Over 200 residents from Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens recently had the opportunity to share their ideas and feedback on the future repairs and renovation work coming to their development during community visioning workshops led by NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization (Comp Mod) team. The workshops (held in Wyckoff Gardens in October and Gowanus Houses in November)… MORE
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On June 9, NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR) held a ceremony to recognize more than 50 staff who worked on NYCHA’s ventilation programs. Notably, OMAR staff completed an Authority-wide roof fan project, which involved replacing 6,188 roof fans and confirming that an additional 2,248 fans are functional and can be kept in… MORE
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When Edith Taylor-Campbell makes a commitment to serve, she turns it into a career. This can be said for both her work at NYCHA and service with the United States Army. The housing assistant joined the NYCHA workforce nearly three decades ago in 1994, while accumulating an equally impressive 26 years of military service with… MORE
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NYCHA Policy Advisor Debora Lopes discussed the latest developments in sustainability and wellness in built spaces at the 2022 Greenbuild International Conference in San Francisco last week. “It was fantastic to present on NYCHA’s decarbonization roadmap, especially our Clean Heat for all Challenge,” Ms. Lopes said. “Decarbonization in affordable housing requires ambitious policies and… MORE
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No one is more surprised than Motor Vehicle Operator Oren Boujo that his 33rd year as a NYCHA Fleet driver begins this November. “It’s amazing,” he said. “Who holds a job for 33 years?” Probably fellow Fleet Motor Vehicle Operator Kenneth Shindler: In January, he will begin his 31st year as a NYCHA Fleet driver.… MORE
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Sam Mordi might be moving on from his longtime career at NYCHA, but not without taking with him a wealth of appreciation from his colleagues. After working for 30 years in the Law Department, Mr. Mordi is retiring from his position as Deputy General Counsel for housing litigation on August 31. In recognition of his… MORE
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NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) Lead Oversight Team (LOT) oversees all lead-based paint (LBP) activities to identify, prevent, or correct any non-compliance with the applicable requirements. The team consists of three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified Risk Assessors who are led by a certified Field Supervisor. As part of NYCHA’s Lead Compliance Assurance program,… MORE
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For almost a decade, Shanna Castillo and her team have worked to continue to develop NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) — which connects residents to employment and career advancement, adult education and vocational training, financial empowerment, and business development — into a model of how partnership and access to opportunities can… MORE
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Like many who have worked extensively in government, Brian Honan knows that building relationships is key to advancing legislation and solving complex problems for people in the community. As Senior Vice President of NYCHA’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations, the bonds he has formed with NYCHA residents, members of the public, and elected officials are… MORE
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“Jobs don’t have genders,” says Judaline Cassidy, who first picked up plumbing tools 25 years ago and has been working in the industry ever since. Five years ago, she founded Tools and Tiaras, a non-profit committed to advancing the participation of females in traditionally male-dominated industries such as electrical, carpentry, plumbing, and auto mechanic trades.… MORE
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Teri Dawson has been a Neighborhood Administrator for Brooklyn Property Management since January 2022. Though the role is new for her, she’s been part of many memorable moments in NYCHA’s history as a 36-year NYCHA employee and a former resident of 26 years. “I came to NYCHA in 1984 as a baby, straight out of… MORE
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NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) Integrated Pest Management Oversight Team (IPMOT) oversees pest mitigation and extermination measures to ensure compliance with best practices and existing standard procedures, in accordance with the principles of NYCHA’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. As part of its work, the IPMOT: Conducts oversight inspections of staff providing pest… MORE
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The Junior Knicks are back at NYCHA. Following its inaugural season last year, the Junior Knicks Basketball League has returned with 25 sites across NYCHA slated to host games and skills and drills clinics this summer. In partnership with the Junior Knicks and the NYPD, NYCHA kicked off the 2022 league season with a community… MORE
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Meet Ernesto Rodriguez, Administrative Training Coordinator at Learning & Development’s Maintenance Training Center Whenever Ernesto Rodriguez goes to a NYCHA development, he recognizes most of the property management and maintenance staff – because he trained them. Mr. Rodriguez is the Administrator of HR’s Maintenance Training Center, which equips assistant superintendents, superintendents, and field staff with… MORE
