March Work Anniversaries
On a monthly basis, 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 March!
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Author: Michael Corwin
News from the Chair on Funding
Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to be able to share some very significant and positive news with you. Congress passed a bill that increases our funding to levels we have not seen in decades. We will be able to more aggressively address repair needs in our buildings with a 46% increase – $160 million more… MORE
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Cathy Pennington Appointed EVP of Operations
Cathy Pennington has been appointed Executive Vice President (EVP) of Operations. In this role, Cathy will oversee the activities of the Operations Division, comprised of approximately 8,700 staff in three divisions: Property Management, Support Services, and the NextGeneration Operations (NGO) Department. Cathy has served as Acting EVP of Operations since December 2017. She first joined… MORE
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Free Tax Prep for New Yorkers Earning $54,000 or Less
Many tax sites promise fast filing and instant refunds. Yet users often find that they are paying more than they thought for service and getting less in return. To ensure that you get the most from tax credits and refunds, NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) is once again offering the Virtual… MORE
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Snow Day Cleanup
NYCHA staff arrived to work at 7 a.m. the morning of the March 21 nor’easter to begin snow removal, keeping our residents safe. Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye checked in with Smith Houses staff and Resident Association President Aixa Torres. Chair Olatoye and General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo also visited Jefferson Houses with Mayor Bill de Blasio and… MORE
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Read All About It: NYCHA Performance Stats Available in Real Time
NYCHA residents can use new digital tools on the NYCHA website to track NYCHA’s progress on repairs and construction. Outages Dashboard: The improved “Outages Dashboard,” which tracks heat and hot water outages, is automatically updated multiple times each day. Visitors to the site will now have the same information NYCHA has about when an outage… MORE
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Make a Difference in Your Workplace – Join the Employee Engagement Committee
We are excited to announce the application period for the second cohort of NYCHA’s Employee Engagement Committee (EEC). This is an opportunity for NYCHA employees from all titles to help your colleagues be productive and creative in their work; enhance their own professional development; and assist NYCHA in achieving its goal of preserving public housing… MORE
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Major Study Finds Lighting Cut Crime by 39%
In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the New York City Police Department and the New York City Housing Authority, the scientific research team Crime Lab designed a six-month randomized controlled trial involving nearly 80 public housing developments, all of which had elevated levels of crime. About half of the developments received new,… MORE
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Chair Olatoye’s Fourth Anniversary Tour
On March 2, Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye marked her fourth anniversary with NYCHA by spending the day meeting with staff and residents at a number of developments. Despite heavy rain and winds, Chair Olatoye met with residents and staff at Dyckman Houses in Manhattan, Ravenswood Houses in Queens, Sumner Houses in Brooklyn, and Middletown Plaza in… MORE
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NYCHA Celebrates International Women’s Day
Dear Colleagues, Today is International Women’s Day, an annual commemoration to celebrate women’s accomplishments and bring worldwide attention to discrimination against women. NYCHA’s creation is in large part due to the work of larger-than-life women like Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of New York and then the United States, and Mary K. Simkhovitch, president of the… MORE
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Change Lives: Sign up for SYEP!
