PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lucy Newman, Supervising Attorney of the Public Housing Unit at Legal Aid Society
2:32:39
·
4 min
Lucy Newman, representing the Legal Aid Society's public housing unit, provided testimony on the progress and ongoing concerns regarding NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) since the 2018 HUD agreement. While acknowledging some improvements, she highlighted persistent issues in property management, IT systems, building safety, and the treatment of developments undergoing conversion.
- Emphasized the need for better staff training and improved customer service at property management offices
- Raised concerns about the effectiveness of NYCHA's call center (CCC) and digital portals for residents
- Urged NYCHA to maintain all developments, including those undergoing PACT conversion or trust legislation votes
- Suggested implementing a cap on monitoring costs and called for continued efforts to secure additional funding for public housing
Lucy Newman
2:32:39
Good afternoon.
2:32:40
Thank you, Chad, for hosting us and hearing having this hearing.
2:32:44
I just wanted to my name is Lucy Newman.
2:32:47
I'm the supervising attorney of the Legal Aid Society's public housing unit.
2:32:51
We represent public housing residents throughout the 5 bars.
2:32:55
In 2018, when the initial HUD agreement was signed, things at Nitro couldn't have been worse, as we all know.
2:33:03
Nitro admitted schemes to close work orders, the CEO at the time, was fortunately affirming lead paint inspections.
2:33:12
Property management manuals were found that had directed staff to lie to inspectors And Mister Kaban, an eighty four year old senior in Bronx in Boston, my plaza had been killed when stepping into an elevator in his apartment.
2:33:26
2024, definitely, there's progress.
2:33:28
We heard about some of it today.
2:33:30
As you know, they've been putting some systems in place throughout night shift, including a compliance unit and some other units that were required under the monitorship, and there has been widespread lead and mold abatement work.
2:33:43
We do have remained extremely concerned about a number of areas that we see daily through our clients that come to us and that we work with.
2:33:50
Just to name a few, property management still does continue to be problematic.
2:33:56
Nitro mentioned earlier about the need for cultural change and change in attitude.
2:34:00
And obviously, it's it is still slow coming, and we see that on an individual basis for our clients who have treated pretty poorly when they try and get basic things addressed at their property management offices.
2:34:12
We would call on there to be more training for staff on the grounds that they are actually aware of the procedures and policies that they're obligated to follow.
2:34:20
In addition to that, there is huge IT and tech problems that we see.
2:34:24
The CCC, which is the 718-707 number that residents have to call, is very, very problematic.
2:34:31
People wait ages to get their calls answered.
2:34:34
In addition to that, there's been a huge push to go on to digital and self-service portals.
2:34:39
We have huge difficulties uploading documents on our client's behalf, and we know that many people Very
Chris Banks
2:34:43
more seconds.
Lucy Newman
2:34:44
We wouldn't know that many people are unable to do that, but then they're unable get the help that they're seeking from the CCC.
2:34:50
Building safety and security remains a concern.
2:34:52
You'll find every time you go to night, so the doors are open.
2:34:55
Cleasing and over pleasing of these communities is not a way to provide safety.
2:34:59
So we urge people to focus at night on making these buildings safe and secure.
2:35:04
In addition to that, residences or developments that are undergoing, can you just please stop saying these offensive things to me?
2:35:10
Thank you.
Chris Banks
2:35:12
Can you remove them, please?
Lucy Newman
2:35:15
We know that many developments that I
Chris Banks
2:35:17
Excuse me, ma'am.
2:35:18
Hold on.
Lucy Newman
2:35:54
I'll be very quick.
Chris Banks
2:35:54
Thank you.
2:35:55
You may proceed.
Lucy Newman
2:35:56
All residents at night should deserve and are entitled to you live in safe and habitable homes.
2:36:01
Just because a development is undergoing a packed conversion or is facing a vote under the trust legislation does not mean that Nietra can step away from taking care of those buildings as a landlord is obligated to do under the law.
2:36:13
So we urge Nietra to continue looking after those developments.
2:36:16
In addition to that, I do think that we should make sure that the city keeps looking at and maybe proposes a cap on the cost that are being spent by the monitor.
2:36:25
You'll see that Bart Schwartz's office, I think, racked up about SEK 70,000,000 dollars of fees, and I think that that's an important area that we should continue to look at.
2:36:33
We urge the monitor and the city to continue fighting to get additional funding for public housing at a federal and a state level.
2:36:40
And we know that the city stepped up an enormous amount of money under this agreement, but we urge them to do more.
2:36:45
And I also implore the committee to have a hearing about Fulton Elliott Chelsea
2:36:49
Thank you.
Chris Banks
2:36:49
Thank you for your testimony.
