Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Manny Martinez, Resident Council President of South Jamaica Houses, on NYCHA's Budget and Operations
2:43:21
ยท
3 min
Manny Martinez, Resident Council President of South Jamaica Houses, delivered a scathing critique of NYCHA's management and use of federal funds. He accused NYCHA of corruption, denying residents their economic rights, and failing to maintain safe living conditions in public housing.
- Martinez argued that NYCHA's deficit could be eliminated if they helped 30% of households reach the flat rent level
- He criticized NYCHA for expanding executive salaries while leaving 7,000 apartments vacant
- Martinez called for mass resignations of NYCHA executives and full enforcement of residents' economic rights
Manny Martinez
2:43:21
Thank you.
2:43:23
May proceed.
2:43:25
Good afternoon.
2:43:26
Okay.
2:43:27
Woah.
2:43:27
Good afternoon.
2:43:29
Manny Martinez, South Jamaica Houses, citywide resident empowerment.
2:43:34
For over a decade, New York City Housing Authority has received tens of billions of dollars in federal funds, money meant to rebuild communities, create jobs, and secure the economic mobility of a public housing residence.
2:43:46
Instead, NYCHA has weaponized these funds to expand executive salaries while denying residents their legal economic rights.
2:43:53
NYCHA doesn't have a funding problem, it has a corruption problem.
2:43:57
It refuses to invest in the economic rights of the communities it serves, blocking pathways that would make public housing residents financially stable.
2:44:05
A simple measurable goal helping just 30% of NYCHA households reach the flat rent would eliminate NYCHA's deficit in three to five years.
2:44:13
But that would mean thousands of black and Hispanic families moving, transitioning from out of poverty, gaining power and demanding accountability, and that is what NYCHA fears most.
2:44:24
Instead, NYCHA is spending millions to expand executive salaries while public housing remains in crisis.
2:44:29
It refuses to provide jobs and contracts to residents even though over 7,000 vacant apartments sit unleased, units that could be used as training grounds for resident employment and move outs, maintenance, and repairs.
2:44:41
NYCHA's operational budget is the largest share of its funding is completely shielded from economic rights of the residents who keep this system running.
2:44:51
Our communities feel the neglect every single day.
2:44:53
Trespasses overrun our spaces while refuses to enforce basic housing policies.
2:44:58
There are over 19,000 security cameras, but not a single one is used to protect residents or maintain order.
2:45:05
Elevators reek of urine.
2:45:07
Stairwells are used as toilets.
2:45:09
Strangers sleep in front of our apartment doors.
2:45:11
Meanwhile, intercoms remain broken, entrance doors stay unsecured, and residents are obstructed from getting access to keys.
2:45:18
NYCHA has turned public housing into a free for all for criminals while locking its own residents out of economic opportunity.
2:45:27
May I have thirty seconds?
2:45:28
Yeah.
2:45:28
You have a minute to clip.
2:45:30
And it's not just NYCHA leadership.
2:45:32
From 2010 to 2020, billions were spent and no one was held accountable.
2:45:36
The New York City Comptrollers past and present acknowledged NYCHA's legal obligation to enforce residents economic rights, yet they have never scrutinized contractors who openly violate these mandates.
2:45:48
Instead, they blame the mayor while running for mayor themselves.
2:45:51
Two state representatives played the direct role in economic sabotage of public housing residents.
2:45:57
They either supported or ratified New York state ERAP legislation that made it illegal for public housing residents to access emergency rental assistance despite a warning from the US treasury that blocking ERAP for public housing may violate the Fair Housing Act.
2:46:11
New York State was the only state in the country to do this despite having the largest public housing population in the nation.
2:46:18
One of these representatives was once the HUD secretary and maybe that was the point.
2:46:23
Then there's NYCHA's pet organization, the citywide council of presidents.
2:46:26
This is not an independent resident organization.
2:46:29
NYCHA created it, NYCHA owns it.
2:46:31
And yesterday, CCAP itself admitted as much when it stated despite our legal status, a clear acknowledgment that it does not have the legal status to exist as a resident organization.
2:46:41
NYCHA isn't just failing, it is rigging the system against its own residents.
2:46:45
The solution is clear, a mass resignation of NYCHA executives, the full enforcement of economic rights promised to our public housing residents.
2:46:53
And this is what we're asking for the public housing committee and the New York City Council to help us achieve.
2:47:00
Thank you, sir.
2:47:01
Thank you for your advocacy.
2:47:04
Thank you, guys.