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Timing of resident engagement and handling of petitions in RAD/PACT process
1:56:08
ยท
150 sec
Council members question NYCHA officials about the timing of resident engagement in the RAD/PACT process and the handling of resident petitions opposing conversions. NYCHA representatives face criticism for perceived lack of responsiveness to resident opposition.
- Debate over whether NYCHA engages residents before or after decisions are made
- Discussion of resident petitions at various developments (Chelsea Elliott, Stuyvesant Gardens)
- NYCHA officials claim lack of awareness of some petitions, leading to skepticism from council members
- Growing frustration from council members over perceived evasion of direct answers
Chris Banks
1:56:08
But you you wanna sit down with them after the fact, not after
Michael Parkinson
1:56:13
Before,
Chris Banks
1:56:13
during You're not and and I think we've said this in before in sidebar conversations or meetings we've had, that it seems like you're telling the tenants how they should live.
1:56:25
And it's after the fact.
1:56:27
It's not, well, you're coming to the tenants from the beginning and saying, is this something you want to do?
Michael Parkinson
1:56:32
Yeah.
1:56:33
With respect
Chris Banks
1:56:33
And you're trying to convince them.
1:56:35
Respect to the
Michael Parkinson
1:56:36
member, heard testimony from Doctor.
1:56:38
Crawford today talking about the very real, very serious issues she's dealing with and her community is dealing with on a daily
Chris Banks
1:56:45
But, no, But you can't Boilers that are
Michael Parkinson
1:56:48
not functional.
1:56:48
Sir,
Chris Banks
1:56:49
I'm the chair.
1:56:49
I'm the chair.
1:56:50
Understood.
1:56:50
I'm the I'm scare the residents with saying, well, because they they have repair issues and things of that nature, just to use that as a scare tactic than to force this program down their throats.
Michael Parkinson
1:57:04
We we worked with the residents in advance of any decisions being made about who we were working with
Jonathan Gouveia
1:57:09
to understand
UNKNOWN
1:57:09
that
Jonathan Gouveia
1:57:09
was the case,
Chris Banks
1:57:12
we wouldn't be in these situations where you have like Chelsea Elliott, where residents have said that they don't want this particular program, but you have and you have close to 950 residents who signed a petition, you're still going ahead with a project.
1:57:27
Snipes and Snipes and Gardens, it's the same thing.
1:57:29
There was a petition that has been circulated.
1:57:32
Residents have weighed in and said they don't want it.
1:57:35
But you're still going ahead.
1:57:36
You're trying to convince them of how they should live.
Michael Parkinson
1:57:39
We've never seen such a petition at Stuyvesant One.
1:57:42
I'd welcome it if that petition exists.
1:57:45
Also
Chris Banks
1:57:46
Order.
1:57:46
Order.
1:57:47
So, you your testimony is today that a petition has never been presented to you.
Michael Parkinson
1:57:52
As far as I understand.
Chris Banks
1:57:53
But you are aware there's a petition?
Michael Parkinson
1:57:55
I've heard Doctor.
1:57:56
Crawford reference the petition multiple times.
Chris Banks
1:57:59
And Doctor.
1:57:59
Crawford is the elected Tenant Association president?
Jonathan Gouveia
1:58:02
Correct.
Chris Banks
1:58:03
And there's an executive board?
Arvind Sohoni
1:58:05
Correct.
Chris Banks
1:58:06
Okay.
1:58:08
Let me ask you this question.
Darlene Mealy
1:58:09
Chair.
Chris Banks
1:58:10
Yes, Dolly.
Darlene Mealy
1:58:11
They give us what they're gonna plan to do in regards to if people have issues.
1:58:18
They gotta put something in place I'll
Chris Banks
1:58:21
give it seems I'll give them one more opportunity to answer the question.
1:58:25
I don't think we got a straight answer Right.
1:58:27
From them.
1:58:28
So, if you if you wanna take the time to answer the question, you have the opportunity to do so.
1:58:33
If you can't answer the question, we'll move forward to another question.
1:58:36
Just let us know.
Michael Parkinson
1:58:37
Can you repeat the question?
Chris Banks
1:58:38
To This was to dealing with a plan to deal with the harassment that's being levied or allegedly that's being levied by the management companies against the tenant association for those residents who are not interested with going to RAD PAC.