work Blitz of 2019 Closes Nearly 1,000 Work Orders

NYCHA closed nearly 1,000 maintenance work order requests across five developments in its first Saturday blitz of 2019, marking the most closed work orders on a single Saturday since the start of the Authority’s proactive initiative to eliminate its repair backlog. While NYCHA developments have limited staffing during weekends, Wagner Houses in Manhattan, Albany Houses… MORE

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January 2019

Happy New Year

Looking back on 2018, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the many achievements we have reached thanks to the dedication and hard work of each of you. The stories of the residents we serve, improving their lives and providing them with safer and decent homes, fill us with hope this holiday season… MORE

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January 2019

Visiting the Past

Two staff from NYCHA’s Department of Communications, Senior Manager for Events and Communications Services Millie Molina and Photographer Leticia Barboza, toured the La Guardia and Wagner Archives, located at La Guardia Community College in Queens, on December 6. According to Ms. Molina: “We got a glimpse of the Archives’ wonderful historical collection of NYCHA photos,… MORE

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HighlightedJanuary 2019

All in a Day’s Work: Mentoring and Inspiring

This past summer, Joseph Luciano, Senior Digital Producer in the Department of Communications, hosted two high school interns at NYCHA, providing them valuable guidance and hands-on experience as part of Futures and Options’ internship program. Due to the students’ successful engagement, the non-profit organization invited Mr. Luciano to be part of its “Careers in Technology”… MORE

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December 2018

Opportunity through Diversity

Chirag Patel, Senior Project Manager in NYCHA’s Capital Projects Division, was awarded the “2018 Outstanding Achiever” award by the National Association of Minority Contractors’ (NAMC) New York Tri-State Chapter during its Inaugural Gala on November 16. According to the NAMC, the award recognizes “people and organizations that have demonstrated innovative and creative strategies to remove… MORE

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December 2018

NYCHA’s Language Liaisons Help Provide Access to All

The Authority is committed to ensuring that all NYCHA residents, applicants, and Section 8 voucher holders, regardless of their proficiency in English, have access to quality customer service. In support of that commitment, NYCHA’s “Language Liaisons” convened on December 10 to discuss updates to the Authority’s language policies. These employees represent various departments at NYCHA… MORE

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December 2018

A Bright and Joyous Festival

On December 5, Batei Tsibur, the association of Jewish employees at NYCHA, held its annual Chanukah celebration. It was the fourth night of Chanukah, and members lit the menorah and recited the traditional blessings. Guest Speaker Rabbi Ben-Tzion Krasnianski, Executive Director of Chabad of the Upper East Side of Manhattan, discussed many aspects of Jewish life, including… MORE

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November 2018

$105 Million in Energy-Efficiency Upgrades Coming to 15 Developments

As part of NYCHA’s Energy Performance Contact (EPC) program, $104.6 million in upgrades are coming to 15 developments in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, home to 15,000 families. In partnership with Ameresco, an energy services provider, NYCHA will upgrade heating, lighting, and building ventilation systems and implement water conservation measures at these developments. Over… MORE

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HighlightedNovember 2018

NYCHA Staff Get Educated about Intimate Partner Violence

On October 30, Kevin Morris, a community liaison from the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) presented a workshop, Intimate Partner Violence 101, for property management and community center staff at Van Dyke Houses in Brooklyn. Since many NYCHA residents regularly meet with and confide in property management staff, NYCHA partnered with… MORE

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Employee VoicesHighlightedNovember 2018

Connecting Communities at NYCHA

NYCHA is working to update its urban design with residents and their neighbors in mind. Through the Connected Communities initiative, the Authority is comprehensively addressing the community connectivity of over 300 public housing developments across New York City. NYCHA’s new Connected Communities initiative seeks to make big changes to better connect NYCHA residents physically to… MORE

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HighlightedNovember 2018

Comprehensive Repairs for 62,000 Apartments

Innovative public-private partnerships, including the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, are bringing extensive repairs to 62,000 NYCHA apartments, home to about 140,000 residents. This will address nearly $13 billion of much-needed repairs. These apartments will be converted to Section 8 funding and will remain permanently affordable. Residents will keep all their rights as public housing… MORE

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IT News and NotesOctober 2018

October Is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

NYCHA is joining with the Department of Homeland Security to raise cybersecurity awareness for the 15th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Cybersecurity is our shared responsibility and we all must work together to improve our nation’s cybersecurity.” Be on the lookout for NYCHA’s new Cyber Awareness Training program, courtesy of the… MORE

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October 2018

Domestic Violence Awareness for Seniors

Domestic violence does not discriminate; it affects people of all races, cultures, genders, socioeconomic groups, and ages. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, NYCHA’s Community Engagement and Partnerships department held events to shine a light on how domestic violence can affect older adults. Approximately 500 seniors from various NYCHA developments attended two domestic… MORE

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October 2018

Join the NYCHA Board

Around November/December 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio will appoint one resident as a member of the NYCHA Board to fill a vacancy. Board members represent the more than 400,000 people who call NYCHA home when voting on contracts, resolutions, policies, rules and regulations, and other administrative matters. This is not a full-time position, but you should… MORE

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HighlightedSeptember 2018

Announcing the 2018 NYCHA-CUNY Scholars

They are the next generation of community advocates, social workers, medical staff, teachers, accountants, and public servants. But first, they’re NYCHA residents in pursuit of their educational dreams at City of University of New York colleges — and the 2018 recipients of NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships. The scholarships are given to residents who are full-time CUNY students displaying… MORE