For over 50 years, the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) has been a valuable source of job training, income, and education for young people living in NYCHA’s developments. In fact, many of our colleagues got their start with NYCHA through SYEP. “As a 14-year-old growing up in Jefferson Houses, I obtained my first SYEP… MORE
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Black History Month Celebration Honors NYCHA Veterans
NYCHA celebrated Black History Month with a lively gathering in the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room on February 28. In recognition of this year’s national Black History Month theme of “African Americans in Times of War,” Chair Shola Olatoye acknowledged the veterans in attendance: “You represent not just NYCHA’s core values of collaboration and respect,… MORE
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NYCHA’s Hope
By Nayaba Arinde, Amsterdam News, March 1, 2018 Relentless and vitriolic has been the focused assault on NYCHA in general and the city agency’s Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye in particular. “I am solution-based,” Olatoye said in an exclusive interview this week. As she wrangles the burgeoning behemoth of a city within the city, “Let’s… MORE
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“A Home to Be Proud Of”
What are residents supposed to do if they get locked out of their apartment? How can they join their development’s resident association? Need to know more about NYCHA’s pet policy or how to properly dispose of garbage, including recyclables? Get information on these topics and many more in NYCHA’s handbook for residents, A Home to… MORE
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Spreading the Word
As our current Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) members’ annual terms come to a close, we have shifted our efforts to engaging colleagues in the work we have been doing. At January’s meeting, we made plans to visit employees in a variety of locations to discuss NYCHA’s core values and the new Changemakers Campaign, which features… MORE
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NextGen Neighborhoods Development at La Guardia Houses Moves Forward
NYCHA and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) released a request asking developers to submit proposals for a new mixed-income building at La Guardia Houses. Half of the units in the building will be rented at market rates while the other half will be affordable housing. As part of the… MORE
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February Work Anniversaries
On a monthly basis, 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 February!
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Spotlight on IT Department Employee Nina Winer
As a member of NYCHA’s IT Project Management Office, Nina Winer knows that information security is the responsibility of every single NYCHA employee. She strives to show employees how, through careful and intelligent use of technology, we can help safeguard NYCHA’s systems and data while fulfilling our mission of providing safe, clean, and connected housing… MORE
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Sharing Success
On February 22, the Authority held its first “speed mentoring” event for members of the NYCHA Youth Leadership Councils (YLC). Sixty high school students were connected to sixty mentors for a series of short and focused one-on-one conversations aimed at building their networking and public speaking skills. The mentors, who volunteered their time, included professionals… MORE
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Four Years of Progress Under Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye
Over the past four years, under the leadership of Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, NYCHA has made critical advancements to improve customer service, repairs, and permanent renovations. Listen to NYCHA employees and residents talk about the Authority’s progress.
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Celebrate Black History Month with Us!
Dear Colleagues, Black History Month is an opportunity to remember our past and celebrate our accomplishments. This history is all of our stories — hard work in the face of unimaginable obstacles, ordinary lives lived, and extraordinary achievements that continue to shape every aspect of the American experience. We need to look no further than… MORE
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Recovery to Resiliency
On February 14, NYCHA released a 2017 End of Year Report on the $3 billion FEMA grant to the Authority to repair and renovate the 33 NYCHA developments devastated by Superstorm Sandy. The FEMA grant, awarded in December 2015, is the largest in history. NYCHA’s report accounts for all money previously spent on recovery and resilience… MORE
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Chair Olatoye’s Statement on the President’s Budget
“Public Housing is a critical resource which keeps New York City running by providing affordable homes for both the City’s public servants, like our nurses, teachers, and police officers, as well as seniors, veterans, and the disabled. No one should be displaced from their community because the federal government has turned its back on them,… MORE
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“Shola Olatoye Deserves Our Support”
