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Q&A
Council member inquires about CBO space and inter-agency coordination
3:36:41
·
3 min
Council Member Farah N. Louis questions DYCD Commissioner Keith Howard about support for CBOs operating in spaces managed by other agencies, particularly NYCHA community centers. The discussion covers mechanisms for intergovernmental coordination, support during facility disruptions, and funding for temporary relocations.
- Commissioner Howard explains regular meetings with NYCHA to address maintenance and programming issues
- The council member notes that proper coordination is not happening in District 45
- Howard requests specific examples from the council member to address the issues
Farah N. Louis
3:36:41
Thank you chairs and good to see you Commissioner and your team.
3:36:44
I have three and a half quick questions so I'll just shoot them out and then we could talk about them.
3:36:50
The first one is on rented space for community based organizations.
3:36:54
Many CBO's operating DYCD programs such as Cornerstone Compass rely on space with facilities operated by other government agencies such as NYCHA community centers.
3:37:06
When these centers or sites undergo capital projects that disrupt programming, what specific mechanisms does DYCD have in place to support intergovernmental coordination and minimize impact on those CBOs and their participants?
3:37:24
Will any of the 46 new positions included in DYCD's head count expansion be dedicated to helping CBO's navigate inter agency facility challenges or coordinate with agencies like NYCHA, DOE, DCAS when disruptions occur?
3:37:42
When sites when site based programming is disrupted due to renovations or emergency closures, does DYCD have the funding set aside to support temporary relocations or alternative space acquisitions, particularly for critical programs such as Compass and Cornerstone?
3:38:02
Last question and this is on contracting.
3:38:06
DYCD relies on YMS management as a fiscal agent for organizations with contracts under 25,000?
3:38:14
Is DYCD auditing YMS frequently to ensure they're communicating clearly with their CBO's and what escalation mechanisms does DYCD have that exist if the CBO cannot support, cannot get support from YMS?
Keith Howard
3:38:33
Thank you Councilmember Lewis.
3:38:35
I'm gonna also tap in Deputy Commissioner Haskell, but to my knowledge I don't think and again I'll tap her in as well that any of our providers who are running our cornerstone programs are paying a lease rent.
3:38:54
So that's number one.
Farah N. Louis
3:38:56
So that's the the question is what's the coordination between DYCD and those particular locations?
Keith Howard
3:39:03
Any we we have regular meetings with NYCHA, operational meetings to discuss issues that are happening around our community centers and our program, both programmatic review and also intentional re review around maintenance that are happening.
3:39:24
Any disturbances that are happening because it impacts programming.
3:39:30
We look at our public schools or available space to be able to transfer programs there temporarily until those maintenance or those payors get resolved.
Farah N. Louis
3:39:40
Okay, that's not happening in District 45.
Keith Howard
3:39:42
I would love to hear about you know intentionally what you're seeing or what you're hearing.
Gale A. Brewer
3:39:48
Okay.
Keith Howard
3:39:48
Because again we work with NYCHA to make sure that those things are resolved.
3:39:54
Please send that to me.
Farah N. Louis
3:39:55
Of course.