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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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A resident of Brooklyn’s Boulevard Houses, Lisa Gladden has worked at NYCHA for about 22 years. Most of that time was spent at Sumner Houses in Brooklyn, where she served as a secretary before accepting the housing assistant job at Breukelen Houses nearly two years ago. Ms. Gladden started her career at NYCHA through the… MORE
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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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Dear Colleagues, The passage this month of the Public Housing Preservation Trust by the State legislature is truly a momentous occasion in the history of public housing – here in New York City and across the nation – and a big step forward for NYCHA residents. The Trust will allow us to complete billions of… MORE
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Running strong for nearly 30 years, NYCHA’s Running Club took on yet another J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge race in Central Park on June 2. Eleven of the club’s members gathered to represent NYCHA this year in the Corporate Challenge, an annual 3.5-mile road race that takes place in 15 locations across the world and aims… MORE
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For two years, 11 NYCHA residents sharpened their knowledge of public housing, leadership skills, and organizing as part of NYCHA’s first cohort of the Resident Leadership Academy. They graduated from the program in December, ready to put their skills into action at their developments and in their communities. The Resident Leadership Academy (RLA) is a… MORE
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As part of the NYCHA 2.0 Waste Management Plan and related efforts to better manage waste across the Authority, NYCHA’s Sustainability Programs Department coordinated the installation of in-sink food waste disposers at three initial developments: Meltzer Tower, Baruch Addition, and Two Bridges in the Lower East Side. Food waste disposals reduce the amount of organic… MORE
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At the December NYCHA Board meeting, General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo announced the retirement of James Secreto, Chief of the NYPD’s Housing Bureau, whose 2,100 officers patrol NYCHA developments. Following the announcement, Chair Greg Russ presented Chief Secreto with a plaque recognizing his work in maintaining safety at our developments. Chief Secreto began his NYPD career… MORE
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New York is home to about 115,000 speakers of Bengali, the sixth most spoken language in the city. As a volunteer with NYCHA’s Language bank, Avik Das, a management auditor at the Authority, helps Bengali speakers who have limited English proficiency get access to the public housing and Section 8 programs, driven by his conviction… MORE
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On December 16, about 230 NYCHA staff came together at the NYPD headquarters’ cavernous auditorium to discuss “opportunity, transformation, and excellence,” the theme of the Quarterly Leadership Meeting. Director of Community Development Leroy Williams kicked off the daylong event: “We’re bringing back this NYCHA tradition because it’s a great way to discuss where we are… MORE
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CBS New York reported on NYCHA’s efforts to ensure consistent heat service for residents. Watch it here:
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Denise Guess, Administrative Community Relations Specialist in the Resident Engagement Department, was honored on December 11 with the prestigious 2019 Isaac Liberman Public Service Award. Sponsored by The Hundred Year Association of New York, comprising companies, religious institutions, and non-profit organizations that are over 100 years old, the award has been presented to outstanding New… MORE
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Every September during National Preparedness Month, Americans are encouraged to get prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. Since 2013, NYCHA’s Emergency Services Department (ESD) has actively promoted that effort by ensuring its staff is well trained and properly equipped to address challenges that arise from gas leaks, floods, power failures,… MORE
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To improve service to residents and their quality of life, NYCHA is implementing significant health and safety-related improvements Authority-wide while continuing its focus on accountability and integrity. As part of this work, NYCHA created three new departments: The Compliance Department, which ensures that the Authority meets its legal, regulatory, and ethical responsibilities; The Environmental Health… MORE
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As part of its “International Day of Older Persons” celebration on October 1, CABS Homecare honored several members of the community who work hard to improve the quality of life for seniors in our city. One of those recognized at the ceremony in Brooklyn was one of NYCHA’s own: Karen Patterson, Deputy Director of the… MORE
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The community came together to breathe new life into a mural at the entrance of the senior center at Astoria Houses in Queens. The mural, which was created in 1981, depicts Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his monumental “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Rosa Parks sitting peacefully but… MORE
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Welcome to the Compliance Department’s first newsletter! Who Are We? The Compliance Department was created as part of the January 31, 2019 Agreement between NYCHA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The department is led by Acting Chief Compliance Officer… MORE