“City & State” published an op-ed written by Hazel N. Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference, on February 7, 2018: There is a special vitriol our media and political class reserve for powerful women of color. Today, New York City’s Public Housing Authority Chairwoman Shola Olatoye is on the receiving end of it.… MORE
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Clean, Green Comfort
Over 65,000 residents can look forward to upgrades to the lighting, heating, building ventilation, and water conservation systems at their developments. In March 2018, NYCHA will begin construction on two new Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) at 41 developments worth $103 million. The upgrades will save NYCHA $8.6 million a year and reduce energy use at… MORE
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PACT Bringing Major Renovations and Repairs for 1,700 Apartments
NYCHA has chosen three developers (see list below) to provide $300 million in repairs and renovations to 1,700 apartments at 17 developments in the Bronx and Brooklyn, improving quality of life for 4,000 residents by replacing elevators, boilers and heating systems, and renovating bathrooms and kitchens. Residents in these developments will see $316 million invested… MORE
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Apply Now for an Affordable Apartment in Harlem
Applications are being accepted now through April 6 for affordable apartments in a newly renovated building, Randolph Houses North, which was once part of the Authority’s Randolph Houses development. Through a partnership of NYCHA, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the NYC Housing Development Corporation, Trinity Financial, West Harlem Group Assistance, Red Stone… MORE
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HelpMeQuit
From the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene comes a new tool in the battle to quit smoking: the NYC HelpMeQuit app. Developed with input from smokers trying to quit, HelpMeQuit includes tips to stop cravings; social support from other people using the app and Facebook friends; connection to existing smoking cessation resources (such… MORE
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Mayor Supports NYCHA Heat Upgrades
Nearly 45,000 NYCHA residents at 20 developments with chronic heat outages will see their aging boilers replaced and heating systems upgraded by 2022. Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged $200 million for repairs and new equipment, which will also save about $5 million per year in energy costs. The funding will be used to: Replace outdated boilers: 10… MORE
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Sterling Members of NYCHA’s Team
Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, NYCHA’s Director of Public/Private Partnerships and the President of the Fund for Public Housing, and Sideya Sherman, NYCHA’s Executive Vice President for Community Engagement and Partnerships, were among the 48 leaders selected to join the Sterling Network NYC. The first network of its kind in the city, the Network was created by the… MORE
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Pairs with Purpose
In October, Deputy Director for Community Safety Strategies Andre Cirilo organized a fundraiser on Staten Island that raised more than $1,000 and collected nearly two dozen boxes of supplies for victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. Recently, he and members of NYCHA’s Culture & Arts Exchange employee organization partnered with Why Not Care, a… MORE
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Black History Month
Dear Colleagues, February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the major contributions African Americans have made to all facets of American life, from the advancement of equal rights to excellence in the arts and sciences. We remember those who came before us, whose perseverance in the face of adversity continues to inspire. And… MORE
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Safeguarding Our Seas
Daryl Grey, a 14-year NYCHA veteran, supervises a team of four technicians who configure and deploy Android smartphones and tablets and perform high-level repairs at the Authority. As a volunteer, Mr. Grey also commands a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Auxiliary flotilla (unit) based in Sheepshead Bay. He appoints the Flotilla Staff Officers, leads and supervises… MORE
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January Work Anniversaries
On a monthly basis, 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 January!
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Phishing 101
In January, NYCHA rolled out a new cyber awareness training program. As part of the program, network users received suspicious email messages known as fake phish and then training assignments from the NYCHA Cyber Awareness Team. The Cyber Awareness Team is led by Information, Security, and Risk’s Chief IT Auditor, Jeffery Benson, and composed of… MORE
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Mayor Appoints New GM
NYCHA announced on January 22 that Michael Kelly is stepping down from his role as General Manager, effective February 22. Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Vito Mustaciuolo as acting General Manager while NYCHA performs a nationwide search for the position. Mustaciuolo was formerly the Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services at the… MORE
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NYCHA Is Hiring!
