RAB_Info

NYCHA will hold five Town Hall meetings at which the public is invited to raise question regarding the draft plan to senior NYCHA officials. These meetings will be held between 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at the dates and locations shown below:

Thursday, July 11, 2002	Brooklyn	New York Technical College Klitgord Auditorium 285 Jay Street at Tillary Street Brooklyn, New York
Tuesday, July 16, 2002	Manhattan	Pace University Schimmel Theater Spruce Street Bet. Park Row and Gold Street New York, New York
Tuesday, July 23, 2002	Queens	Elechester Industrial Center 67-35 Parsons Blvd. at Jewel Ave Flushing, New York
Tuesday, July 30, 2002	Staten Island	I.S. 49 Dreyfus Intermediate School 101 Warren Street at Gordon Street Staten Island, New York
Monday, August 5, 2002	Bronx	Melrose Community Center 286 E. 156th Street at Morris Avenue Bronx, New York

NYCHA also invites public comment on the proposed plan at a public hearing to be held on Thursday, August 15, 2002, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at

Each location listed above is both handicapped accessible and can be reached using public transportation

Written comments regarding the draft plan are encouraged. To be considered submissions must be received not later than August 15, 2002. Comments may be sent either through the internet address set out above or via ordinary mail (fax submissions will not be accepted) to the address set forth below:

A final meeting on the proposed FY2002 Agency Plan will be held with the RAB before it is considered by the Board and submitted to HUD. The meeting will be held on Thursday evening, November 15, 2001, at 5:30 P.M., in the 12th floor Boardroom, at the Authority's main office, located at 250 Broadway in lower Manhattan.

RAB members had received a copy of a Bill sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel. which would repeal the community service provision, if enacted by the Congress. This bill is H.R. 2493.

Mr. Rangel, on July 30th, has proposed an amendment to the FY2002 HUD Appropriations bill, prohibiting housing authorities from using funds appropriated by that measure to implement or enforce the community service program. This amendment is for H.R. 2620.

This act by Rep. Charles Rangel to me, personally, shows that he is truly a public servant in favor of NYCHA residents. Where does the other Congressmen stand on this issue? Their vote will determine my vote at the time of election. For those who believe in slavery in this 21st century, should have their bags packed and relieved of their official duties to the American people. One war against slavery should had been enough. Now it's our turn to vote out those who believe the word "mandates," really means "volunteers."

On May 24, 2001, the Resident Advisory Board and the Council of Presidents, went to Washington to present to the Honorable Members of the United States Senate and the Honorable Members of Congress House of Representatives, a statement of position regarding the budget status modification and the Repealing of Community Service and Pet Sections of Housing Authority Act.

With six buses and over two hundred and fifty residents of NYCHA, made a strong representation, in numbers, of their grievances, to the above members of Congress. I am focusing only on one of the four issues presented. That issue is Community Service. It goes as follows:

"We strongly recommend the repeal of the community service requirement proposed in Section 12c Housing Authority Act of 1937. While we respect the national call to volunteerism and the value of community service, requiring Americans who happen to be residents of public housing to perform voluntary services, indeed, making our continued residency contingent on those services, is insulting and inconsistent with America's basic tenants of governance. It is noteworthy that while the letter promulgating the message defined community service as a voluntary function, or homes will be forfeit if we don't comply. In what way is that voluntary? To us, it feels like blackmail.

The great majority of public housing residents are in the workforce, paying taxes, and struggling along with their non-public housing brethren to blend the multiple demands of work and family. In all fairness, how can we be asked - no coerced - to work without pay and additional eight hours a month while no other working people are asked to carry this burden? To mandate us, without any representation , to perform work in this manner because we have a certain address is an authoritarian, inhumane policy laden with discrimination and lacking in due process. It must also be noted that this policy bears particular malice to African-Americans, a people well versed in the politics of forced labor. Many of our public housing residents are but three or four generations removed from slavery, and are incensed at the ruthless, yet all too familiar imposition of a forced work / no pay / no rights program.

We beseech you to rethink this policy and the means in which it might be deployed. Public housing residents throughout New York and all of America are irate at the notion of this regulation and the offensive manner in which it is being presented."

A notice will appear in the next edition of The Housing Authority Journal announcing access to RAB members via the newly established post office and/or the fax line.

*1. Introduction* *Delegate Role Call* *Welcome*	*Steven Love* *Director, Federal Relations,* *Policy and Compliance* *Gerry Lamb, Chair,* *Council of Presidents*
*2. Introduction* *RAB Responsibilities* *The Agency Plan Process*	*Steven Love*
*3. Financial Resources*	*Roy Sinclair,* *Deputy General Manager, Finance*
*4. Housing Needs*	*Amy Hosier,* *Director, Research and Policy*
*5. Open Discussion*	*RAB Members*
*6. Adjourn*

The next meeting of the Resident Advisory Board will occur on Wednesday, March 21, 2001 at the 6th Floor Cafeteria at NYCHA's 90 Church Street offices at 5:30 P.M.