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NYCHA hosted a job fair at 250 Broadway on July 12 that resulted in job offers for 36 of the pre-screened attendees. The job offers were for positions at NYCHA such as Construction Project Manager (Levels 1-3), Industrial Hygienist, and Construction Inspector. In addition to on-the-spot interviews, the job fair featured a presentation from the NYC… MORE
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They are the next generation of social workers, advocates, journalists, IT professionals, doctors, teachers, and public servants – NYCHA residents pursuing their degrees at City University of New York colleges, and this year’s recipients of NYCHA-CUNY Resident Scholarships. On September 17, NYCHA and CUNY celebrated 25 residents for their academic excellence, leadership, and contributions to… MORE
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One of Chair & CEO Greg Russ’s top priorities during his first 100 days on the job is to meet with NYCHA residents and staff across the city to hear how we can best work together to make progress. In addition to joining residents for Family Days and holding discussions with Resident Association members, Chair… MORE
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On the morning of August 29, Plasterer Jerzy Skiba and Plasterer’s Helper Joseph Hunter were about to do some plastering work in a bathroom at Mitchel Houses in the Bronx, a routine repair, when a fire broke out in the apartment’s bedroom. By acting fast, and heroically, they potentially saved many lives. Mr. Skiba and… MORE
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June 20 was a typical day at work for Anita McDougald, a Referral Associate in NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES). Her regular duties include speaking with residents who call the REES hotline seeking more information about available services and job opportunities, as well as greeting residents who come to the REES… MORE
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More than 2,700 NYCHA residents in Bushwick, Brooklyn, will see major repairs and renovations to their homes, scheduled to be completed in 2021. Approximately 1,315 apartments at Hope Gardens, Palmetto Gardens, Bushwick II (Groups A & C), Bushwick II (Groups B & D), and Bushwick II CDA (Group E) will benefit from complete kitchen and… MORE
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A new mural series at the Lillian Wald Senior Center vividly showcases the rich history and culture of immigrants who shaped the Lower East Side and continue to shape the community. Unveiled on July 10, “Roots/Raíces” is a series of five colorful murals on 1,200 square feet of the center’s exterior walls. The mural project… MORE
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Dear Colleagues: I am incredibly honored to be appointed Chair and CEO of the New York City Housing Authority by Mayor Bill de Blasio. As the nation’s largest public housing authority, NYCHA leads the way in demonstrating the importance of investing in and preserving affordable housing. And I appreciate the Authority’s critical role in the… MORE
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NYCHA is piloting a faster way to handle garbage pickup with the use of six new, 100 percent electric-powered tilt trucks. The trucks will also improve development cleanliness at six sites and reduce the Authority’s vehicle-related carbon emissions. These electric-powered vehicles can carry up to 1,000 pounds of trash each trip and will enable property… MORE
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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss This summer, NYCHA’s youngest residents are going on amazing new adventures found in the pages of books. During the month of June, NYCHA handed out 62,700 free books to children and… MORE
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NYCHA staff members were recognized recently by Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin for their hard work helping to reduce the rat population at developments where they were most problematic. On July 29, NYCHA staff, along with employees from the city’s Departments of Education, Mental Health and Hygiene, Sanitation, and Parks & Recreation, were singled… MORE
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NYCHA activated its Situation Room at 90 Church Street from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21 to centralize its efforts to handle issues arising from the heat wave that struck the city during that time. It included representatives from departments such as the Office of Emergency Management; Emergency Services; Operations; Capital Projects; Maintenance, Repairs,… MORE
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Over the course of five days, Charles Starks, Assistant Superintendent at Queensbridge Houses North, and Julio Figueroa, Assistant Superintendent at Queensbridge Houses South, joined a group of their colleagues at a special training to learn the ins and outs of inspecting mold, identifying its underlying causes, and using new tools to efficiently identify and remediate… MORE
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It was a momentous day for NYCHA and the future of New York City’s public housing as partners cut the ribbon to celebrate $560 million in completed upgrades to Ocean Bay Apartments in Far Rockaway, Queens. This was NYCHA’s first, and the country’s largest, single-site conversion under HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), switching 1,395 apartments… MORE