NYCHA is recruiting now for temporary and permanent positions at developments throughout the five boroughs. If you know anyone who might be interested, please have them call (212) 306-3922 or (212) 306-3608 to schedule an interview. Oil Burner Specialist (temporary position): Interested candidates may submit a cover letter and resume to www.nyc.gov/careers/search (search for JOB ID# 318197) Maintenance Worker… MORE
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NYCHA’s Youth Leaders Get Connected
Youth Leadership Council member Mya Pyle (at right in the photo above) receives a free tablet from Curtis Williams, Manager of NYCHA’s Resident Engagement Department. All 150 members of NYCHA’s 15 Youth Leadership Councils got free tablets courtesy of T-Mobile, NYCHA, and the City of New York that they can use for developing projects to help their communities. In 2016,… MORE
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From Caretaker to Supervisor: An NRTA Success Story
Karen Callender never pictured herself in a career involving manual labor – but when she saw information about the NYCHA Resident Training Academy (NRTA) in The NYCHA Journal soon after her corporate office position of 14 years had been eliminated, she wanted to try something new. The NRTA, managed by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic… MORE
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The New Year Brings a New Senior Center to Red Hook
Red Hook East Houses residents Gertrude “Trudie” Holzendorf, 94, and Candida Delgado, 88, had been anxiously waiting for this moment for five years. On December 15, they got a sneak peek at the new Red Hook Senior Center; the former center had been destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The center officially opened for programming in January. Ms.… MORE
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A NYCHA Alumnus Partners with the Authority
In October, as the deputy chief operating officer of the City University of New York (CUNY), Ron Spalter represented CUNY at the launch of NYCHA’s announcement of its first large-scale solar energy program. He’d come a long way from the NYCHA development where he started his life in 1946. Mr. Spalter lived with his parents… MORE
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First Class of Sandy Pre-Apprenticeship Program Graduates
Wyckoff Houses resident Alex Rodriguez wants to become an electrician and join a union. NYCHA’s Pathways to Apprenticeship helped him create a road map to reach that goal. On November 6, Mr. Rodriguez and 22 fellow NYCHA residents graduated from the first class of Pathways to Apprenticeship. The program, for NYCHA residents affected by Superstorm… MORE
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NYCHA’s Holiday Bash
Employees from across the Authority dressed up and boogied down on December 19 at the New York Marriott in Brooklyn to celebrate the holidays and a year of hard work and many successes.
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Kickstart Your Career
Employees seeking a new position or promotion at NYCHA can now receive individualized career counseling from an HR expert. This new service, launched January 2, provides a one-on-one assessment session covering: civil service examinations; occupational groupings; civil service titles and classification; appointment status; training and development; and promotions and other advancement opportunities. Employees can also… MORE
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The Elected Officials’ Guide to NYCHA
NYCHA’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations (known as “Intergov”) acts as a liaison between the Authority and elected officials at all levels (city, state, and federal). The Intergov team works with elected officials to craft legislation, organize capital funding, and make sure their constituents have safe, clean, and connected homes. Intergov partners with a variety of… MORE
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December Work Anniversaries
On a monthly basis, NYCHANow will recognize the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in December!
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Working Up a Storm
Even before “Bomb Cyclone” Grayson arrived in New York on January 4, many NYCHA residents were struggling with heat and hot water outages across the five boroughs due to an early cold spell that began just after Christmas, testing NYCHA’s aging infrastructure. In response to the extremely cold weather, NYCHA staff have been working 24/7 to… MORE
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Now That’s NextGen!
It was a typical day for Dominique Derville, a housing assistant at the CCC Walk-in Center in Brooklyn, as she cheerfully answered the questions of residents and Section 8 voucher holders and made sure they understood the information she provided. Little did she know, however, that some of these residents were really staff from the… MORE
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A Festival of Lights
Batei Tsibur, NYCHA’s organization of Jewish employees, ushered in Chanukah with its annual celebration on December 12, the first night of this eight-day “Festival of Lights.” Revelers lit the Chanukah menorah, sang traditional songs, and enjoyed refreshments and each other’s company. Batei Tsibur President Alan Pelikow discussed how Chanukah – “dedication” in Hebrew – commemorates… MORE
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Ask Me Anything
During a meeting live-streamed to property management and central offices citywide, Chair Shola Olatoye answered questions submitted by staff about the Authority’s lead-based paint program. If you missed it, watch the recording below (the password is askshola). Stay tuned for future “Ask Me Anything” sessions, and start jotting down some questions!
