Meet Arturo Vargas, Supervisor City Laborer for Mold Remediation 

As the supervisor city laborer for mold remediation at NYCHA, Arturo Vargas was ready to take on the challenge of battling mold.  

He knew that by helping to rid apartments of mold growth, he would be ensuring a healthier environment for residents in their homes and improving their quality of life. 

“I was ready for the challenge, and at the same time, I wanted to help the tenants,” said Mr. Vargas, recalling the time he joined NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR), a division of the Healthy Homes Department, in April 2021.  

Mr. Vargas, whose mother is a former resident of Manhattan’s Dyckman Houses, said he can relate to the experience of residents and wants to do his part to make sure they feel comfortable and safe in their apartments.  

“When I come into the home, I just want to help [residents] as best as I can with all the resources that I have,” he said. “I follow up with them and I want to make sure they’re okay and are able to live healthy – that is the main concern.”  

Mold remediation employees are tasked with cleaning apartment ceilings, walls, and surfaces where mold may develop; removing the potential hazards; and clearing ventilation systems and exhaust fans in the bathroom to prevent the spreading of mold.  

“Wherever mold is at in any areas of the apartment, we’re there to clean it,” Mr. Vargas stated. “We try to make it so the apartment can be like brand new, where you can smell the freshness.”  

OMAR Senior Director Elena Tenchikova said: “Arturo has demonstrated over and over again his commitment to NYCHA, the team, and our mission. He is very committed to his work and goes above and beyond to make sure the job is completed. He represents NYCHA with pride, and we are proud to have him as part of the OMAR team.” 

In supervising the mold removal teams, Mr. Vargas said he typically pairs two workers for each job site, ensuring they have personal protective equipment and the proper tools to fully clean the impacted spaces. Working out of a fully equipped van, Mr. Vagas said that upon his crew’s arrival at a NYCHA development, he notifies property managers and superintendents of the team’s plans to respond to mold work orders.  

He also makes sure to meet with the residents to explain the work process, including why it’s important to remove potential mold hazards, and recommend any follow-up repairs by a painter or plasterer.  

“My job is to make sure the residents are happy with the work outcome,” said Mr. Vargas, who will be honored with a 2023 NYCHA Safety Award by the Environmental Health and Safety Department.  

Noting that OMAR workers can more effectively eliminate mold if they can determine its source and respond in a timely manner, Mr. Vargas advises residents, “If you see it, make sure you report it.” 

Mr. Vargas said he is thankful for the opportunity to serve NYCHA residents throughout the city and he will continue to work to help the Authority’s mold remediation program succeed.   

“I love the program and I’m proud of my team, who are the ones that execute this work,” he said. “I’m just happy that I can do something for NYCHA and make a difference for residents; this is why I’m here.” 

For more information on mold remediation, click here. 

To report mold, call the Customer Contact Center at 718-707-7771 or use MyNYCHA (www.nyc.gov/MyNYCHA). 

Featured photo caption: Supervisor City Laborer Arturo Vargas works out of a fully equipped van when responding to mold work orders across NYCHA.