The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) held its latest meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 via a virtual platform. Deputy Federal Monitor, Daniel Brownell, and the monitoring team’s Resident Engagement Team Leader, Asha Muldro, hosted the meeting which was viewed by about 100 people via a live stream. A recording from the meeting is available.

During his opening remarks, Mr. Brownell talked about the important role seniors play as members of their developments and advocates for their residents. Since many seniors serve as tenant association presidents, they have a good sense of their developments’ needs as well as their residents’ needs. Mr. Brownell also gave an overview of the Monitor’s first town hall in March which focused on NYCHA’s Elevator Action Plan and he talked about the monitor’s work with NYCHA to make heat and elevators more reliable.

Key highlights from CAC members included:

  • Senior Director for the Department for the Aging, Agnes Mak, introduced a new program, “Produce and Pantry Bag Distribution Program.” The program provides seniors with 1-2 pantry/poultry bags a month along with educational information on health and nutrition.
  • Council Member and Committee on Public Housing Chair, Alicka Ampry Samuel, provided a recap of the recent city council hearing on “Seniors Aging at NYCHA During a Pandemic.”
  • NYCHA Executive Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, Eva Trimble updated attendees on the alternate-work-schedule-program and a three-month pilot program with three developments in Brooklyn. The focus of the program is to bring caretakers back to a building-based assignment. NYCHA is requesting resident feedback to help evaluate the program. Ms. Trimble noted that a handful of priority projects from the Transformation Plan will be NYCHA’s next focus and they will be building project teams to include resident participation. She also announced the launch of a resident roundtable the week of April 19.
  • NYCHA Resident Engagement Department Manager, Gina Watkins, provided updates on outreach to seniors to help connect them to services for food, mental health, and COVID-19 vaccines and testing.

The discussion included concerns from resident leaders serving on the committee as well as their suggestions for helping to resolve issues related to sidewalk sheds and scaffolding, development lighting, educating seniors about available services, and security.

Ms. Muldro thanked Tamika Williams-Moore, tenant association president at Pomonok Houses in Queens for her service on the CAC and introduced Manny Martinez, tenant association president at South Jamaica Houses as the new CAC member representing Queens.

Additionally, Ms. Muldro thanked Jodi Callender, senior advisor for Housing and Economic Development at the New York City Office of Deputy Mayor Bean for her participation and service on the CAC since she is leaving the committee to focus on a new position with the Mayor’s office.

Please continue to visit our website for more information and to register for upcoming meetings: