NYCHA Now

November 2017

IT News and NotesNovember 2017

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… Read More Think Before You Click

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November 2017

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… Read More A NYCHA Love Story: Longtime Edenwald Residents Celebrate Their 74th Wedding Anniversary

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News to UseNovember 2017

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… Read More The Great American Smokeout: Today’s the Day to Quit

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November 2017

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… Read More New Construction to Benefit 1,500 NYCHA Residents

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News to UseNovember 2017

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… Read More Apply Now for the 2018 Hayes Prize

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November 2017

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,… Read More REES Recognized for Entrepreneurship & Employment Programs

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News to UseNovember 2017

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… Read More Groundbreaking Legislation Provides Paid Safe Leave to Victims of Violence

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November 2017

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… Read More New Jobs Plus Center Builds Futures for Penn-Wortman Residents

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November 2017

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… Read More Gotham Gazette: De Blasio’s Record on NYCHA

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November 2017

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… Read More NYCHA Changemakers: Putting Our Core Values to Work

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Employee VoicesNovember 2017

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… Read More Customer Service Week Shines a Light on NYCHA’s Core Values

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November 2017

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… Read More NYCHA Tech Pilots Winners Announced

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Employee VoicesHighlightedNovember 2017

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… Read More Building Bonds of Trust

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HighlightedNovember 2017

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… Read More Good Service Comes in 34 Languages

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HighlightedNovember 2017

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… Read More Pomonok Houses Builds a Playground

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FeaturedNovember 2017

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… Read More Round the Clock Caretakers Improve Service and Customer Satisfaction

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