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As part of NYCHA’s efforts to reduce the rat population, 57 developments are receiving extra help tailored to each development’s specific needs – that includes dry-ice abatement treatments, more exterminators, new trash bins, and new interior and exterior compactors. In addition, NYCHA is replacing 50 dirt basements with concrete and installing 8,000 door sweeps on… MORE
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On May 2, NYCHA’s M/WBE & S3BC Procurement Fair at the Johnson Community Center at Manhattan’s Johnson Houses drew over 260 M/WBE and S3BC vendors looking to learn about the numerous contracting opportunities available at NYCHA and other organizations – one of the biggest turnouts ever for the annual event. M/WBEs are “minority- and women-owned… MORE
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For nearly four months this past year, Ajene Eustace, Director of the Capital Projects Division’s (CPD) Construction Safety & Quality Department, spent one day a week discussing and learning with his colleagues across City government about how to lead organizational change at their agencies as part of the NYC Leadership Institute. Mr. Eustace joins other… MORE
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This past winter season, NYCHA’s Situation Room was activated on 10 separate occasions for extreme cold and snowstorms. NYCHANow spoke with Rudy Murillo, NYCHA’s Director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), to learn more about how the Situation Room operates in its mission to help safeguard the Authority’s residents, staff, and property during emergency… MORE
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Through this NYCHANow feature, employees write about their careers at the Authority. If you’d like to share your story, please send an email to nychanow@nycha.nyc.gov. On February 22, 2011, I started my career as a fulltime employee of NYCHA as a Caretaker J at Williamsburg Houses, after coming through NYCHA’s Resident Training Academy. During my first… MORE
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Every year, NYCHA developments produce nearly 200,000 tons of waste. Managing such a large amount of waste and the pests it attracts is a daily challenge. This month, the Authority released its NYCHA 2.0 Waste Management Plan to tackle this challenge and improve resident quality of life by making NYCHA developments visibly clean and free of pests… MORE
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In May 2000, I graduated from Utica College with a Bachelor of Science degree in public relations and journalism. Nineteen years later, students from my alma mater visited me at NYCHA to learn more about careers in the communications industry. This past March, NYCHA was one of the first stops for the school’s “Communications in… MORE
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NYCHA’s Employee Engagement Committee (ECC) monthly meetings provide us with the knowledge needed to help create a more productive and collaborative work environment. So it wasn’t a surprise that an area of concentration that is sometimes overlooked was highlighted for EEC members by Celeste Segure, NYCHA’s Director of Equal Opportunity, at the EEC’s February meeting. Ms.… MORE
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On April 15, Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Interim Chair and CEO Kathryn Garcia and General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo at the Williamsburg Community Center in Brooklyn to kick off NYCHA’s new lead-based paint testing program. For the first time ever, 135,000 apartments will be tested with portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers. Surpassing local and federal… MORE
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If it hasn’t come to your development yet, it will soon: a 55-inch, interactive touch-screen monitor that can support everything from video conferencing and training webinars to real-time updates on each development’s work orders and potential emergencies. You can also use these “Smart Screens” like computers to access NYCHA Connect, NYCHANow, and The NYCHA Journal… MORE
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For the fourth consecutive year and for the fifth time, NYCHA received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) last August. GFOA created the award program in 1984 to recognize state and local governments that prepare budget documents of the highest quality, as established by the National Advisory Council on… MORE
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For the past 85 years, tens of thousands of women have worked at NYCHA, helping the Authority provide affordable housing to low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. Currently, women make up nearly half of NYCHA’s employees. This year, we closed Women’s History Month by featuring interviews with NYCHA employees working in non-traditional careers for women. The… MORE
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NYCHA residents ended Black History Month with a musical celebration that highlighted legends and the achievements of African Americans throughout the country’s history. On February 28, more than 300 residents from developments across the city filled the Johnson Community Center in Harlem for the event hosted by NYCHA’s Family Partnerships Department. Audience members were treated… MORE
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This spring, NYCHA will begin lead-based paint testing of approximately 135,000 NYCHA apartments citywide. NYCHA recently selected seven contractors to provide lead-based paint inspection services: Airtek Environmental, Arc Environmental, ATC Group, JLC Environmental, Lew Corporation, The ALC Group, and TRC Environmental. The $88 million contract starts April 1 and continues through September 30, 2020. Contractors… MORE