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September 2018

NYCHA’s Sandy Recovery Work Sometimes Comes with a History Lesson

Before NYCHA’s Sandy Recovery and Resiliency team could begin major work at Baruch Houses in June, they called in urban archaeologist Dr. Joan Geismar to ensure that nothing of historical significance would be disturbed during construction. Baruch Houses is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan near the East River. Like most of New York City’s neighborhoods, it… MORE

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August 2018

National Night Out at NYCHA

National Night Out events bring together residents and their local police precincts to strengthen relationships and promote safer communities. On August 7, NYCHA General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo and other NYCHA executives celebrated the 35thAnnual National Night Out with residents, NYPD officers, community board representatives, and elected officials in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. At… MORE

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August 2018

A Nice Place to Play

NYCHA General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo (third from right in the top row above) and Council Member Antonio Reynoso (left of GM Mustaciuolo) celebrated Hylan Houses’ new playground alongside some happy kids from the neighborhood. The $325,000 playground renovation, which was funded by Council Member Reynoso, features a new sprinkler, equipment, hop-scotch court, game tables, benches, pavement, and safety surfacing.

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August 2018Highlighted

NYCHA Goes Smoke-Free

NYCHA developments are now smoke-free, a policy that provides healthier homes for residents and healthier working environments for employees. The “Smoke-Free NYCHA” initiative was developed as part of a new U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule for public housing nationwide that prohibits smoking in apartments and buildings or within 25 feet of… MORE

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August 2018Featured

Passing the Torch

NYCHA’s Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) strives to create a more inclusive environment for staff. The EEC partners with NYCHA leadership to champion a cohesive, collaborative organization that can bring about the Authority’s goals to change the way we do business as a landlord and create safe, clean, and connected communities for residents. EEC members are… MORE

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July 2018

Personnel Announcements

Dear Colleagues, I am excited to announce the appointment of new senior executives to our leadership team: Plachikkat V. (PV) Anantharam as Executive Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Kelly MacNeal as Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, and Vilma Huertas as Executive Vice President for Compliance and Chief Compliance… MORE

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July 2018

“NYCHA Cares” Kicks Off

The Authority launched NYCHA Cares, a new program that will address the backlog of more than 50,000 open skilled trades work orders in NYCHA apartments. Specialized work, such as repairs that require plumbers, electricians, plasterers, carpenters or painters, is in the highest demand due to long wait times. NYCHA Cares will pilot dedicated programming at… MORE

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Employee VoicesJuly 2018

Community Conversations on Smoke-Free NYCHA

If you haven’t already heard, all public housing across the country—including NYCHA homes—will go smoke-free as of July 30, 2018, following a requirement from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Smoke-Free NYCHA is designed to create healthier homes for residents and healthier working environments for employees by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. The program… MORE

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HighlightedJuly 2018

Driving Success

Waldina Benedith, a Section 8 voucher holder in Brooklyn, was so pleased with her recent experience using one of NYCHA’s Digital Vans that she took the time to send NYCHA an email praising the van’s operator, Malin Bey: This morning I found out about the Digital Van through NYCHA’s website, including its location on Warren… MORE

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HighlightedJuly 2018

Housing Court 101

NYCHA employees are getting some valuable information about housing court proceedings. This spring, Deputy General Counsel Sam Mordi, along with Landlord and Tenant Division Chief Tracy Forrest, brought some clarity to a complicated process. In nine sessions covering all five boroughs, more than 500 property managers, assistant property managers, and housing assistants got tips on… MORE

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July 2018

A Watchful Eye

A series of large screens on the wall monitor the CCTV security camera feeds from NYCHA’s central offices (250 Broadway, 90 Church Street, and Long Island City) as well as from the walk-in centers in Brooklyn and the Bronx; on the computer monitors below, footage from security cameras at 40 developments across the city can… MORE

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June 2018SafeNYCHA

Safety Comes First

In recognition of National Safety Month, here are some tips from NYCHA’s Office of Safety and Security for staying safe on the job and at home. Have questions? Contact the Office of Safety and Security at 212-306-8800 or SafeNYCHA@nycha.nyc.gov. Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls You might not think that slipping at home or tripping on… MORE

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June 2018

A Fresh, New Look

Through the NGO property management model, property managers can use their budgets to create “model” buildings, upgrading and renovating common area spaces to make them more welcoming to residents. Two buildings at Manhattan’s East River Houses got brand-new floor tiles and a fresh coat of paint (see above), and more paint improvements are coming to… MORE

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HighlightedJune 2018

Fun on the Run

On May 30, nearly a dozen members of NYCHA’s Running Club took part in the annual J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Central Park, and it was a good time for all. From left to right in the photo above, Maintenance Worker Alonzo Floyd, Senior Advisor Xiomara Carcamo, HR Deputy Director Robin Yudkovitz, Construction Safety &… MORE

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June 2018

Teamwork Is Beautiful

With just some paint, brushes, and a can-do attitude, NYCHA staff, residents, and other members of the community created a beautiful, nature-themed mural at Manhattan’s St. Nicholas Houses. In the words of Housing Manager Vivian Sifontes: “I got my staff involved in this mural painting project – as well as our Neighborhood Coordination Officers, partners… MORE

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