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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Background of the DOI investigation into NYCHA security and fire guard services
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132 sec
Commissioner Strauber provides context for the Department of Investigation's recent report on oversight of security guards at NYCHA senior buildings and compliance with fire guard requirements. The investigation was prompted by media reports of security issues at Coursey Houses in East Harlem.
- DOI identified failures in services provided by Allied Universal Security Services under a $155 million contract
- The investigation initially focused on Coursey Houses but expanded to cover multiple NYCHA properties
- DOI conducted inspections at 39 senior buildings and reviewed CCTV footage of 55 security guard shifts
Jocelyn Strauber
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My name is Jocelyn Strouber.
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I'm the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation.
0:15:34
Thank you, chair Banks and other members of the committee on public housing for the opportunity to speak to you today about our recent investigation and report on the oversight of security guards at the New York City Housing Authority senior buildings and its compliance with fire guard requirements at both senior buildings and other NYCHA developments.
0:15:55
DOI's investigation identified numerous failures in the security and fire guard services provided by FJC Security doing business as Allied Universal Security Services, which I'll refer to today as Allied Universal or Allied, which had an a hundred and 55,000,000 5 year contract with NYCHA to provide these services.
0:16:16
DOI determined that both NYCHA and Allied failed to consistently provide required and sufficient oversight of the Allied guards and thus failed to ensure that Allied fulfilled its obligations to NYCHA under the contract.
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The absence of security guards at buildings dedicated to seniors jeopardized the safety of some of NYCHA's most vulnerable residents and the absence of fire guards not only post a safety risk to residents, but also violated the New York City Fire Code.
0:16:47
Furthermore, as a result of NYCHA's lack of oversight of Allied, NYCHA paid Allied for services that it did not provide and missed opportunities to pursue contractual damages to which NYCHA was entitled based on Allied's nonperformance.
0:17:01
Our investigation was prompted by March 2022 media reports that the front door of NYCHA's Coursey houses in East Harlem did not lock, allowing trespassers to enter.
0:17:12
DOI initially focused on the functionality of the lobby doors at Coursey houses and the quality of security guard services provided by Allied Universal at that location.
0:17:22
In our first inspection, investigators observed that the scheduled security guard was absent and a nonresident trespasser was in the lobby of Coursey houses, prompting a broader investigation into the security guards and infrastructure at NYCHA senior buildings that continued through April of twenty twenty three.