[BwayDems] Fwd: NYCHA's Winter Preparation and a Green New Deal for Public Housing: NYCHA Need To Know

Fri Dec 6 07:46:51 EST 2019

Date: Thu, Dec 5, 2019 at 8:24 PM
Subject: FWD: NYCHA's Winter Preparation and a Green New Deal for Public
Housing: NYCHA Need To Know

For residents and their allies

*Current Information for NYCHA Residents and Advocates*

Upcoming Events

*Oversight Hearing on NYCHA's Winter Preparedness*

When: Wednesday, December 18, 10 a.m.

Who: NYC Committee on Public Housing

Where: Committee Room, City Hall

This hearing is open to the public. Residents are welcome to testify on
their experiences and concerns about current or potential heating outages
this coming winter.
News From Washington

*A Green New Deal for Public Housing*
• Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders
released a plan to undertake decarbonization and address capital repairs in
the nation’s public housing.
• Costs are estimated from $119 to $172 billion over the next ten years.
• Read the summary report
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=http://filesforprogress.org/reports/green-new-deal-public-housing-national-summary.pdf&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
.

Federal Monitor: News and Views

*The Second Quarterly Monitoring Report*
• In November, the monitor released the Second Quarterly Report.
• It assessed NYCHA efforts to comply with the HUD-NYC agreement on rapidly
improving living conditions.
• Although NYCHA has not met all deadlines, the assessment is generally
positive about ongoing efforts.
• Here's a summary
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://nychamonitor.com/second-quarterly-report/&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
.
• And here's the full report
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://nychamonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/NYCHA-Monitor-Second-Quarterly-Report-11.1.19-FINAL.pdf&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
.

*The Cost of Monitoring*
• Questions have been raised whether the cost of federal monitoring—about
$12 million a year—will be worth the benefits.
• Here's more from The City
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://thecity.nyc/2019/11/nycha-monitor-12-million-budget-includes-600-an-hour-pay.html&utm_campaign=mailchimp&utm_source=daily&utm_medium=newsletter&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
and the New York Post
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://nypost.com/2019/11/26/nychas-federal-monitor-makes-nearly-600-an-hour-under-12-million-contract-records/&mc_cid=7e4b1e9019&mc_eid=51fabf27a0&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
.

*Preventing Fraudulent Management Practices*
• To prevent fraudulent management practices during federal inspections,
the monitor has empowered NYCHA to bring criminal charges against personnel
who are involved.
• Here's more from the Daily News
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-nycha-monitor-inspections-20191119-y4v3uhu2anbehl6cxzzodshfc4-story.html&fbclid=IwAR3JyTQEeS_&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
and The City
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://thecity.nyc/2019/11/nycha-workers-tried-to-fool-hud-on-building-repairs.html&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
.

*Alternative Work Schedules (FlexOps) Catches Flak*Last month, a Manhattan
Supreme Court judge temporarily halted the program to extend property
management shifts, based on worker safety concerns.
• This month, the monitor’s report criticized the program
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/change-in-ha-workers-schedules-hindering-repairs-monitor-says/article_4252d9ce-017b-11ea-9dd3-e31cd975a956.html&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
for lengthening repair times and understaffing developments.

*NYCHA Handling of No-Bid Contractors Comes Under Criticism*
• No-bid contracts to select contractors has been criticized
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://thecity.nyc/2019/11/no-bid-contractors-now-a-target-for-nychas-federal-monitor.html&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
as costly and producing shoddy work without adequate oversight.

Preventing Heating Outages This Winter
• The NYC Congressional Delegation is concerned about heating outages this
winter
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-nycha-congress-heat-hot-water-monitor-aoc-engel-meng-velazquez-20191120-66hrlrqnfbfa7clorcbwtntmpi-story.html&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>,
demanding NYCHA release a heating action plan before it is too late.
• Although the state has released $450 million for boiler and elevator
replacements, it will take several years to carry out
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://thecity.nyc/2019/11/nycha-tenants-wont-see-new-state-funded-boilers-soon.html&utm_campaign=mailchimp&utm_source=daily&utm_medium=newsletter&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
.

NYCHA Residents Fight Back
• NYCHA residents are speaking up
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://www.newyorkcountypolitics.com/2019/11/21/nycha-officials-get-earful-from-tenants-electeds/&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
at town hall meetings.
• Attorney General Tish James is backing a resident class action lawsuit
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-nycha-attorney-general-letitia-james-amicus-20191203-gbvwr3tbs5fdhn4xf6sitcnage-story.html&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
being brought against NYCHA for breaking the state “warranty of
habitability” law.

NYCHA Chelsea Working Group Still At Work
• The Working Group set out to in late October to develop a
community-initiated plan
<https://www.cssny.org/news/entry/nychas-dilemma-moving-ahead-by-working-with-communities?org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
to preserve Fulton Houses, Chelsea-Elliott Houses, and Chelsea Addition.
• So far, it has met six times and conducted two public meetings
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=https://chelseacommunitynews.com/2019/12/02/fulton-chelsea-elliott-working-groups-public-meeting-invites-tenant-input/&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
to engage the larger community.
• Its initial December deadline has just been extended.

With NYCHA in flux, this is a crucial time.

Residents and their advocates need to know what’s happening and how they
can have a stronger voice in decisions that affect them. *That is why the
Community Service Society (CSS) has launched "NYCHA Need to Know," a
monthly newsletter that will provide:*

• Current, reader-friendly information about policy issues and
changes—city, state, and Washington—that impact NYCHA residents.

• Action alerts about upcoming hearings, press conferences, mobilizations,
forums, and other events.

• Easy ways to send messages to elected officials and decision-makers.

• Links to articles, reports, other more detailed information sources.

You will receive "NYCHA Need to Know" unless you ask to be taken off our
email list. Please ask your neighbors and friends if they want to be
plugged in and added to our email list.

Contact info at cssny.org
<http://www.cssny.org?org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>

[image: Facebook /CSSNYorg] <http://www.facebook.com/CSSNYorg/>
[image: Instagram @CSSNYorg]
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=http://www.instagram.com/CSSNYorg&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>
[image: Twitter @CSSNYorg]
<https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/fwd.htm?redirect=http://www.twitter.com/CSSNYorg&org=1900&lvl=100&ite=124&lea=323&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a2A2L000001Z7OLUA0>

Community Service Society - 633 Third Ave 10th Fl - New York, NY 10017
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