Res. No. 304
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A.9414/S.5806, in relation to authorizing the New York City Council to oversee the activities of the New York City Housing Authority.
By Council Members Avilés, Louis, Velázquez, Restler, Won, Hanif, Hudson, Ossé, Farías, Ayala, De La Rosa, Brooks-Powers, Schulman, Bottcher, Krishnan and Narcisse
Whereas, The New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA") is a public housing authority with 335 developments, and 177,611 units that are home to 547,891 authorized residents, through public housing, section 8, and NYCHA’s implementation of the federal rental assistance demonstration (“RAD”) program; and
Whereas, For the past decade, there have been numerous articles that have reported on the frequent service interruptions to heat and hot water, and to gas services at NYCHA developments; and
Whereas, On January 2019, federal and city officials agreed to the appointment of a federal monitor to help address the history of maintenance issues that have created health and safety hazards at NYCHA; and
Whereas, The federal monitor has been charged with approving action plans that require NYCHA to meet certain benchmarks to resolve reoccurring lead, mold, heat, elevator and sanitation issues, but tenants are still struggling to get repairs; and
Whereas, According to The City, an online publication, nearly four years after New York City committed $2 billion dollars to make building improvements, 92 percent of the 336 projects NYCHA intended to work on have yet to begin; and
Whereas, The same report stated that of the 24 projects that are underway, 92 percent of them have already had major postponements; and
Whereas, Some of the delayed projects included upgrades to heating systems, testing and cleaning for lead, upgrades to trash compactors and elevator repairs; and
Whereas, Tenants pay rent to NYCHA with a reasonable expectation for habitability and basic services, and NYCHA should be held accountable when it fails to make repairs; and
Whereas, Whereas, A.9414, sponsored by Assembly Member Edward Gibbs in the New York State Assembly, and companion bill, S.5806, introduced by State Senator Leroy Comrie in the New York State Senate, would increase the New York City Council’s ability to mandate NYCHA to produce reports and provide information the Council; and
Whereas, Allowing local elected officials to have more oversight over NYCHA’s operations would allow for more analysis over the effectiveness of programs, increase the transparency of NYCHA’s operations and help respond to conditions in a more timely matter; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A.9414/S.5806, in relation to authorizing the New York City Council to oversee the activities of the New York City Housing Authority.
JLC
LS 7954
06/08/2022