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Congratulations to Capital Projects
The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) recognized NYCHA’s excellence in managing a $5 million security enhancement project with the 2017 CMAA Project Achievement Award in the category of residential/mixed-use construction under $10 million. To improve residents’ security and quality of life, NYCHA installed 239 CCTV cameras and layered access control at 45 buildings in… MORE
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Crime Drops at NYCHA
Crime is down 7 percent at NYCHA this year, with decreases in all five boroughs. ABC 7 covered this news in a recent broadcast. “In 2017, we made great progress in combating serious crime and safety issues across the Authority,” explained NYCHA’s Vice President for Public Safety “Chief” Gerald Nelson. “The Mayor’s Action Plan and… MORE
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Prosperity Now!
On November 28, Tischelle George, NYCHA’s Senior Advisor for Community Engagement and Partnerships, participated in a panel discussion at a conference in Washington, DC, titled “Catalyzing Economic Mobility and Inclusion through Affordable Housing and Financial Capability Integration.” While the conference name might be a mouthful, its intentions were simple: Ms. George discussed how City agencies… MORE
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A Tree Unites the Community
This season, a holiday tradition was revived at Betances Houses thanks to the efforts of the South Bronx Youth Leadership Council (SBYLC): decorating a community Christmas tree. On December 4, nearly 30 seniors from Betances, Adams, and Saint Mary’s Park Houses joined 70 children from the BronxWorks Betances Community Center, plus SBYLC members and NYCHA… MORE
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Chair Testifies at City Council Hearing
On December 5, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye appeared before the New York City Council’s Public Housing Committee to discuss the facts about lead paint compliance. Read her testimony here: http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/nycha/downloads/pdf/testimony-20171205.pdf
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Watch NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye on NY1
NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye appeared on NY1’s “Road to City Hall” with Errol Louis to discuss NYCHA’s lead-based paint inspection and remediation program. Watch it here:
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‘Tis the Season
Join your friends and colleagues at the New York City Housing Authority Holiday Party! Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 6 PM – 10 PM The New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn Purchase your ticket today! Tickets are $45 per person, which includes appetizers, assorted soft drinks, coffee, tea, and music. The Holiday… MORE
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Dinner Is Served
Residents who were without cooking gas due to building repairs weren’t without a tasty meal this Thanksgiving, thanks to 41 NYCHA staff who generously donated their time. They provided a complete Thanksgiving feast to nearly 400 households at eight developments. Food was donated by Whole Foods and Hillsong Church NYC; volunteers distributed meals from the… MORE
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The Chair’s End-of-Year Message
Dear Colleagues, 2017 was a year of accomplishment and challenge. Your commitment and hard work has resulted in significant progress on our NextGeneration NYCHA goals. On behalf of the 1 in 14 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am proud to work beside you and look… MORE
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NYCHA Chair on Leonard Lopate
On November 21, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye visited WNYC’s “The Leonard Lopate Show” to discuss the state of public housing. Listen to the interview here: http://www.wnyc.org/story/shola-olatoye/
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New Plan to Protect Resident Health
NYCHA’s Plan to Address Potential Lead-based Paint Hazard Compliance Issues NYCHA has taken immediate and long-term actions to improve our program for inspection and remediation of potential lead-based paint hazards, fix the gaps in compliance with New York City and federal laws, and improve resident health: NYCHA is creating an Executive Compliance Department reporting directly… MORE
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Bring It On Home
This fall, NYCHA’s softball team, the Skyliners, really knocked it out of the park. This is the first time in their four-year history that the Skyliners won an NYC Government Softball League playoff game, beating the Human Resources Administration. The weekly games aren’t just a good way to show off athletic skills and blow off… MORE
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Chair Olatoye “In Focus” on NY1
Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye discussed NYCHA’s lead-based paint compliance program with Cheryl Wills on “In Focus,” a NY1 news program. The segment aired on December 10, but you can watch it below. Cheryl Wills grew up in Hammel Houses in the Rockaways.
