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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by NYCHA Resident on Public Housing Concerns
4:33:48
·
3 min
A NYCHA resident testifies about ongoing issues with public housing, including lack of resident engagement, poor living conditions, and concerns about the PACT program. The speaker emphasizes that public housing is a federal mandate and questions NYCHA's management and treatment of residents.
- The speaker criticizes NYCHA for claiming resident engagement while actually giving residents no choice in decisions
- Highlights personal experiences of poor living conditions, such as lack of hot water
- Expresses concern about PACT program representatives pressuring residents and potentially violating ADA rights
UNKNOWN
4:33:48
Good afternoon council members.
4:33:51
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.
4:33:55
If you'll bear with me, I'd like to address the elephant in the room.
4:33:59
NYCHA says that they engaged with the residents, they have not.
4:34:03
Okay, their engagement was coming to tell us we don't have a choice in 2022.
4:34:09
Now everybody operates under the assumption that NYCHA owns the developments and they do not.
4:34:19
They are a public housing authority and they are not working on the best interests of the residents.
4:34:27
So, why is it so hard to get them out of there?
4:34:31
Why is it so hard to get them to stop harassing the tenants?
4:34:35
Okay, I'm breathing funny because my asthma is acting up.
4:34:38
I had to heat water so that I could wash up so I could come out here today okay because cold water in the morning is normal okay.
4:34:47
Now one of the things that NYCHA has the ability to do okay and if they couldn't do it with the army of people that they have working for them then they could definitely have engaged with the tenant associations okay.
4:35:01
They have the right to get money that doesn't come from HUD.
4:35:05
They can write grants, they can ask for money from other entities.
4:35:10
They don't, why?
4:35:12
Good question.
4:35:14
I'd like to know myself.
4:35:16
Can't get that answer from anyone okay, but since public housing is a federally mandated obligation under The US housing act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments, congress established public housing as a permanent responsibility of the federal government to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for low income Americans.
4:35:38
This is not a temporary or discretionary program.
4:35:41
It's a federal mandate to ensure housing security for vulnerable populations.
4:35:47
So why are we being forced out of our homes?
4:35:51
Why is PACT calling me from NYCHA telling me I have to sign a lease or be kicked out?
4:36:00
Why are they coming and knocking on my door 08:00 every Monday morning okay trying to gain access when I told them I don't want PAC, I'm not interested in PAC and they're doing this to all residents.
4:36:13
I have at least three residents who came to me personally who have they're violating their rights under ADA.
4:36:23
They're being told that you need to speak to my representative.
4:36:27
I have a disability.
4:36:29
Okay?
4:36:30
And they're going I don't have to speak to them.
4:36:32
I'm a talk to you.
4:36:33
It's your apartment.
4:36:34
When is somebody going to stop that?
4:36:37
When is somebody going to make them when is somebody gonna make them stop violating our rights and hold them to the letter of the law?
4:36:45
Because if we were in there violating laws left, right, and sideways I dare say the cops would have been in my apartment a long time ago.
4:36:54
Thank you.