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Council Member Chris Banks criticizes NYCHA for security and fire safety failures
0:55:00
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Council Member Chris Banks expresses outrage over a recent Department of Investigation (DOI) report revealing serious security and fire safety failures in NYCHA buildings across New York City. He criticizes NYCHA and its vendor Allied Universal for neglecting their responsibilities and endangering public housing residents, particularly seniors.
- The report found security guards abandoning posts, failing to show up for shifts, and falsifying time sheets.
- 32% of lobby doors were unsecured, and 70% of CCTV cameras in senior housing were inoperable.
- Fire guards were absent and falsified time sheets, resulting in three fires where residents were injured.
- Banks calls for accountability and suggests finding a new vendor if NYCHA and Allied Universal cannot meet basic safety standards.
Chris Banks
0:55:00
Thank you, madam majority leader.
0:55:02
Colleagues, today, I'm outraged by the findings of the latest DOI investigation which exposes serious failures in security and fire safety at NYCHA buildings throughout the city.
0:55:14
The report shows that NYCHA lack that NYCHA's lack of oversight has put public housing residents including our vulnerable seniors at incredible risk.
0:55:25
Security guards have abandoned their posts, failed to show up for their shifts, and falsified time sheets.
0:55:32
32% of the lobby doors were unsecured and 70% of the CCTV cameras and senior housings were inoperable.
0:55:40
These are basic security measures that are absolutely fail failing and it is beyond unacceptable.
0:55:48
The fire safety failures are no better.
0:55:51
Fire guards were also absent and falsified their time sheets leaving residents at risk in buildings with deficient fire safety features.
0:55:59
Three fires occurred in NYCHA buildings where fire guards were absent resulting in resident injury.
0:56:05
Let me be clear, this is neglect and a direct endangerment of public housing residents at the hands of NYCHA and Allied.
0:56:13
This council fought hard to restore the $6,800,000 budget protecting the security guard program at NYCHA senior developments and yet NYCHA added and vendor Allied Universal are wasting that money.
0:56:29
They are billing for services that are not being provided and leaving our residents especially our seniors vulnerable.
0:56:35
This is not only a betrayal of our residents safety but a waste of funds that we fought to secure.
0:56:41
As chair of the public housing committee, I will not stand by and let NYCHA continue to neglect its responsibility.
0:56:47
The lack of accountability and oversight is disgraceful.
0:56:50
If NYCHA and its vendor cannot meet the most basic safety standards then they must be held accountable and a new vendor that meets and exceeds expectations must be found.
0:57:01
Our residents deserve a bet better and we will not tolerate them being ignored and left vulnerable.
0:57:08
It's time for NYCHA to take responsibility and fix these failures and ensure that safety Council member, your time is expired.
Lincoln Restler
0:57:15
Thank you.