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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jesse Maldonado Koklas, NYC Regional Director of Citizen Action of New York
3:01:05
ยท
163 sec
Jesse Maldonado Koklas, representing Citizen Action of New York, advocated for increased capital funding for NYCHA and highlighted concerns about the RAD/PACT program. She emphasized the need for resident involvement in decision-making processes regarding public housing management.
- Called for at least $1.5 billion in capital funding for NYCHA to address the $45 billion backlog in repairs
- Criticized the allocation of previous year's budget, with 98% going to Section 8 programs and only 2% to Section 9
- Highlighted recent resident votes on management structures, emphasizing the need to respect these choices and ensure equitable funding regardless of the chosen structure
Jesse Maldonado Koklas
3:01:05
Okay.
3:01:06
Good afternoon, chair of banks and the committee.
3:01:09
So I want to start by introducing myself.
3:01:12
My name is Jesse Maldonado Koklas, New York City regional director for citizen action of New York that organizes communities across the city around various issues and one of our bases is public housing residents.
3:01:24
We're here to advocate for at least 1,500,000,000.0 in capital funding for NYCHA.
3:01:29
We know that the federal government has consistently given less than NYCHA needs and we really can't count on them especially in the current administration which means that the city has to step up their budget.
3:01:41
There's a $45,000,000,000 backlog in repairs some estimates have, so it's really needed.
3:01:48
Last year there was 779,000,000 in the budget yet 98% of that went to section eight, so the preservation trust or PAC programs and only 2% went to section nine which is not nearly enough.
3:02:07
And so yeah we just just really want to I know that you've heard the stories of the lack of repairs and upgrades that are needed desperately on developments and so that money could go towards that and we want to make sure that it doesn't again that it doesn't just go towards the section eight programs.
3:02:26
And I know that NYCHA mentioned that there's historic resident involvement in these programs and these conversions.
3:02:33
We are witnessing a historic moment in resident democracy on NYCHA campuses.
3:02:37
Of the four developments, only four developments were given the opportunity to vote on their future.
3:02:43
None selected the PAC program, one chose to remain section nine and three developments opted for the trust.
3:02:50
And the city must respect these choices and share fair and equitable funding for all NYCHA communities regardless of their chosen management structure.
3:02:59
And should the New York City Council should ensure that a vote against PAC does not mean no repairs and no improvements come.
3:03:06
And we know that many of the developments
Chris Banks
3:03:09
Thirty seconds
Jesse Maldonado Koklas
3:03:10
to wrap
Chris Banks
3:03:10
Many
Jesse Maldonado Koklas
3:03:10
of the developments haven't gotten a vote.
3:03:12
And I know the NYCHA officials said that there's resident involvement, but often it just goes to the TA president who makes the decisions on behalf of the development and the resident involvement in the TA structure is varied.
3:03:24
And so if there's if that's actually going to be the process, there needs to be investment to make sure that there's actually resident outreach, there's door knocking, there's calls.
3:03:34
That requires a lot of work that the tenant associations aren't set up with or have the training to do themselves.
3:03:40
So in conclusion, it's really important that we preserve the current public and affordable housing through serious investment.
3:03:47
Thank you.