Q&A
Council Member Ossé questions HVAC issues at Maria Lawton older adult center
0:28:11
·
3 min
Council Member Chi A. Ossé raises concerns about ongoing HVAC issues at the Maria Lawton older adult center in Roosevelt Houses, which is in his district. He questions NYCHA and NYC Department for the Aging representatives about the status of repairs and the typical timeline for addressing such infrastructural problems.
- The HVAC system at the center has been problematic for at least two years, affecting the vulnerable older adult population.
- Agency representatives commit to looking into the specific case and providing an update to the council member.
- The discussion highlights the complexities and potential delays in addressing infrastructure issues in older adult centers located in NYCHA facilities.
Chi A. Ossé
0:28:11
Thank you so much, chairs, and good afternoon, to the panel testifying here today.
0:28:16
I wanna speak about a specific site in my district.
0:28:19
I represent Bed Stuy and Crown Heights.
0:28:21
And according to the committee report that we received for, today's hearing, Maria Lawton, older cent older adult center, which is Roosevelt 2 houses, was one of the centers where DIFTA escalated complaints to NYCHA management.
0:28:37
This center, again, is in my district, and the Roosevelt development always has an infrastructure issue.
0:28:43
I visited this site, 2 years ago, and the HVAC system was down in the middle of July last year.
0:28:50
My staffer received a complaint from one of the CBOs at Roosevelt that there were still HVAC issues.
0:28:55
Our older adults are, as we all know, are a vulnerable population and need temperature controlled spaces, especially in OACs, where most of their day to day circles social circles, resources, and programming, exist.
0:29:08
What is the update on this center and have issues that DIFTA reported in the HVAC system been resolved?
Ryan Murray
0:29:15
Can you
Ukah Busgith
0:29:15
take that for that?
UNKNOWN
0:29:20
Hi.
0:29:20
Thank you for that question.
0:29:22
So I I apologize.
0:29:23
I don't have the exact, details about that center.
0:29:26
We can obviously look into it.
0:29:27
But generally speaking, we do work with the programs to to repair HVACs.
0:29:31
That, is something that New York City aging has committed to.
0:29:34
And so there are different hurdles in doing that.
0:29:37
It's not always an easy process, both with the program.
0:29:41
There's different steps of, getting quotes and things like that.
0:29:44
So, so what we can do is look into, obviously, the status of that site.
0:29:49
It's possible it's in the process somewhere, but we are committed to, serving cool as cooling centers, and so that is a priority of ours.
Ryan Murray
0:29:57
And council member, heard you.
0:29:59
You just said 2 years in a row, we have an issue, so we will get a response to you later this week or early next week.
Chi A. Ossé
0:30:06
A response would be great.
0:30:07
We'd love to hear that it's currently in the process.
0:30:09
But, again, as you said, 2 years is is a decent amount of time.
0:30:12
How on how on average, how long on average does it take for some of these infrastructural repairs to to take place, especially if they are, brought up to a top of the list or or made to be a more, posing issue to a constituency?
Ryan Murray
0:30:29
So I'll I'll start and then maybe I'll turn to Naitcha.
0:30:32
Like, in in terms of it it sadly, the answer is it depends.
0:30:37
Right?
0:30:37
If you're talking HVAC, there might be a significant multi months process to get a vendor in there, as the associate commissioner shared, whether it's quotes, the timing of funding, and certain other issues that need to be addressed.
0:30:50
So, some of these processes are lengthy.
0:30:54
I I am concerned about the the particular case that you brought, so I do wanna look into it.
Chi A. Ossé
0:30:59
Thank you.
Ryan Murray
0:30:59
I know everyone says that, but we will be actually looking into it And I wanna get you an update and confirm if, for example, this one, they they've gotten a vendor in place and there are other issues related to the facility that make it a bit more challenging to just simply replace the HVAC, I will get those details for you.
Chi A. Ossé
0:31:19
Okay.
0:31:20
Thank you very much.
0:31:20
And thank you, chairs.