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New Chief Compliance Officer
On November 20, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of Edna Wells Handy to the New York City Housing Authority’s Executive Compliance Department as Acting Chief Compliance Officer. Handy will begin full-time in December. Handy currently serves as legal Counsel to the NYPD Commissioner, and previously served as Commissioner of the City’s Department… MORE
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NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye on NY1
On December 5, NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye appeared on NY1 to discuss NYCHA’s lead-based paint inspection and remediation program. Watch the interview below:
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Think Before You Click
Early this month, a NYCHA employee received a suspicious email and contacted the NYCHA Information Security Hotline at (212) 306-8006. Here’s why the email looked suspicious: The email looked like it came from Dropbox, but there were some unusual markings on the letters ‘r’ and ‘x.’ The employee did not recognize the sender: jandrews@andrewsconverting.com The… MORE
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“The Boss at NYCHA Deserves Support”
The Daily News published an op-ed written by Deborah Wright, formerly a NYCHA Board Member and Commissioner of the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, on November 25, 2017: “Lead paint is a serious issue, no question, but the evidence shows… MORE
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A NYCHA Love Story: Longtime Edenwald Residents Celebrate Their 74th Wedding Anniversary
On November 15, 2017, Edenwald residents Charles and Arlanda Solomon will celebrate 74 years of marriage. The couple says the secret to maintaining a loving and lasting marriage is “to be patient, to truly listen to one another, and to always respect each other!” Charles and Arlanda met in 1941 in Washington County, Georgia. Mr. Solomon… MORE
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The Great American Smokeout: Today’s the Day to Quit
Every year in November, the American Cancer Society hosts The Great American Smokeout – a day to encourage smokers to quit or to begin putting a plan in place to quit smoking. For a smoker, cutting out cigarettes is never easy, but there are many resources available to help encourage success. Did you know? Last… MORE
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New Construction to Benefit 1,500 NYCHA Residents
On October 27, NYCHA started construction on a $123 million Recovery to Resiliency project at Redfern Houses in Far Rockaway, Queens. NYCHA will replace all nine of the development’s roofs, install cameras, renovate playgrounds and lighting, and build a new community center that will house a childcare center and full back-up emergency power generators. The project, which… MORE
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Making a Splash
Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, NYCHA’s Director of Public/Private Partnerships and the President of the Fund for Public Housing, was honored for her work to support low-income New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents, by + POOL at the nonprofit organization’s Fall Swim Gala. In 2016, + POOL began offering children living in public housing with free swim lessons through… MORE
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Apply Now for the 2018 Hayes Prize
The annual Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize recognizes individual City employees or teams of employees who develop or enhance innovative programs, processes, or technologies that significantly improve service delivery to the public. In partnership with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), this year the prize will award up to $7,500 to an individual or up… MORE
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REES Recognized for Entrepreneurship & Employment Programs
It wasn’t awards season yet, but REES received back-to-back kudos this past summer and fall. In August, Nan McKay & Associates (NMA) bestowed its 2017 Resident Service Award to REES for the life-changing work of its Food Business Pathways program (read more about the program in a recent NYCHANow article). For more than 35 years,… MORE
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Groundbreaking Legislation Provides Paid Safe Leave to Victims of Violence
On November 6, Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation that expands paid leave to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking survivors. This new law will allow the nearly 3 million New Yorkers eligible for paid leave to attend to immediate safety needs without fear of penalty or loss of income. “No New Yorker should… MORE
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Holiday Volunteering
Dear Colleagues, We need your assistance! There are gas outages at some of our developments, and service will not be restored by Thanksgiving. To ensure that our residents enjoy a holiday meal, we are delivering meals to them. In addition, we will also be hosting a toy drive for the families impacted by the gas outages. In… MORE
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Lending a Hand to Americans in Need
