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Q&A
Addressing allegations of harassment and forced document signing
1:45:27
·
3 min
Council Member Mealy confronts NYCHA officials about allegations of harassment and forced signing of documents in RAD/PACT conversions. NYCHA's Simon Kawitzky states they want to know about specific instances of alleged harassment but admits they don't seek 100% consensus from residents.
- NYCHA claims to follow up on specific harassment allegations
- Admission that 100% resident consensus is not sought for RAD/PACT
- Discussion of NYCHA's tracking of harassment complaints
- Tension between NYCHA's statements and resident testimonies
Darlene Mealy
1:45:27
A lot of people still do not want to be in Rad and Pac and they saying that y'all moving straight along.
1:45:34
So you have to give me some kind of concrete document that say everyone said that they wanted to get Rad and Pac and the ones who said no, what are you doing to talk to them in regards to it?
1:45:49
Not threatening them.
Simon Kawitzky
1:45:50
Absolutely.
Darlene Mealy
1:45:50
Not demanding them sign.
1:45:52
And that's a issue also.
1:45:54
I don't understand why people are being harassed in order to sign documents.
1:46:00
Isn't that illegal?
Simon Kawitzky
1:46:01
So, well, with all respect for your questions, again, I I want to say that we don't seek a % consensus for from our residents before moving forward with the program.
1:46:15
And we don't expect that everybody would be in agreement all the time either.
1:46:20
If there are specific instances of alleged harassment or inappropriate communication with our residents at a PAC development or elsewhere, we definitely want to know about it and can follow-up because that's unacceptable.
1:46:37
But again, we're not we're not required to hold a vote or to ask every resident if they want to participate in the PACT program before actually bringing that program to their development.
Darlene Mealy
1:46:48
So how y'all in charge of all of them.
1:46:51
How many people have told you that they have been harassed?
1:46:55
Are y'all keeping a database on them?
Simon Kawitzky
1:46:59
Ref any refer any referral to to our to NYCHA or our office is gonna be followed up on.
1:47:05
Again, we really benefit from specific cases so that we can get to the root of whatever is going on.
Darlene Mealy
1:47:12
Cases.
1:47:13
We just had Stuyvesant just testified and said enough is enough.
1:47:19
They're gonna start going through the federal, state, media that they're being harassed.
1:47:28
You heard from your own ears.
1:47:29
You were here.
1:47:30
So that's not on your radar.
1:47:32
They never told you that they were being harassed.
Simon Kawitzky
1:47:36
So we're certainly aware of
Darlene Mealy
1:47:40
the So what is the plan for that?
1:47:41
You said you was aware now.
1:47:43
What is the plan?
Simon Kawitzky
1:47:44
Right.
1:47:45
So if there are specific instances where you referenced harassment in the context
UNKNOWN
1:47:49
of didn't reference
Simon Kawitzky
1:47:50
it.
1:47:50
Signing a lease or something like I think
Darlene Mealy
1:47:52
it was just stated here with y'all swearing that y'all was gonna tell us the truth.
1:47:57
She's the tenant just spoke on that.
1:48:01
Right.
1:48:01
She said she's gonna go through the media now.
1:48:04
You have seven days.
1:48:06
So now you're aware.
1:48:09
So what is your plan?
1:48:11
And if that's one
Simon Kawitzky
1:48:12
It's it's the same thing.
1:48:13
It's specifics.
1:48:14
And and when doctor Crawford was giving the testimony, again
Darlene Mealy
1:48:18
Her name?
Simon Kawitzky
1:48:18
Absolutely.
1:48:19
I do.
1:48:20
Because we've been engaging with Doctor.
1:48:21
Crawford for several years now.
Darlene Mealy
1:48:23
So you're aware?
1:48:24
So what have you done?
1:48:26
If that's one, it has to be others.
Simon Kawitzky
1:48:29
Again, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but again, we need specific examples of what's going examples, With with Stuyvesant Gardens One, we have been working with that community for several years now to plan for these investments through the PACT program.
1:48:46
Doctor Crawford and other members of the board participated in the selection of the PACT partner.
1:48:52
And we have been working with her board and my team to really try and form a partnership where we can work collaboratively together.
1:49:02
Not