Gregory Russ is the new NYCHA Chair. Image Credit: Minneapolis Public Housing Authority
Russ has worked with municipal housing authorities across the country, including in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis. On June 18, 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson announced Gregory Russ as the new Chair of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). The national search for a new chair began in January after an agreement was made between NYCHA, HUD and the Southern District of New York (SDNY). Under the agreement, a federal monitor was appointed to supervise the reform of NYCHA’s operations. The agreement resolved federal claims against NYCHA for violating health and safety regulations. (more…)
Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
The agreement will result in more frequent maintenance services and repairs, benefitting nearly 400,000 NYCHA residents. On April 9, 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Teamsters Local 237 President Greg Floyd announced that the City has reached an agreement for a tentative contract with the union for fair wages and work schedules for maintenance workers. The agreement secures fair wages for approximately 1,000 NYCHA maintenance workers and approximately 350 maintenance workers at various other City agencies. The agreement is retroactive and covers a period from December 17, 2017 through January 1, 2022. It is part of the de Blasio administration’s promise to restore a productive relationship with the City’s workforce.
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Image Credit: NYCHA.
The lead paint testing initiative comes from the City’s plans to eliminate childhood lead exposure and improve quality of living in public housing. On March 15, 2019, the New York City Housing Authority announced that it will be accelerating its new lead-based paint testing plan at the Bronx River Houses located in the Soundview section of the Bronx. The Bronx River Houses is one of the first set of developments NYCHA will begin testing in April, along with Harlem River and Williamsburg Houses. The lead paint testing initiative is part of the City’s LeadFreeNYC plan, a plan to eliminate childhood lead exposure. For CityLand’s prior coverage of LeadFreeNYC, click here.
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Rendering of Betances VI. Image Credit: NYC CPC
The building will feature supportive housing with in-building staff to provide services. On January 30, 2019, the City Planning Commission voted to approve an application for the development of a 15 story mixed-use building in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The building will have approximately 100 residential units and will be located at 472-474 Willis Avenue between East 146th and East 147th Streets. The development site will be leased to the development team by NYCHA. (more…)
Department of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia at the CityLaw Breakfast on October 5, 2018. Image credit: CityLaw.
Garcia will work to strengthen public housing as Interim Chair. On February 5, 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia as the Interim Chair of the New York City Housing Authority. She will be succeeding Stanley Brezenoff, who will depart from the position later this month. Commissioner Garcia will serve as Chair while the City begins the process of selecting a permanent Chair. (more…)
