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Debate over implementing formal voting processes for RAD/PACT conversions
2:01:54
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Council Member Banks presses NYCHA representatives about implementing formal voting processes for RAD/PACT conversions across developments. NYCHA's responses indicate reluctance to commit to universal voting.
- Discussion of voting process at Jacob Rees Houses, which will choose between remaining Section 9 or moving to PACT
- NYCHA states voting procedures are similar to trust elections, with some modifications
- Debate over whether NYCHA will allow voting at other developments like Stipes and Gardens
- NYCHA representatives argue that federal RAD program doesn't require resident voting, but they work with residents if voting is requested
- Council member emphasizes the importance of resident say in the process
Chris Banks
2:01:54
Okay.
2:01:56
And they're not even being considered to be selected for the RAD for the RAD program even after?
2:02:02
No.
2:02:03
Okay.
2:02:05
NYCHA recently announced that Jacob Reeshouses would be would vote sorry.
2:02:11
Would vote between remaining section nine or moving to PAC.
2:02:16
Why is the third option why isn't there a third option of joining the trust not on the ballot?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:02:24
The entire process has been is emblematic of what we've been talking about here today.
2:02:32
We worked with resident leadership and the wider resident body over the course of a year and a half at this point to shape the engagement process that took place through 2024.
2:02:43
And then the design of the vote that is going to be happening in a couple weeks was informed by work that we did with resident leadership.
2:02:52
So what they wanted to do in this vote was strictly pact or stay section nine.
2:02:57
They did not want to have a vote that contemplated the trust.
Chris Banks
2:03:00
Okay.
2:03:01
Will the voting procedure be the same as the previous votes that included the trust option?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:03:10
Do you mean for
Chris Banks
2:03:11
Yeah.
Jonathan Gouveia
2:03:12
Well, no.
2:03:13
Because their residents at Reese just wanted the vote that is coming up is specifically on packed or no packed.
Brian Honan
2:03:20
Council member, can I just say for the most part, yes?
2:03:24
The voting voting will be the same.
2:03:25
There'll be only two options instead of three, but residents will be able to vote online.
2:03:30
They'll be able to vote, by mail.
2:03:32
There'll be an independent vote administrator who will handle the, all the ballots and accounting.
2:03:39
And then one slight difference is for in person voting, for the trust elections, it has been ten days, but we've made it five days.
2:03:49
The reason being is that on the trust voting, we find that most people come in on the first day and the last day, and then we have those, like, nine days in between where we don't see a lot of traffic.
2:04:01
So, this is just more an efficiency.
2:04:03
But, residents still have thirty days in order to vote.
Chris Banks
2:04:05
They have thirty days.
2:04:06
Okay.
2:04:07
Given the given that the federal RAD program does not have a resident voting requirement, NYCHA has previously stated that it it may transition developments to PAC on its own initiative.
2:04:22
I think I asked that question already.
2:04:23
Am I correct?
2:04:24
Again, we just wanna make sure that the the focus is on the desires and the wishes of the develop of the residents.
2:04:35
And would NYCHA consider a voting, a formal voting process for the RAD or the selected RAD development?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:04:49
At this time, as Simon mentioned earlier, we are moving forward with the engagement process that he outlined.
2:04:56
And if we get resident support,
Chris Banks
2:04:58
we will I'm not talking about an engagement process.
2:05:00
The engagement process
Jonathan Gouveia
2:05:02
is starting work the residents.
2:05:05
And so, at this time, no, we're not contemplating specific votes So
Chris Banks
2:05:09
no, you're not gonna let the residents be able to vote and determine how they Well, case the
Jonathan Gouveia
2:05:14
residents asked for a vote and that is what we're doing there.
2:05:18
It's going to be dependent on the developments and the work that we do with the residents.
Chris Banks
2:05:22
I'm talking about also future developments that are future developments that are slated to that you're selecting to go RAD.
2:05:31
Will you consider allowing those residents to vote on their future?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:05:36
As I said, we will work with residents as in the case of Reese.
2:05:41
We are they wanted to do a vote and we're doing a vote there.
2:05:43
So if something like that happens in the future, we will do it again and we will entertain a vote.
Chris Banks
2:05:47
So you're saying that if a NYCHA development that you selected to go into the RAD program, you will engage them and allow them to have a formal voting process?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:05:58
If that is what they want to do, as in the case of Reese, we would do it again.
Chris Banks
2:06:03
So Stipes and Gardens has requested to a vote as to the future of their development and going rad.
2:06:13
Will you today commit to bringing about allowing a voting process for that particular development?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:06:20
As Michael mentioned, we would like to work in partnership with doctor Crawford and her residents.
2:06:24
That project has been in the works for several years now.
2:06:28
The residents were at one time
Chris Banks
2:06:29
It doesn't matter.
2:06:30
It's it's clear that the residents have stated that they are not interested to go and RAD going RAD?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:06:40
I think the first step is to have a
Chris Banks
2:06:42
And we have a voting process that clearly will
Jonathan Gouveia
2:06:45
First step would be to have a conversation with doctor Crawford and work through these issues.
2:06:49
So the so We've already invested
Chris Banks
2:06:51
Is resident
Jonathan Gouveia
2:06:52
commitment?
2:06:52
We've already invested a lot of time with the residents at that development in planning for the future.
2:06:58
We can't keep revisiting these these these these plans.
Chris Banks
2:07:02
Well, listen, sir.
2:07:03
You don't live there.
2:07:04
These folk these residents that live there, if it takes ten years to come to a decision, they should have that right to do so.