Torres and NYCHA new mold law
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BRONX TIMES R 28 REPORTER, DECEMBER 18-24, 2020 BTR
Wear a face covering at all times when
outside their home, indoors and outdoors.
Not have visitors in their home, except
for caregivers.
Avoid public spaces and gatherings.
Stay home if sick, except for
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Bill de Blasio
Mayor
Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc
Commissioner
BY JASON COHEN
Mold and leaks have
plagued NYCHA buildings for
decades, but now fi nally something
is being done to fi x it.
On Dec. 11, Congressman-
Elect Ritchie Torres was
joined by NYCHA residents,
MetroIAF and South Bronx
Churches at the NYCHA Morris
Houses, Washington Ave.
and E. 169 St., to announce the
details of a new law passed
by the City Council that will
help tenants understand their
rights to mold removal in their
apartments and help accelerate
repair work in NYCHA developments.
The legislation will require
the city to send NYCHA
residents information about
the new Ombudsman Call
Center (OCC), which tenants
can call to report mold issues
and outstanding repair work.
The OCC has been successful
in helping over 4,100 NYCHA
families get mold and leak repairs
done.
Torres, who grew up in a
NYCHA building, and stressed
this issue, is quite personal.
“I know what it’s like to
be repeatedly hospitalized
by asthma attacks that were
triggered by my living conditions,”
Torres commented.
The councilman explained
that complaints to NYCHA often
go unheeded and even if
they “fi x” the problem, it returns
within weeks.
Now with his new legislation
and the help of the OCC
people can fi nally feel healthy
in their homes, he stressed.
While more than 4,000 people
have taken advantage of it so
far, he hopes more contact
them for assistance.
“The Housing Authority
cannot be trusted to effectively
remove mold,” he stressed.
“We’re to inform NYCHA residents
that there is a process in
place for holding NYCHA accountable
for removing mold
from your home. We’re here to
send a crystal clear message
that every resident deserves
safe affordable housing.”
Torres expressed gratitude
to Metro IAF and South Bronx
Churches for their help in creating
the OCC. Rev. Bert Bennett
of St. David Episcopal
Church, 384 E 160th St., spoke
as a representative of the
South Bronx Churches.
According to Bennett,
there are still thousands of
people who do not know the
OCC exists and are living in
horrid conditions.
“They are stuck with the
typical NYCHA culture of
painting over mold or just
ignoring it all together,” he
stated.
One person who has taken
advantage of the new program
is Bernard Smith, a resident
of the Morris Houses. He has
lived in public housing for
nearly 35 years and the conditions
have gradually gotten
worse.
In March, he called NYCHA
about plaster falling off
the wall in his bathroom and
nothing took place. Then people
came to the apartment and
told him there was a leak. After
removing everything from
the bathroom, NYCHA offi -
cials returned and told Smith
they had the wrong apartment.
He was shell shocked.
Smith soon learned about
OCC and called them in September.
By October, his bathroom
was completely fi xed. He
noted that most of his neighbors
do not know about the
OCC.
“I recommend everyone
call the OCC if they have a
mold or leak problem,” he
said.
Congressman-Elect Ritchie Torres was joined by NYCHA residents,
MetroIAF and South Bronx Churches to announce the details of a new law
passed by the City Council that will help tenants understand their rights
to mold removal in their apartments, and help accelerate repair work in
Photos by Jason Cohen
/coronavirus