How inefficient and mismanaged is the New York City Housing Authority? A recent audit from City Comptroller Scott Stringer's office found $84,000 worth of air conditioners, light fixtures, sinks, and other materials were unaccounted for at a warehouse in the Bronx. In addition, similar materials valued at $85,000 were missing from a warehouse in Brooklyn. And on several occasions, a NYCHA employee picked up materials for a development and signed for them as "X-Men." So what's being done about it? Today, NYCHA CEO Shola Olatoye joined Stringer to announce "a sweeping overhaul of the agency’s inventory system." In addition to senior inventory personnel being fired or demoted, NYCHA physically secured all six of its warehouses. In addition, the Housing Authority is creating a new "Supply and Inventory Management Working Group." The inventory scandal follows complaints from residents about repair backlogs, security flaws, and unsanitary conditions. What do you say? What's your reaction to the disarray in tracking $100 million in inventory at NYCHA? Do you have faith in management to correct these issues? If you live in public housing, have you noticed improvements with repairs and security features recently? If you work for the City or State, how much waste and inefficiency do you see on the job?
Schiumo's Thoughts
We've been talking about NYCHA's problems for years. Residents have been living it for decades. If elected officials can't figure out solutions, they should listen to the tenants. I've learned, they have the answers.
Your Thoughts
I have been complaining about mold and mildew issues for 2 years in my apartment. I have been living here for 4 years. They never had an issue out of me. There was a pipe that busted in the apartment next door to me 2 years ago. They came and fixed my neighbors wall and pipe but never came to fix mine, in fact they just kept giving me excuses and told me that because I was on the first floor it was to be expected. I called the 707 number and put in several tickets for this problem and mysteriously they all been cleared out the system. Long story short I stopped paying my rent because of this issue and they tried to evict me. So we went to court and I paid the back rent but I still have this problem in my kitchen cabinet under the sink. Now the wood is rotted and my cabinet is falling off he wall. I have taken several pictures and videos to show them the severity of the situation, they just looked at it and walked off. I also had someone come in and look at it. I was told that my kitchen was not up to code. I also paid someone out of my own pocket to fix the damages to my wall due to the busted pipe. I just cant afford to replace the cabinets. Its also not my job. I am a single mother with 3 children all under the age of 7. This is where I have to prepare their meals every day. I've been to the management office several times and they still arent doing anything. There is a court order for them to come and fix it by the 6th of May. Again still nothing. I seriously don't know what else to do. I can't afford to live any where else so I'm stuck here. Its not fair to my children or me to have to live this way and I pay rent every month.
Tasheema, Baisley Park houses, Jamaica Queens.
It sounds if NYCHA is going through the same negative path New York City Correction has been facing for over fifteen years. Because our former Mayor demanded all uniformed staff do more with less, and high brass wanted their staff do more with almost nothing, the severe lack of care; recreational services & security created such a hostile environment for the inmates to have to dwell in they became more violent among themselves & staff, and in lieu of high ranking brass working on giving them what their employees needed in providing the services the inmates were suppose to have, instead they falsely found blamed in their employees and punished them when they couldn't turning gold into straw. It is a shame that both agencies that hire a higher ratio of minorities than other local agencies, also scapegoat them for their own administrative negligence.
McQueen
NYCHA should be dismantled from the top members on down. All of these city run organizations have a very negative reputation and need to have checks and balances. They are too large to be constantly allowed to fail!! They should begin to audit them on a yearly basis just to be safe that all funding and materials that are being paid for with our tax dollars are being allocated appropriately and to avoid the mass abuse and neglect of all of these unfortunate New Yorkers who deserve to be treated better.
T from Brooklyn
I WORK FOR NYCHA'S CAMERA UNIT AND THE SYSTEM THAT IS BEING INSTALL IS VERY EXPENSIVE. IF NYCHA WOULD HAD INSTALL A LESS EXPENSIVE BUT EQUALLY EFFECTIVE SYSTEM EVERY DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE CAMERAS.
ANONYMOUS
Hi John,
I hope that you remember when your adorable son was first born and your show topic was related to tonight's topic regarding why it takes so long to get repairs done? I emailed you an example of how sad it is that if you had submitted a work order when your adorable son was only 2 months old and the repair was not completed until your son started kindergarten that you would be upset too. (hope this doesn't sound harsh...smile) I am not sure how old your son is now, but, I think I may have to change the timeline or getting work done before he starts college....yikes. Mr. Stringer better step it up. Wishing you the best.
kathy from Throggs Neck da bronx
I WORK FOR THE CITY NYPD CLERICAL. JUST FAXED THE CHAIRWOMAN A LETTER ABOUT A PROMISE THE MAYOR MADE ABOUT PJ AVETTO AND THE LITTLE GIRL THAT WAS STABBED IN THE ELEVATOR LAST YEAR. WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS. I PAY OVER $1,000 IN RENT AND SERVICES ARE SUCH THAT WE NEED CAMERAS TO STOP INDIGENTS FROM SOILING URINATING IN ELEVATORS AND STAIRWELLS AND VANDALIZING.
