The Mamdani administration kicked off a citywide series of NYCHA forums in the Bronx on May 20, where hundreds of residents brought their housing concerns directly to senior officials.
The first “NYCHA In Your Neighborhood” event at the Classic Community Center in Melrose paralleled the administration’s recent “Rental Ripoff” hearings for tenants in privately-owned buildings. But instead of a town hall style, the NYCHA forum allowed for individual and small-group discussions by table, addressing topics such as public safety, resident services, capital projects, pest and trash management, modernization and heating.
Many residents in the country’s largest public housing authority have been plagued by long-term hazards such as elevator outages, inconsistent heat and hot water, plumbing problems, pests, mold and even a partial building collapse last year at Mitchel Houses in the South Bronx. NYCHA, which many have said suffers under chronic federal disinvestment, has shown limited ability to resolve problems on its own and has been operating under federal monitors since 2024.
While Mayor Mamdani did not attend, several senior city officials were present and spoke with residents, including NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Haitt and COO Eva Trimble; Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning; and Cea Weaver, director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.
Also attending were NYCHA managers by neighborhood, representatives from city agencies and local nonprofits, plus Council Member Justin Sanchez, Congressional candidate and former Assembly Member Michael Blake, Community Board 1 District Manager Anthony Jordan and other local leaders. Nearly 400 residents registered to attend, a NYCHA representative told the Bronx Times.
Bova-Haitt gave brief opening remarks and praised “historic” investments in NYCHA under the Mamdani administration.
The mayor’s planned city budget allocates $500 million for renovation of NYCHA buildings and $256 million towards restoring units and filling vacancies, the largest investments from the city in decades, Bova-Haitt said.
“Tonight is about you,” she told the crowd of residents, inviting them to engage in “face-to-face conversations on the issues that matter most to you, so that we can find solutions together.”
“It’s your participation and partnership that help guide the work we do every single day,” Bova-Haitt said.
As Deputy Mayor, Bozorg said the Mamdani administration is “truly committed to bringing you into the policymaking process” and wants them to help drive NYCHA improvements. “That is why we’re here today to hear directly about what’s working, what’s not working, the things that need to change.”
‘I’m glad I came out’
Residents rotated tables in 30-minute increments and had many conversations amongst themselves and with city leaders. The somewhat noisy space had cleared out significantly ahead of the 8:30 p.m. end time, as many realized that Mamdani would not be making an appearance.
Dexter Terry, a member of the tenant association at Webster Houses, said he had rushed to the hearing from work, even arranging for someone to watch his puppy, and was disappointed that Mamdani did not attend.
“That’s a big thing,” he said, adding that he had just assumed the mayor would come. “I felt like if he’s gonna take his time to come here, I gotta be here.”
Even so, Terry said he took the opportunity to raise issues at Webster Houses. The building faces nearly $307 million in capital needs over the next 20 years, but he said some concerns on a smaller, simpler scale have not yet been addressed.
For one, he said the five buildings lack signage, which causes constant confusion for delivery workers but can also have deeper consequences. Recently, Terry said FDNY arrived to help someone in medical distress but went to the wrong building, costing valuable time.
He also said scaffolding has been up at the property for far too long. “They’re milking the contract,” he said, expressing concern that scaffolding dims the lights and creates a safety risk.
Overall, Terry concluded that the event was worthwhile. “I’m glad I came out.”
He said the city must help residents remain in New York City and that he’s seen too many leave only because they can’t afford it.
“We should be able to live here, especially if we was born here and want to stay,” Terry said.
To privatize or not to privatize
Privatization under PACT — converting NYCHA public housing from traditional Section 9 to Section 8 — was a topic of much informal discussion among residents and at the tables.
Under the federal and local RAD/PACT program, NYCHA retains ownership of buildings and control over income guidelines and rent levels but turns over extensive repairs and day-to-day operations to a private management company.
Keith Ramsey of Eastchester Gardens noted that of all the NYCHA properties represented in the room, his was one of the only ones that privatized. He and his neighbors are midway through the conversion, with much work happening on the property, and they love it. But he knows he’s in the minority.
“It goes to show that people are scared,” he told the Bronx Times.
Terry from Webster Houses said, “I personally don’t feel [PACT] benefits NYCHA residents,” especially since they are required to relocate for long periods of time while their units are renovated.
But either way, more people, especially young people, need to get involved with their tenant associations, he said. “If you’re not there, they’ll make the decisions for you.”
Danny Barber, who lives at Jackson Houses and chairs NYCHA’s Citywide Council of Presidents, told the Bronx Times that his development has debated privatization.
Barber said that although he was dead set against it, he refused to tell other residents his position and let them come to their own conclusions. Ultimately, they voted to remain a traditional Section 9 property.
One of Barber’s neighbors, a Jackson resident of 43 years who did not want her name published, said she’s seen positive changes under PACT at her sister’s home in Manhattan but did not believe that it was right for them.
She said the apartments in her sister’s building were very nicely renovated under a private manager and that all NYCHA residents should have the same without having to enter the PACT program.
“I know trouble might come with things being private. We want better, but what does better come with?” she said.
Overall, residents seemed to have a pleasant experience but tempered expectations about what improvements would result from the “NYCHA In Your Neighborhood” forums.
Frances Garcia is the tenant association president at McKinley Houses and told the Bronx Times about major issues at her property, including rats “the size of squirrels,” no heat during the winter, at least 25 vacancies in her building alone and elevators that are often out of service despite being replaced in 2024.
Garcia said she felt her concerns were heard by “the people at the table, yes — but that’s as far as it goes.” A lack of funding has weakened NYCHA’s ability to thoroughly address problems, she said.
Garcia said although the federal government bears significant responsibility for NYCHA, she called on Mamdani to do as much as possible to help.
“I just want him to step up,” she said. “It’s the New York City Housing Authority. If he doesn’t do it, who will?”
Click here for more information on the upcoming “NYCHA in Your Neighborhood” events in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
