TESTIMONY
Celines Miranda, Resident of Elliott-Chelsea Houses, on the Threats of Demolition, Privatization, and Lack of Accountability in NYCHA
2:24:44
·
4 min
Testifying before the NYC City Council, Celines Miranda expresses significant concerns regarding the potential demolition of public housing, the privatization efforts, and the urgent need for accountability within the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
- Miranda highlights the critical role of public housing in preventing homelessness and supporting low-income earners.
- She criticizes the mismanagement within NYCHA, particularly the false justification of privatization through lower-level employee arrests.
- The testimony points out the misallocation of NYCHA funds, including overcharging for minor repairs, leading to systemic neglect of public housing units.
- Miranda warns against the demolition of sturdy, well-built public housing based on alleged deterioration and deceptive practices.
- She urges a stop to the privatization efforts and calls for holding NYCHA to higher standards to regain tenants' trust.
Celines Miranda
2:24:44
I'm Celina Smiranda.
2:24:45
I live in a development that's in danger of being the Mali.
2:24:49
In the earlier Chelsea houses.
2:24:51
Public housing have always been linked to Nitro.
2:24:53
We don't need Nitro managing us to still be public housing.
2:24:58
These fraudulent practices that Nietcha have been committing is not a reason to privatize public housing was made with a purpose.
2:25:05
To prevent homelessness and to house the lowest of income earners.
2:25:10
These affordable housing developments have an income bracket that tenants need to meet.
2:25:15
The lowest of income earners will not qualify to live under many of these rack conversions.
2:25:20
The only true affordable housing there is is public housing.
2:25:25
Let's hold nature accountable.
2:25:27
The nature employees at the lower level are the ones getting arrested, but many have known for years that these practice since have been taking place.
2:25:36
Why has it been allowed to go on for so long?
2:25:39
And why are they getting exposed now?
2:25:42
Who is supposed to be overseeing the nitrile employees that got arrested.
2:25:46
It's true.
2:25:47
It's time we start holding accountable.
2:25:50
The Lisa Bova High, and the Barbara Brancassials of nature.
2:25:54
They are using these arrests to justify privatization.
2:25:58
No.
2:25:58
Just follow through on your job function, and Nitra can run smoothly as it's supposed to.
2:26:04
Many Nitra tenants are not getting the work orders from their apartment fixed.
2:26:09
The major problems such as leaks and mold, but a simple fixture is just changing a light bulb gets done, and the vendor gets paid over $700 for the changing of one light bulb.
2:26:22
The funding is available, but our nature buildings are being systematically allowed to get run down.
2:26:28
The physical needs analysis of our nature buildings is skyrocketing high to rehabilitate the nature buildings.
2:26:36
But if they are using the throttling cost of changing a light bulb, then the PNA is a miscalculation and need to be revised.
2:26:43
The fourteen area in Chelsea houses
Chris Banks
2:26:46
Finish finish your statement.
Celines Miranda
2:26:49
The Fulton area in Chelsea Houses are at risk of being demolished based on lies and deceptive tactics Our buildings are not deteriorating.
2:26:58
Yes.
2:26:58
We do need maintenance, but our buildings are harder than brick itself.
2:27:02
It will be a crime to demolish.
2:27:05
The new buildings built today are made with cheap materials.
2:27:08
You have tenants out side of night, you're paying $4000 or more in those affordable housing units, but those same tenants are not the priority.
2:27:17
It's all for profit.
2:27:19
Let's not get rid of our retro and well built buildings.
2:27:22
The related company buildings have tenants who stay for an estimate of 2 years, they realize that they are getting gyps.
2:27:30
They move and pay the same and live better elsewhere.
2:27:36
Getting the mileage is a violation.
Chris Banks
2:27:37
Yeah.
2:27:38
People.
Celines Miranda
2:27:39
Getting the mileage is a violation of the 2019 working group findings.
2:27:43
It was decided that not one of our Chelsea Metro buildings would be the would not be demolished.
2:27:49
But once they decided to demolish, the working group findings was crumbled into boy tossed in the garbage is useless at this point and no longer have any validity.
2:28:01
In truth, it never had any validity.
2:28:04
It was never a legal binding document.
2:28:06
Neither is the survey which they are using to justify demolition 6 tenants from 14, and 6 tenants from the LHLC was involved in the decision making to be converted into RAT.
2:28:18
The rest of the community have not been educated in the process.
2:28:21
They do not know the difference between section 9 and section 8.
2:28:26
SEC timing started to lose trust in nature ever since they started to sell us out to private developers.
2:28:32
You want to gain our trust stop demolition, stop privatization, and have Nitro meet up to their standards.
2:28:39
Many elected officials are also involved in the fraudulent practices many need to be investigated and exposed.
2:28:46
Please help us.
2:28:48
No demolition, no privatization, all of nature accountable.
2:28:54
And let's replace nature employees with people who actually care about the timings.
2:28:58
And also, Chris Blanks, please reply to our email.
2:29:02
We sent you an email on FEC Stop Demolition.