ON THE SCOTT STRINGER INVENTORY ISSUE. IF I WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND WHILE I WAS AT WORK INVENTORY WENT MISSING IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED CRIMINAL EVEN IF I WASN'T THE ONE WHO DISAPPEARED THE INVENTORY. LABEL A SPADE A SPADE THE INVENTORY WAS STOLEN DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT. THERE ARE SO MANY PROMISES MADE AND NONE THAT ARE FINISHED. PEOPLE GET POOR SERVICE AND THERE ARE STILL NO CAMERAS IN THE ELEVATORS - STAIRWELLS AND ROOFS AFTER TWO CHILDREN WERE STABBED. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
SABRA
NYCHA is mismanaged like every other City agency out there. Graft and corruption are plentiful because no one gets held accountable. The fact that the X-Men can sign off on supplies means the people involved know audits are a joke. Put a few people in Rikers and watch them figure things out really quickly.
Sean - Jackson Heights NY
I had complained about my bathroom wall for 2+ years. They finally fixed the problem. It took NYCHA 2 days to replace the toilet & sink THEY DISMANTLED to fix the wall. They wanted me to wait longer, although they left me with no bathroom. This should’ve never happened! I wrote a letter when the problem first began to the Chairperson complaining…it still took 2+ years. She needs to go!
Crystal Lewis- Red Hook West
I agree with the gentleman from Lafayette houses. Heads need to roll. There is no accountability. It is obvious that funding and supplies have been taken or mismanaged for years. They don't need to spend money on an investigation they need a complete overhall of this system. NYC housing also has a problem bookkeeping. Tenants alway wind up in housing court due to poor recording keeping. This system need to be exposed.
Barbara from Lincoln Housing Manhattan.
THE LAST 2 ADMINISTRATION ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOR THE NYCHA MESS SO GIVE THIS ADMINISTRATION A CHANCE.
PEDRO, BRONX
The key word here is accountability. It is apparent that there has been no accountability from the people at the top.
Linda, East Harlem
Anyone else get the feeling Scott Stringer is going to be our next Mayor? He seems to really be getting things done while Di Blasio is off on some rediculous tour.
Keith, Brooklyn Heights
My question is; you have all these people and workers saying that this has been going on for decades and they are upset about like Ienez Rodriguez but how come they didn't bring it up to the people above them? Why did they wait decades to speak up? Now they want to jump in the finger pointing pool so people won't blame them. This should have not taken decades to find out that thousands of inventory was missing.
Alexander, Woodside Queens
Tammany Hall never dies in this city. Boss Tweed would be so proud of our electeds.
Frances, East Village
maybe if crime wasnt so high, along with vandalism, maybe nycha would do something… --how long would cameras last ? before there stolen ?……. STOP KILLING YOURSELVES!!!..AND START POLICEING YOURSELVES…
patrick, BAYRIDGE
I worked for nycha for 3 years.mr stringer is 100% right!if it was a private business,housing would be bankrupt & closed 50 years ago.in my working life of 30 years at various jobs I have never seen such incompetant management as at nycha!
Anonymous
how dare we kill dogs and cats in shelters for lack of funds, after this. shame on nycha!!. disgusting…
Patrick, bayridge
SHOLA AYATOLLAH SHOULD REQUEST SOME SIMPLE PROTOCOL SUCH AS A SIGN OUT SHEET WITH A CONFIRMED EMPLOYEE I.D. THAT LEDGES THE MATERIEL BEING REMOVED FROM THE WAREHOUSE, SIGNED BY A SUPERVISOR FROM THE HOUSING SITE IN NEED. NOW, THAT'S ACCOUNTABILITY.
JOE, BAY TERRACE
Hi John,
I would suspect that if it isn't nailed down then it's gone and forgotten. This is and has been an on going problem and that includes all supplies, paper products, etc. This is the same problem as was discussed last night. All agencies, etc. are run the same way and it's up to the supervisor to oversea the problems but you can not work in any civil service job and inform on people because they can make your life miserable for sure. Plus many people in management have worked with these same employees that they are responsible for. It all starts at the top and the only way to correct it is to try to make those at the top accountable but there are to obstacles along the way on their way up the ladder. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE TO APPLY THIS PHRASE AT ALL = [ IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING ] A Reminder - the most expensive of supplies in all industries are the paper products. Just think of what goes missing in the DOE. Some companies in private industry have you sign for all supplies taken. This is a tough one.
maxxiee, mp
John,
This does not surprise me at all. Mismanagement,employee theft is so common now. Accountability is the word. Kudos to Scott Stringer for uncovering all this.
Jeanne, Jamaica, NY
John,
I'm not surprised at any of the problems and scandals with NYCHA properties and NYCHA itself. First and foremost, NHCHA should be should be shutdown. All NYCHA properties should be sole to private organizations and managed by independent personnel. The idea is that the inhabitants should be the owners of the space they live in and should pay expenses for it just like any renter does. The long term goal is to turn all NYCHA tenants into home owners.
Joe, Port Richmond, SI
The X-Man is a position that takes care of move outs at a housing complex. In other words it is an actual position and not someone playing games.
Roscoe, Park Hill