PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Renee Keitt, Resident Association President of Elliott-Chelsea Houses, on Senior Concerns in NYCHA Developments
2:35:05
ยท
139 sec
Renee Keitt, Resident Association President of Elliott-Chelsea Houses, expresses deep concerns about the impact of potential demolition and relocation on seniors in NYCHA developments, particularly at Elliott-Chelsea Houses. She highlights issues of isolation, mental health risks, and the importance of maintaining community centers that serve both seniors and youth.
- Emphasizes the risks of relocating seniors, including social isolation and mental health challenges
- Discusses the need for community centers that serve multiple generations, not just older adults
- Raises concerns about food insecurity for seniors who rely on community centers for meals
Renee Keitt
2:35:05
Ready?
2:35:06
Okay.
2:35:06
Hello.
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My name is Renee Kitt.
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I'm the Weathering Association President of the Elliot Chelsea Houses.
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In the case of the Elliot Chelsea Houses potential demolition, we're deeply concerned about the impact on our seniors, particularly those slated to be the first move as part of the process.
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1 of the proposed, as of right, buildings is Chelsea addition.
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It appears to prioritize relocating seniors.
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This raises significant issues, isolation and mental health risk.
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Meetings regarding seniors' relocation are occurring without broader community knowledge, leaving them isolated from key decision making processes.
2:35:43
Downsizing seniors and relocating them to other developments is also a possibility.
2:35:48
As well as if you downsize them into our development, we don't have a lot of single room apartments.
2:35:55
We're built for families.
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If that doesn't happen, they will go to the pack partners that's related or Athens or anywhere they have or other NYCHA developments throughout the city.
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That leaves them in social isolation.
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That is very difficult.
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That's mental health issues.
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That's physical issues.
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That's basically breaking social cohesion.
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As much as people say this is about making a better community, it leaves our seniors isolated.
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And of course, all our seniors are not in the senior buildings.
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I live with my mother as well.
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Needless to say, the mental health challenges, the worrying about what's gonna happen is currently something that occurs to her.
2:36:30
One thing we can say, yes, there are older adult centers, but Fulton Houses is actually a community center, not just an older adult center.
2:36:39
So that has to be thought and brought in the mix as well because we also need our teens to be there.
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This is the middle.
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You deal with the younger and the children.
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You deal with the older.
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But we can't lose our middle.
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It's very essential.
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This is the age when things happen, and they can end up in jail.
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And this can be begin the process.
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They need someone to care.
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They need community programs.
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So it just can't be used as an older adult center.
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For Elliot Chelsea houses as well, we are actually a center that feels fulfills the broader community, not just Elliot Chelsea itself.
2:37:15
So both these centers are very essential for our seniors as well, who have to go down to Fulton to eat.
2:37:21
So we're also dealing with food insecurity as well.