J.A. Stakenburg, Director of NYCHA’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), spent 15 days in Puerto Rico to help the island recover from the catastrophic destruction of Hurricane Maria. The co-lead and operations section chief of an interagency team sent by the State of New York to assist, Mr. Stakenburg managed the efforts of experts from… MORE
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NYCHA’s Going Solar
NYCHA launched its first large-scale solar program, which will use light and heat from the sun to provide clean, low-cost energy to low- to moderate-income New Yorkers, including public housing residents. The program will also create jobs for NYCHA residents in the growing solar industry. NYCHA is looking for developers to install solar power on… MORE
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Safe, Clean, and Connected: NYCHA Makes Seniors Comfortable
I moved into Wise Towers when my wife and I got married in 1972, and 45 years later I still call it home. I raised three daughters in this wonderful community. From the day we opened the door to our new apartment, Wise Towers offered the best of New York City. Neighbors from all walks… MORE
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Celebrating Diwali
NYCHA’s Asian American Association ushered in Diwali, the ancient Hindu festival of lights, in a lively celebration on October 25 at DC 37 headquarters. General Manager Michael Kelly greeted attendees, noting that he appreciated “the opportunity to reflect on the significance of Diwali, which celebrates the inner light within all of us – the spirit… MORE
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Running Ideas with the Chair
To celebrate NYCHA’s Brooklyn developments, Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, Fund for Public Housing President Rasmia Kirmani-Frye, other NYCHA staff, NYCHA Youth Leadership Council participants, and community members kicked off the first annual NYCHA Fun Run with a spirited jog from Howard Houses to Armstrong Houses on October 27. Start training now for the next… MORE
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New Jobs Plus Center Builds Futures for Penn-Wortman Residents
When Sherwin Darden, a Penn-Wortman Houses resident, walked into the new Jobs Plus Center in his neighborhood, he didn’t have a Social Security card, government identification, or health care, let alone a job. Now he’s got all of those, and he’s helping his neighbors too. He’s been hired by the center to be a community coach… MORE
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Gotham Gazette: De Blasio’s Record on NYCHA
Despite steadily shrinking federal support for public housing, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has made significant gains in public safety and in balancing its annual operating budget under Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is up for reelection on Tuesday. His support for NYCHA, where about half a million low-income New Yorkers live, has… MORE
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NYCHA Changemakers: Putting Our Core Values to Work
As part of NYCHA’s celebration of Customer Service Week, an email from Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced the new Changemakers campaign. “As NYCHA’s Customer Service Week comes to a close, I am proud to announce the launch of the NYCHA Changemakers campaign, which showcases NYCHA employees who are guided by NYCHA’s core values to create… MORE
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Customer Service Week Shines a Light on NYCHA’s Core Values
In light of Customer Service Week, the Employee Engagement Committee’s (EEC) October meeting focused on the service we offer to residents and other stakeholders. EEC members discussed instances where good customer service reinforced our core values as well as some cases where poor customer service detracted from them. We examined how we can continue improving… MORE
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NYCHA Tech Pilots Winners Announced
Seven technology startup companies are the winners of the first-ever NYCHA Tech Pilots, a real estate technology competition to find new and creative solutions to strengthen and modernize public housing. The winners are: BlocPower, Carbon Lighthouse, Enertiv, hOM, Numina, Pansofik, and Radiator Labs. NYCHA Tech Pilots was launched by the Fund for Public Housing, a nonprofit dedicated to investing in NYCHA residents… MORE
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Building Bonds of Trust
James Scanlon, Vice President, Capital Projects/Planning and Design: On October 19, several staff members from the Capital Planning Group in Capital Projects accompanied me on a site visit to Rutgers Houses to spend time with frontline staff and to acknowledge Customer Service Week. We were greeted professionally and enthusiastically by the management office staff, including… MORE
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Good Service Comes in 34 Languages
NYCHA’s Language Bank Volunteers provide language assistance to the Authority’s limited English proficient residents, applicants, and Section 8 voucher holders, ensuring they have access to information and resources in their original languages. On October 20, 2017, these employee-volunteers were recognized for their service. NYCHA’s Language Bank began in 1990 with 44 employee-volunteers who spoke eight… MORE
