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Q&A
Tenant notification processes and concerns about unauthorized apartment entry
1:04:08
·
4 min
Council Member Mealy raises concerns about tenant notification processes for NYCHA projects and instances of unauthorized apartment entry. NYCHA representatives provide information on their procedures and address the concerns.
- Multiple modes of communication used to inform residents: letters, phone calls, door knocks
- Responsibility of PAC partners to schedule appointments with resident confirmation
- Discussion of a specific incident where workers entered an apartment without proper authorization
- NYCHA commits to looking into the specific case and reviewing their protocols for apartment entry
- Lack of clear tracking system for unauthorized entry incidents
Darlene Mealy
1:04:08
How is the, how do you notify NYCHA tenants when carrying out projects at NYCHA Developments?
1:04:15
Do tenants have to say and do the tenants have a say in how upgrades or renovations get implemented in their buildings or in their apartment?
1:04:25
Like, the young lady just said, she wanted to make sure they had the right asbestos equipment, but you still came into an apartment.
1:04:36
So how are you communicating with the tenants in regards to coming into the apartments?
Dylan Baker-Rice
1:04:43
Well, I can speak to the, if we're replacing a boiler, if we have a larger heating plant, plant project.
1:04:50
But this is PAC.
1:04:51
Right?
1:04:53
Yeah.
1:04:53
I can't speak to the my colleague can't.
Gillian Connell
1:04:56
Sure.
1:04:57
So, in general, residents, are notified of work being done in a couple of different ways depending on the the work that's occurring, whether it's in the unit or if it's happening to something like this.
Darlene Mealy
1:05:07
In unit.
1:05:08
We just had a testimony.
1:05:10
In unit, they wanted to come in and change the system.
1:05:16
And she wasn't ready.
1:05:17
Mhmm.
1:05:18
But y'all still came in.
Gillian Connell
1:05:20
Yeah.
1:05:20
So the typical process is they should be scheduling an appointment and informing the resident Oh, they
Darlene Mealy
1:05:25
shouldn't be scheduling it.
1:05:26
She said that she didn't want the scheduled appointment because
UNKNOWN
1:05:29
she wanted to make sure that they had the right equipment, that it
Darlene Mealy
1:05:29
shouldn't have to be because she wanted to make sure that they had the right equipment, that it shouldn't have to be double or triple times coming to her apartment.
1:05:38
But then somebody dropped the ball.
1:05:40
Y'all still came, and without her even knowing and using your own key, how often does that happen?
Gillian Connell
1:05:48
Yeah.
1:05:49
So we can follow-up with the pack partner to get more information Because
Darlene Mealy
1:05:51
you answer that question, how often do that happen?
1:05:54
You still come into the apartment?
Gillian Connell
1:05:56
I'm not sure I fully understand the question.
1:05:58
I'm sorry.
1:05:58
Can you repeat it?
Darlene Mealy
1:05:59
You were here when a young lady said that, she was sleeping and she thought that she told them that she wanted to make sure the equipment was appropriate with asbestos, and I guess somebody didn't get the call or get the memo, and they still came to the apartment.
1:06:20
And then when she didn't respond, the sis well, your staff just came in with their key.
Keith Grossman
1:06:27
Yeah.
1:06:28
So, no.
1:06:28
Understandable.
1:06:29
I we would have to look into No.
1:06:31
You're not?
1:06:31
No.
1:06:31
I was sitting in the audience.
1:06:33
So I and I appreciate you you holding us accountable.
1:06:37
But I don't know.
1:06:38
I don't have the answer for that in front of me.
1:06:40
We're happy to look into it.
1:06:41
We will definitely look into this specific case.
1:06:44
And
Darlene Mealy
1:06:45
Is anyone tracking these incidents?
Keith Grossman
1:06:48
Is anybody tracking when we enter we use our right to enter?
Darlene Mealy
1:06:52
Yes.
1:06:52
That's for safety also.
Keith Grossman
1:06:53
Yes.
1:06:54
I mean, we have a protocol in place and we can follow-up with you after to to go through that protocol.
1:06:59
We're having
Darlene Mealy
1:07:00
Everyone hear the protocol?
Keith Grossman
1:07:02
I don't I as I said, I don't have it in front of me.
1:07:04
I just wanna make sure that it's right.
Darlene Mealy
1:07:06
Okay.
1:07:06
When we when we get here.
1:07:07
How do you verify whether tenants receive your messages?
1:07:12
Do you the same thing?
1:07:13
How do you verify that they received the message if they do not want you to come into their apartment?
1:07:22
In a pack development.
Gillian Connell
1:07:24
Sure.
1:07:25
So, typically, they use, attempt to use multiple modes of communication to inform a resident.
1:07:31
Letter, it could also be a phone call or a door knock?
Darlene Mealy
1:07:33
How do you confirm or verify that they received your message?
Gillian Connell
1:07:37
So that that would be the PAC partner's responsibility to ensure that they, have scheduled the appointment with the confirmation of the resident before they do the work.
Darlene Mealy
1:07:47
And what could you name one vendor that you're in collaboration with instead of DEP or the health department?
Gillian Connell
1:07:58
So are you referring to there's various city agencies that have oversight including DOB, DEP at, you know, sites inspecting work that's being done.