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General Manager Vito Mustaciuolo ushered in the Lunar New Year with NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association on February 14 at the Jing Fong restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown. About 200 employees and guests enjoyed a nine-course banquet, Chinese dance performances, a tai chi demonstration, and a visit from ancient China’s “King of Fortune.” General Manager Mustaciuolo delivered greetings… MORE
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If you’ve called NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center (CCC) recently, you may have noticed a new feature that allows you to receive a callback instead of waiting on hold. The new option was launched in January to improve customer service for residents. The callback feature lets callers know the estimated wait time and gives them the… MORE
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NYCHANow is introducing a new feature in which employees write about their careers at the Authority. If you’d like to share your story, please send an email to nychanow@nycha.nyc.gov. Since October 2007, I have worked at REES’s central office at 787 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I conduct one-on-one assessments and use… MORE
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Dear Colleagues, I am excited to introduce myself as NYCHA’s new Interim Chair & CEO. For years, I have worked on behalf of my fellow New Yorkers to ensure they receive the best essential services from the City. As Senior Advisor for Citywide Lead Prevention, I led the development and launch of LeadFreeNYC, a comprehensive… MORE
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As part of the NextGen Office initiative, NYCHA’s IT Department continues to improve the technology available at development offices to help staff work more efficiently. Below are some programs that will launch this year; each involves virtual training, help desk support, and, in some cases, on-site training. NextGen Smart Screens: A 55-inch, interactive touch screen… MORE
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Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the launch of Alternative Work Schedule (AWS), a new way of scheduling certain front-line staff that ensures greater coverage at our developments. For the first time in about 50 years, we will have caretakers, their supervisors, assistant resident building superintendents, and resident building superintendents working at our developments… MORE
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Dear Colleagues, On January 31, Mayor Bill de Blasio, HUD Secretary Ben Carson, and the Southern District of New York (SDNY) announced a settlement to improve the lives of the 400,000 New Yorkers who call NYCHA home. As part of this agreement, the City will invest an additional $2.2 billion in the Authority, and HUD… MORE
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NYCHA’s Executive Vice President (EVP) for Leased Housing Lakesha Miller recently participated in three events hosted by partner organizations who opened or are in the process of building new affordable housing in the city. As the largest Section 8 program in the country, NYCHA is providing project-based Section 8 vouchers for these developments to help… MORE
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Seven NYCHA developments across Manhattan will receive $13 million in safety and security upgrades thanks to a new grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). More than 6,000 public housing residents will benefit from upgrades that include new facades, exterior LED lighting, and CCTV cameras at seven developments. As part of the new upgrades… MORE
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For five weeks, Evan Solomon experienced the ins and outs of a large, fast-paced governmental agency, when he worked at NYCHA as part of the Coro Fellows Program, a post-college leadership program where the city is the classroom. Mr. Solomon is a Public Affairs Fellow in the program, which was founded in 1942 to prepare… MORE
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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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Today, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff unveiled NYCHA 2.0, a comprehensive plan to preserve public housing. This plan will address $24 billion in vital repairs to New York City’s aging public housing and ensure residents have the safe, decent, and affordable homes they deserve. The 10-year plan will deliver… MORE
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As part of Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC goal to make New York the most equitable city in the world, City government has pledged to award $20 billion in contracts to minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE) by the year 2025. NYCHA is an important contributor to this effort: Since the goal was announced, it has… MORE
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NYCHA closed more than 800 maintenance work order requests in one day at five developments as part of the Authority’s proactive initiative to eliminate repair backlogs. While developments have limited staffing during most weekends, Patterson Houses in the Bronx, Kingsborough Houses in Brooklyn, Baruch Houses in Manhattan, Ravenswood Houses in Queens, and West Brighton Houses… MORE
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As part of a lively celebration at City Hall on December 5, Kim Truong, Community Coordinator for NYCHA’s Health Initiatives unit, received the “Outstanding Agency Collaboration” award from the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for her work on Thrive NYC’s Mental Health First Aid program. ThriveNYC is a multi-agency initiative spearheaded by First Lady… MORE
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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 November!
