By Colin Campbell 8/17/12 9:40am

Defense

The Hammel Houses in Queens (Photo: Wikimedia)

Bloomberg: ‘We’re Not Walking Away From Public Housing and Most Other Cities Are’

New York City Housing Authority has been in the news lately after it released a report on its ongoing problems, which was followed with Mayor Michael Bloomberg replacing a couple board members. But Mr. Bloomberg strongly defended the agency during his weekly radio show and suggested his critics should manage NYCHA if they don’t like the job that’s being done.

“NYCHA is as dilapidated as the worst of its rat- and mold-infested projects,” one of those critics, the New York Daily News editorial board wrote today. ”Summing up, its bureaucracy doesn’t know how to make routine repairs, perform major renovations, buy supplies, apply for federal funding or collect rents.”

“We are really trying, and there is no easy solution,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “And it’s going to get worse and they’ll be able to write another story about it.” Read More

By Matt Chaban 8/15/12 5:30am

Housekeeping

Houses of the holy. (Skyscraper Page)

Not in Our House: Pols Defend NYCHA, Attack Media

Is the media to blame for NYCHA’s problems? Or, more specifically, the Daily News? That was certainly the impression given by a handful of pols on the steps of City Hall this afternoon.

Led by Rosie Mendez, chair of the City Council’s housing committee, the group applauded the New York City Housing Authority’s recent improvements over the past months and years. While it was widely acknowledged that the state of public housing in the city was far from perfect, the situation was indeed improving in the view of those huddled under the portico of City Hall as it drizzled on the steps just beyond.

“NYCHA’s problems are profound,” Queens Councilman LeRoy Comrie said. “They cannot be explained away in a newspaper article that simply says they are not doing their job.” Read More

By Matt Chaban 8/13/12 6:00am

Housekeeping

Will you protect this house? (Matt Chaban)

House of Canards: Jeffries, Looking to Washington, Calls for NYCHA Investigation—But Is the Problem the City Itself?

Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries convened a press conference yesterday calling for a federal investigation of mismanagement of the New York City Housing Authority. Mr. Jeffries and about 50 of his constituents were lined up in front of the Farragut Houses, wedged between the BQE and the luxury lofts of DUMBO.

Throughout the half-hour event, while away from the podium, the would-be Congressman, dressed in a navy suit with subtle pinstripes and geometric red tie, would dip his hand into his pocket and withdraw a blue handkerchief that matched his shirt. He would duck his head and swiftly dab at his brow before returning the hankie, to do it all over again a few minutes later.

Assemblyman Jeffries looked as though he wanted to hide the fact that he, too, was human, and thus susceptible to the heat. But the thought that crossed our minds was imagine having to live in one of these brick-and-concrete monoliths on such an unbearable day. It turns out that is the unfortunate case year-round. Read More