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Pomonok Houses Builds a Playground
On November 4, volunteers transformed an unused recreational area at Pomonok Houses in Queens into a safe, fun, beautiful playground. It took just six hours for residents, neighbors, and volunteers from NYCHA, KaBOOM!, Playworld, and JetBlue to pour and lay concrete, paint a basketball court and playground floors, and assemble playground equipment to build a… MORE
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City Hall in Your Borough: Manhattan
NYCHA joined Mayor Bill de Blasio for “City Hall in Your Borough: Manhattan,” from September 25 to 29, spending the week focused on the needs and concerns of Manhattan residents. This was the fourth borough in the Mayor’s City Hall in Your Borough initiative. September 25 NYCHA Chair & CEO Shola Olatoye and Council Member… MORE
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Round the Clock Caretakers Improve Service and Customer Satisfaction
As part of NYCHA’s efforts to improve customer service, the Authority is piloting a live-in caretaker program at three senior developments in the Bronx: Boston Road Plaza, Middletown Plaza, and Twin Parks East. The live-in caretaker performs janitorial and maintenance work in the developments during regular business hours. As a resident of the development, he… MORE
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Cyber Security Awareness Month: Tips of the Week
As National Cyber Security Awareness Month comes to a close, here are the final tips of the week, as well as information about a valuable scholarship opportunity for current college students: Tips of the Week: Share with Care & Keep a Clean Machine Share with care. Think before posting about yourself and others online. Once… MORE
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How Dreams Are Made
NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways (FBP) program might just be responsible for the next Sylvia Woods, “The Queen of Soul Food” and founder of the famed Sylvia’s Restaurant in Harlem. FBP is a collaboration between NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), NYC Department of Small Business Services, Citi Community Development, Hot Bread Kitchen, Start… MORE
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Calling All NYCHA Actors!
Calling all NYCHA residents who love acting! The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute is offering two 12-week acting scholarships to qualified residents of the New York City Housing Authority. To participate, you must be at least 6 years of age and must audition and be interviewed. From October 31, 2017, to January 12, 2018, auditions will… MORE
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Tech Connect
On October 18, NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye was honored by Coalition for Queens (C4Q), a non-profit that is partnering with NYCHA to connect residents to job opportunities in the tech industry, at the organization’s fifth annual gala, Tech Bash. “A critical part of our NextGen NYCHA strategic plan is to connect residents to… MORE
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NYC Center to Open to Help Families Displaced by Hurricanes
Many individuals and families displaced by the recent hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other Caribbean islands have relocated to New York City to stay with family and friends. To connect these individuals and families to resources, the City has opened a service center to provide information and assistance to… MORE
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Cyber Security Awareness Month: Tip of the Week
How much do your “smart” devices know about you? These days our cars, fitness trackers, refrigerators, thermostats, and coffee makers can be connected to the internet and controlled through mobile apps. While “smart” technologies make our lives easier, they present new security risks. Limited privacy controls on internet-connected devices and apps may leave sensitive personal… MORE
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Customer Service Week Tip: Plan better meetings with POSDA!
We all spend a lot of time in meetings, so it’s critical that we use that time wisely. In keeping with our NextGeneration NYCHA goal to become a more efficient organization, we’re continually looking for new tools to improve collaboration, which is what meetings are all about. POSDA is a framework for planning and facilitating… MORE
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The NYCHA Journal Is Going Digital!
Dear Colleagues, Exciting news! The NYCHA Journal has gone digital. Available anytime, anywhere; on your tablet or phone, the new Journal allows you to share stories with friends and on social media, like this new story on the continuing success of our RAD program. The digital Journal is another change inspired by our NextGeneration NYCHA vision of safe, clean, and connected communities. We’re… MORE
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New CCC Features
Residents can call the Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771, push a few buttons, and automatically get help for a whole list of problems: toilet stoppages, plumbing leaks, malfunctioning refrigerators, pest infestations, broken lights, broken locks, electrical issues, and heat and hot water issues.
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