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Debate over quality of renovations: Bathtub replacements vs. refitting
2:19:19
ยท
3 min
Council Member Darlene Mealy confronts NYCHA representatives about the quality of renovations, particularly focusing on the practice of refitting bathtubs instead of replacing them with new ones in some developments.
- Council Member Mealy observes that some developments are getting refitted tubs instead of new ones
- NYCHA acknowledges that some developments use bath fitters while others replace tubs entirely
- The decision between refitting and replacing tubs depends on the needs of each development
- The exchange highlights concerns about the consistency and quality of renovations across different NYCHA properties
Darlene Mealy
2:19:19
to speak because y'all making a lot of money and you say you're these apartments.
2:19:25
And I just drove through Howard Avenue and I saw all refitted, tubs.
2:19:31
So why couldn't you just if you're really gonna give people a quality of living, why not just put a brand new tub?
2:19:38
Y'all have the money.
2:19:39
Y'all just doing all refitting tubs.
2:19:42
True or not?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:19:44
That's not true.
Darlene Mealy
2:19:45
Sir, you could It's not true.
Jonathan Gouveia
2:19:47
There there are some
Darlene Mealy
2:19:48
St.
2:19:48
John's.
2:19:49
It's about five trucks, refitted tubs.
Jonathan Gouveia
2:19:53
There are some developments you're correct.
2:19:55
There are some developments where they've used the bath fitter and there are other developments where they've replaced the tubs.
Darlene Mealy
2:20:00
So why did you choose to replace some and keep just the refitting tubs?
2:20:08
Shouldn't everyone have a remodeled brand new apartment?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:20:12
It depends on the needs of the of the development.
2:20:15
It's a part of a complex decision making around what each development needs.
Darlene Mealy
2:20:20
A tub to be refitted.
2:20:23
You might as well just put in a tub.
2:20:26
So that's why it came to my realization, tell me about how many contracts did minorities get in this whole RAD and PAC?
Eve
2:20:36
Do we have that off the top?
Darlene Mealy
2:20:37
Since you wanna use the outside entity just to refit tubs, so you had to put maybe the remodeling of the floors.
2:20:48
What local contract was done?
2:20:52
We have a lot of them right on Bedford Avenue.
2:20:55
How many did y'all use with all these millions of dollars that y'all gave back to the community since we are partners?
April Summers
2:21:04
Yes.
Jonathan Gouveia
2:21:04
So we do have MWBs are part of our program.
2:21:09
How many?
2:21:09
We require that every project have a partner who is an MWB Have a list.
2:21:15
I'm getting to that.
2:21:16
So yes, we have that on our website and we can provide you with a detailed list.
2:21:20
But it is a requirement of the program that MWBEs play a significant role in the rehabilitation of these properties.
Darlene Mealy
2:21:25
So nobody locally in Brooklyn or in those boroughs are qualified to do MWBEs?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:21:35
I didn't say that.
Darlene Mealy
2:21:38
So you say we can look on the website, but y'all should know, y'all should be proud to be talking about that y'all gave local developments or local organizations or businesses some city contracts.
2:21:53
You can't name one for me?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:21:56
Can give you a list.
2:21:58
Well first of all, NYCHA does not directly enter into the contracts with the trades that do the PACT rehabs.
2:22:06
We select the joint venture between the developer, the general contractor, and the property manager, and they in turn hire the various trades, which is why
Darlene Mealy
2:22:15
I can't name Who is watching them hire these people?
2:22:18
Is it a database?
Jonathan Gouveia
2:22:19
We get reporting from our PAC partners on this, so this is why I can't name because we did not specifically hire an MWBE trade, but we can provide you with lists of all the and it's actually part of the transparency report, it has all of our contractors who were part of the projects.