NYCHA Now

June 2022

Safety Award Nominations
Health & SafetyJune 2022
Michael Corwin

Nominate Yourself or a Colleague for a Safety Award

​In celebration of National Safety Month, which is every June, NYCHA is re-launching the Safety Awards Program. This year’s theme is “Safety Starts with Me,” which reaffirms the Authority’s commitment to preventing workplace injuries and to promoting workplace safety awareness. NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) is accepting nominations for the NYCHA Safety Awards… Continue Reading Nominate Yourself or a Colleague for a Safety Award

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Antonia Zambrano
Exceptional ColleaguesHighlightedJune 2022
Michael Corwin

Meet Antonia Zambrano, Assistant Director of LHD Central Office Operations

Twenty-three years ago, Antonia Zambrano submitted her resume at a job fair and shortly after became a NYCHA employee. Starting out as a Bilingual Housing Assistant for the Leased Housing Department, she is now the Assistant Director of the Leased Housing Department’s Central Office Operations. All of the positions Ms. Zambrano has held at the… Continue Reading Meet Antonia Zambrano, Assistant Director of LHD Central Office Operations

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DeCarlo Award winner Angel Martinez
Exceptional ColleaguesFeaturedJune 2022
Vincent Echavaria

Veteran Caretakers Presented with John DeCarlo Award for Exemplary Service 

NYCHA Caretaker Angel Martinez can often be seen wearing a smile as he works each day to maintain a safe and clean environment for residents and employees at Smith Houses in Manhattan.   Fellow veteran Caretaker Rebecca Miranda is well regarded for her customer service, which has helped make hers a familiar name among the residents… Continue Reading Veteran Caretakers Presented with John DeCarlo Award for Exemplary Service 

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June 2022
Vincent Echavaria

Residents Work with Professional Architect Mentors on Design Ideas for Wagner Houses 

When studying the urban landscape of his development, Wagner Houses, Erickson Diaz made sure to consider the needs of his fellow residents and how they use the spaces across the campus.   It was a tip that the aspiring architect picked up from professional urban designers who served as mentors for the spring class of… Continue Reading Residents Work with Professional Architect Mentors on Design Ideas for Wagner Houses 

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Betances ribbon cutting
June 2022Partnerships
Michael Corwin

Betances Residence Opens in the Bronx

On June 16, NYCHA and partners, including Breaking Ground (New York’s largest supportive housing developer), celebrated the opening of Betances Residence in the South Bronx. The new building brings 152 units of affordable and supportive housing to the Mott Haven neighborhood, in addition to a new community facility space and landscaped courtyard. Betances is a… Continue Reading Betances Residence Opens in the Bronx

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June 2022NYCHA Partners
Vincent Echavaria

Meet a NYCHA Construction Partner: STV  

As part of a new series, we’re featuring the construction partners who work with NYCHA to ensure safe and decent homes for residents across the city. In this first installment of our series, STV Vice President and Senior Project Manager Sokol Bejleri discusses the firm’s longstanding partnership that has resulted in numerous project milestones at… Continue Reading Meet a NYCHA Construction Partner: STV  

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CAA
Employee VoicesJune 2022
Michael Corwin

Spotlight on NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association

The Chinese-American Association (CAA) is one of many employee associations at NYCHA. The association was created almost three decades ago to promote Chinese language and culture and to strengthen bonds among co-workers. Currently, the CAA has more than 200 members, including several retired employees who remain active in the association.  In May, the CAA observed… Continue Reading Spotlight on NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association

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Exceptional ColleaguesHighlightedJune 2022
Vincent Echavaria

Meet Lisa Gladden, Housing Assistant at Breukelen Houses 

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… Continue Reading Meet Lisa Gladden, Housing Assistant at Breukelen Houses 

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Signing Trust legislation
June 2022Public Housing Preservation Trust
Michael Corwin

Governor Signs Legislation Establishing the Public Housing Preservation Trust

On June 16, Governor Kathy Hochul signed new legislation S.9409-A /A.7805-D establishing the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust and paving the way for the overdue repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of 25,000 apartments under control of the New York City Housing Authority. Governor Hochul signed the bills alongside New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Assembly Member Steven… Continue Reading Governor Signs Legislation Establishing the Public Housing Preservation Trust

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Cherry McCutchen
Employee VoicesHighlightedJune 2022
Michael Corwin

Meet Cherry McCutchen, Director of Learning and Development

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact and contributions of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.    “I’m ‘Cherry.’ I don’t ascribe to labels or pronouns. If someone asks how… Continue Reading Meet Cherry McCutchen, Director of Learning and Development

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News from the Chair
HighlightedJune 2022Public Housing Preservation Trust
Michael Corwin

Passage of the Public Housing Preservation Trust Legislation

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… Continue Reading Passage of the Public Housing Preservation Trust Legislation

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Jewish Heritage celebration
Employee VoicesJune 2022
Michael Corwin

NYCHA’s Jewish Heritage Month Celebration

On May 24, Batei Tsibur, NYCHA’s organization of Jewish employees, hosted its annual Jewish Heritage Celebration at the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room. This year’s guest speaker was Rabbi Eliezer Avtzon, who spoke about his recent trip to Europe to assist Ukrainian refugees impacted by the war. Rabbi Avtzon is the Director of the Global… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Jewish Heritage Month Celebration

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HighlightedJune 2022
Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA Runners Team Up for Corporate Challenge Race 

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… Continue Reading NYCHA Runners Team Up for Corporate Challenge Race 

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COVID test distribution
COVID-19June 2022Partnerships
Michael Corwin

Bringing COVID-19 Tests Close to Home

Since April, NYCHA, in partnership with resident associations, has been distributing free at-home rapid COVID-19 tests to NYCHA residents across the city. Each household is eligible to receive four tests (two test kits) along with two eight-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer. Over 600,000 test kits were provided to NYCHA by New York State for distribution.… Continue Reading Bringing COVID-19 Tests Close to Home

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June 2022
Vincent Echavaria

The Fund for Public Housing Names New Executive Director 

Alex Zablocki, a veteran public servant with experience working with nonprofit organizations and government agencies at all levels, was recently appointed Executive Director of the Fund for Public Housing.    Mr. Zablocki will be supported by Deputy Director Claire McLeveighn in leading the nonprofit Fund for Public Housing in its mission of enhancing opportunities and quality… Continue Reading The Fund for Public Housing Names New Executive Director 

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June 2022
Vincent Echavaria

Refurbished Basketball Court Opens for Play at Patterson Houses 

A newly upgraded basketball court dubbed by residents as “Patterson Square Garden” recently made its debut at Patterson Houses in the Bronx.  The court located near East 143rd Street received improvements such as new hoops, seating, surfacing, court markings, and painting. The approximately $500,000 project was funded by City Councilwoman Diana Ayala.   The court renovations… Continue Reading Refurbished Basketball Court Opens for Play at Patterson Houses 

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group of people in a room
June 2022
Latoya Jordan

Community Visioning for the Future of Todt Hill and St. Nicholas Houses

Residents of Todt Hill and St. Nicholas Houses recently had the opportunity to provide their ideas and feedback on the repair and modernization project coming to their developments as part of NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization initiative. Once complete, these large-scale renovations — $115 million for Todt Hill and $342 million for St. Nicholas — will drastically improve… Continue Reading Community Visioning for the Future of Todt Hill and St. Nicholas Houses

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