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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Monica Royal Horn, Retired NYPD Officer and Elderly Advocate, on NYCHA Housing Conditions and Safety Concerns
4:44:28
ยท
3 min
Monica Royal Horn, a retired NYPD officer and advocate for the elderly, testifies about her experiences living in Linden Houses and the declining quality of life in NYCHA housing. She expresses concerns about safety, the presence of individuals with criminal records, and the lack of attention from NYCHA to tenant issues.
- Highlights the need for stricter screening of residents, particularly those with felony records
- Calls for federal government involvement in future meetings
- Criticizes NYCHA and management companies for not knowing who is actually living in the apartments
- Expresses disappointment that many NYCHA employees left the meeting early without hearing all testimonies
Monica Royal Horn
4:44:28
know, thank you for taking the time to listen to me.
4:44:31
I'm gonna make this very quick and brief.
4:44:35
Alright.
4:44:36
My name is Monica Royal Horn.
4:44:38
I'm a retired year for New York City Police Department.
4:44:41
I dedicated twenty five years of my life serving the City Of New York.
4:44:45
I now dedicate much of my spare time serving the elderly in the community as an advocate for the elderly.
4:44:54
While living in Linden houses I've seen many things that most productive and law abiding residents, myself included, don't approve of.
4:45:04
And it affects the quality of our lives.
4:45:07
There are five factors associated with the quality of life, physical health, psychological condition, independence, relationships with others, and the environment in which I live.
4:45:20
I'm here to inform you two of those factors, my physical health and my psychological condition have been deeply altered.
4:45:29
I recall the day my mother and I moved into Linden Houses.
4:45:32
We had to step over a blood stained sidewalk where crime had occurred.
4:45:38
I remember wondering if we made a mistake moving into the development.
4:45:42
My mother has passed on but while she has while she was here we eventually grew to love the place.
4:45:51
She was very active in the community and loved her garden in front of the building at 295 Cozy And Linden Houses which brought her so much joy.
4:46:04
As years passed I noticed many changes in the community that definitely affected the quality of life for many residents.
4:46:12
Outsiders were coming into the community harassing our elderly, strange men and women who may have been sexual predators or had criminal records were around our children and seniors, and on a daily basis, needless to say, they as well as myself were placed in potentially dangerous situations.
Chris Banks
4:46:33
Have a minute to extra minute to wrap it up.
4:46:35
Yes.
4:46:36
Alright.
Monica Royal Horn
4:46:36
So I want to say I noticed this is my first time coming to this meeting.
4:46:43
I didn't appreciate most of the NYCHA individuals, employees if you will leaving so soon not hearing everything but I'm hoping that they'll see this.
4:46:51
But right now I think the next time that we do have a meeting like this that the federal government should be here as well, somebody from the federal government.
4:46:59
And also I want NYCHA to pay more attention to the tenants that are now living in this development.
4:47:06
I remember years ago when NYCHA when people had felony records they weren't allowed to live in there.
4:47:11
I live now next door to people that have held in records.
4:47:14
I don't know who they are.
4:47:16
Some of them are not even on the lease.
4:47:19
And it scares me because I don't know who they are and neither does NYCHA, neither does C and C management, LM.
4:47:27
They don't know who these people are but I I see them in the in the apartment and it's frightening to me.
4:47:31
I have to worry about my coming and going.
4:47:34
So that needs to be rectified again.
4:47:37
If people have felony records they should not be allowed to live next to other residents, especially our seniors and our elders and our children as in the neighborhood.
Chris Banks
4:47:48
Thank you for your testimony.
Monica Royal Horn
4:47:50
You're quite welcome, Chris.