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The years of disinvestment have eroded our buildings and, in a similar fashion, our morale. The conditions and the times we face can be summed up in one word: adversity. NYCHA is facing a critical time of adversity and all of us in the room for the Employee Engagement Committee’s (EEC) monthly meeting were aware.… MORE
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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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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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The MyNYCHA portal and mobile app was recently recognized as a digital tool that improves services for residents when it was named winner of a 2018 Government Experience Award by the Center for Digital Democracy. The Center is a national organization focused on technology policy and best practices in government. Its Government Experience Award is… MORE
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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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The Employee Engagement Committee’s (EEC) October meeting was filled with enthusiasm. Meeting once a month with colleagues in all lines of work can be the best way to learn how to improve our workday. Chatting before the meeting started, EEC members shared stories of what each of us does at NYCHA. Although we were unaware that the… MORE
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In partnership with the Police Athletic League, NYCHA hosted the “Senior Health and Musical Festival” at Polo Grounds Towers’ community center in September. Seniors from a variety of developments got everyone moving by performing jazz, blues, gospel, and opera classics. Participants also got access to a range of health resources, including blood pressure, asthma, and… MORE
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The total renovation of Harlem’s historic Randolph Houses is now complete, thanks to the efforts of NYCHA and a range of partners from the public and private sectors. Randolph Houses’ 36 buildings on West 114th Street were built in the 1890s and acquired by NYCHA in the 1970s. The first phase of the renovations, which… MORE
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NYCHA Management Trainer Sue Ellen Doria kicked off a recent “Exceptional Customer Service” training class with an essential, and not so theoretical, question: “What does exceptional customer service mean to you?” She then summed up the purpose of the day: “We want you to have the courage, wisdom, and heart to provide that service. We… MORE
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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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Although it was a sweltering day in August, the Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) was out in full force for a walking tour of First Houses in Manhattan, NYCHA’s first development. This was our first activity as a group since the EEC’s initial cohort “passed the torch” to us, the second cohort, in July. At first… MORE
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Whitman Houses resident Skye Carson, 14, wants to be a writer or a lawyer in the future, two careers that require good communication skills. This summer, she greatly improved those skills while working at NYCHA through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). SYEP, which is is operated by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, provides… MORE
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For the first time in their five-year history, NYCHA’s softball team, the Skyliners, made it to the top of the NYC Government Softball League, with 10 wins and only 2 losses! For the team’s players, it’s not just about playing a softball game but a way to get together after work, relieve some stress, and… MORE
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About 300 NYCHA employees attended the Authority’s fifth annual Safety Symposium on June 28 at the Johnson Community Center in East Harlem. Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff and Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd and Vice President Ruben Torres welcomed attendees – property managers, supervisors, and safety associates from across the city as well… MORE
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You may have met him – for 35 years, Senior Photographer Pete Mikoleski, armed with his trusty Canon camera, has chronicled important events at the Authority, capturing also the hard work of the employees who make it all happen. His work appeared in The NYCHA Journal, this publication, and a variety of informational materials for… MORE
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One of the goals of NYCHA’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is to help residents stay resilient and safe when faced with emergencies or disasters. OEM partnered with the New York State Citizen Preparedness Corps, which offers courses led by National Guard troops on how to prepare for emergencies. On June 19, seniors at the… MORE
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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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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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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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On June 13, NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association (CAA) and more than one hundred guests and participants gathered at 90 Church Street for a Dragon Boat Festival, a vibrant, annual celebration of Chinese history and culture. Nancy Lam, CAA Chair and Chief of NYCHA’s Leased Housing Department, kicked off the event by informing attendees that they could… MORE
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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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Through day-long, weekly workshops each spring, the City’s Management Academy helps new and emerging leaders in city government become better managers. NYCHANow spoke with a recent graduate, Alex Mathew, Deputy Director in the Leased Housing Department, about his experience in the program. Why did you decide to participate in the Management Academy? I first learned… MORE
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Evelyn Melendez was born and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, one of the neighborhoods she serves as a REES Zone Coordinator (the others are Bed-Stuy and Bushwick). She connects residents of 30 developments to partner organizations in their communities, enabling residents to pursue careers and empower themselves and their families economically. Her dedicated service has not… MORE
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Deputy Director for Real Estate Development Polina Bakhteiarov has been recognized as one of Real Estate Weekly’s 2018 “Rising Stars of Real Estate.” “As a public servant, I am very grateful to be recognized by the real estate industry,” Ms. Bakhteiarov told NYCHANow. “I am passionate about our work to preserve public housing and ensure… MORE
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