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Debate over NYCHA's resident engagement practices and obligations
2:07:11
ยท
5 min
A tense exchange occurs between Council Member Banks and NYCHA representatives about the agency's obligations for resident engagement in the PACT conversion process. The debate highlights fundamental disagreements about the nature and extent of resident input required.
- NYCHA argues they have dual obligations: to inform and work with residents, and to ensure buildings are preserved for future generations
- Council member contends NYCHA is 'speaking at' residents rather than asking for their input
- NYCHA representatives argue their engagement process is more robust than other housing authorities
- Debate over whether NYCHA's obligation is to achieve resident agreement or simply to engage and inform
- Council member emphasizes the need for resident respect and decision-making power in the process
Brian Honan
2:07:11
So so council member, I you know, so voting came to be in 2022, with the state legislation for trust properties.
2:07:20
Correct.
2:07:21
Even at that time before this committee, we had said that any properties that were, engaged and in the PAC pipeline at that before that date we're not going to be considered for a vote.
2:07:33
In STI one and two, the engagement started in 2021.
2:07:39
I think what's clear here is that NYCHA has two obligations.
2:07:43
We have an obligation to inform and to work with the residents to make sure that all of their questions are answered, all of their questions are addressed, and they're engaged.
2:07:56
We we hold meetings.
2:07:57
We knock on people's doors.
2:07:59
We do phone banking.
2:08:01
We meet with people one on one because we have office hours at the developments.
2:08:05
I believe we check all the boxes there.
2:08:08
We also have an application
Chris Banks
2:08:09
didn't the box of getting permission from the residents.
Brian Honan
2:08:14
I don't so I don't think that so I think And
Chris Banks
2:08:17
I think that's where the issue is and the issue lies where it seems as though you're moving forward with this program.
2:08:23
You're doing everything.
2:08:24
You're checking the boxes for the program.
2:08:26
The the federal the federal government
Brian Honan
2:08:28
mentioned nothing about permission from the residents.
2:08:31
But what is important the
Chris Banks
2:08:33
issue, Brian.
2:08:33
I think you know, you
Brian Honan
2:08:36
the federal government could change that, and, you know, and we would abide by that.
2:08:41
But what our obligation
Jonathan Gouveia
2:08:42
is to
Chris Banks
2:08:43
action tonight you to be proactive.
2:08:45
And since you've consistently said that you wanna be a partner, you wanna partner with the residents, why not also advocate for them to have a formal voting process?
Brian Honan
2:08:57
The second part of our obligation is to make sure that these buildings are there for the next generation and for the generation afterwards.
2:09:06
Right now, we are not funded to make that guarantee.
2:09:10
I cannot guarantee that Steyr Gardens will be there for the next generation or the generation under after that under current funding conditions.
2:09:19
I will say, by bringing investment into that development, we can address their chronic heating problems, their chronic Okay.
Chris Banks
2:09:27
We we understand.
2:09:28
NYCHA did a terrible job of managing these properties.
2:09:31
We'll get that.
2:09:31
We understand that.
2:09:32
Need a best We understand
Darlene Mealy
2:09:34
that.
2:09:34
Together.
Chris Banks
2:09:35
We understand that.
2:09:35
Understand that, Brian.
2:09:37
NYCHA has done has not done a good job with maintaining these properties.
2:09:41
And thus, we understand we understand the need to bring in this bring in some degree of investment.
2:09:48
What we're saying is that if you wanna build true partnership, it needs to be along working with the tenants.
2:09:56
The tenants need to have a say.
2:09:58
And then, yes, do the investment, but give the tenants a say if they wanna do it through RAD or if they wanna do it or they wanna stay traditional section nine.
2:10:07
That's all we're saying.
2:10:08
Kevin, about
Michael Parkinson
2:10:09
the opportunity.
Brian Honan
2:10:10
I think we agree that tenants should should have a say.
2:10:13
And and I think in New York City, tenants have more of a say than in any other housing authority in the country when it comes to these conversions.
2:10:22
I get I will challenge
Chris Banks
2:10:24
That's right.
Brian Honan
2:10:24
Any any council member or any, you know, resident to show me a city that does this different and more robust way.
2:10:31
And if they do, we will do we will follow that model.
Chris Banks
2:10:35
I don't need to show you a city.
Jonathan Gouveia
2:10:35
But in
Brian Honan
2:10:36
New York City, residents are engaged in in these processes, in many cases, for more than a year, in Steyr Gardens for four years.
2:10:44
And, residents were able to What's disconnect?
Chris Banks
2:10:47
What's the disconnect at Steyr Gardens?
Brian Honan
2:10:50
I don't know.
2:10:50
I don't you know, I you know, and and I'd be happy to sit with them and to talk to them, you know, along with my colleagues, and I know that they're doing
Chris Banks
2:10:57
disconnect is that you're you're speaking at them.
2:11:01
You're telling them how they should live.
2:11:03
You're not asking them.
2:11:04
That's the disconnect.
Brian Honan
2:11:05
Don't I don't think that's the case, but but we can agree to disagree.
Chris Banks
2:11:08
Well, we can definitely agree to disagree on that.
2:11:10
But we have anecdotes, we have members, tenants who live in those developments that have clearly stated that they don't want RAD and that that the the level of engagement is not there because they're being told how they should live, not being they're not being asked.
Brian Honan
2:11:27
Council member, again, I think our obligation is to engage.
2:11:31
Our obligation is not to make sure that we have a % agreement.
2:11:57
We're
UNKNOWN
2:11:41
obligation is to make sure that these buildings are around for the next generation and the generation after that.
2:11:47
We are not set up to do that currently.
2:11:49
You cannot make a major investment like this and leave the wishes and desires of
Chris Banks
2:11:53
the tenants on the corner.
2:11:55
They have to be at the table.
Brian Honan
2:11:57
Are we prepared to just give up on those developments?
Chris Banks
2:11:59
No.
2:11:59
We're not prepared, but we're to have you respect those tenants and those developments.
Brian Honan
2:12:03
The council members
Jonathan Gouveia
2:12:04
And that's
Chris Banks
2:12:04
what it's about.
Brian Honan
2:12:05
So, if we just say, okay, we're not going to invest, what is the plan?
Chris Banks
2:12:09
Brian, you're mixing apples and oranges.
2:12:12
Beginning, we have clearly stated that there needs to be an investment in NYCHA.
2:12:17
What we're saying is that the tenants should make that determination on what program they should go in.
Brian Honan
2:12:23
Okay.
2:12:23
And are you
Chris Banks
2:12:24
saying that if they decide not to go if they decide to stay in traditional section nine, that they're gonna continue to be in misery?
Brian Honan
2:12:31
I'm not saying that.
2:12:32
Saying that's I'm saying that's the way the federal funding is right now set up.
2:12:38
It is not set up for success.
2:12:40
It is set up to make sure that crumbs are spread around and tenants are not getting the services that they deserve.