Chelsea Working Group recommends $366 million
to repair public housing in neighborhood
BY DEAN MOSES
On Feb. 23, the Chelsea
NYCHA Working
Group along with the
Tenant Association Presidents of
Fulton Houses and Elliott-Chelsea
Houses announced their fi nal,
comprehensive report regarding
recommendations of the funds
that should be spent for much
needed repairs within several
Manhattan public housing units.
The working group, an organization
led by residents, is
also comprised of local tenant
associations, resident representatives,
elected offi cials, Community
Board 4, housing advocates,
NYCHA, and members of the
Mayor’s Offi ce. Members spent
more than a year compiling data
that determined $366 million
is required to address critical
repairs for approximately 2,073
NYCHA units in the Fulton,
Chelsea, Chelsea Addition, and
Elliott Houses.
“Today is a signifi cant moment
for how we ensure NYCHA residents
are at the heart of planning
Elliott-Chelsea Houses. PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
Objection! Protesters rally in Manhattan after
hit-and-run diver leaves justice system unscathed
BY DEAN MOSES
Protesters objected to the
District Attorney’s offi ce
over the handling of the
Dec. 11 hit-and-run of anti-ICE
marchers.
Over a dozen individuals
gathered outside of New York
Criminal Court at 100 Centre St.
on Feb. 22. Amidst the tumbling
snowfall, a wall of human bodies
was created, each one displaying
an image depicting the moments
after Kathleen Casillo rammed
through marchers with her black
BMW Sedan, injuring six people.
Almost three months later many
of those who were struck by the
52-year-old’s vehicle say they are
still awaiting justice.
The photographs at the rally
showcased everything from protesters
writhing on the ground in
pain to a close-up of Casillo herself.
“ADA Andrew Mercer and his
for our futures. I am proud to
have been part of the Working
Group and am grateful to my fellow
participants for giving their
time to helping identify a path
forward for achieving long overdue
repairs,” said Fulton Houses
Tenant Association President
Miguel Acevedo. “Going into this
process, we didn’t know what to
expect, especially with demolition
on the table. To release this fi nal
plan, keeping our buildings intact,
our rights preserved and futures
secured, the NYCHA residents in
Chelsea fi nally have something
great to look forward to.”
In the spring of 2019, the
Chelsea Working Group was
developed after the community
objected to NYCHA’s proposal to
demolish a portion of the Fulton
Houses. Ongoing conversations
with residents led to the creation
of the working group to provide
input and determine just where
and how much money should be
allocated in repairs.
“This is an exciting moment to
see real, resident-led change come
to NYCHA and my neighbors
Protesters rally outside of New York Criminal Court calling out
the District Attorney’s office for mishandling a hit-and-run case.
supervisors do not value my life.
The NYPD does not value my life.
This should bother you if you look
like me, if you think like me, if you
support me, or if you are poor like
me. ADA Andrew Mercer and his
direct supervisors have shown
throughout this whole process that
their primary concern is the care
who have suffered long enough.
We have created a plan that will
address urgent concerns without
sacrifi cing our dignity or rights,”
said Elliott-Chelsea Houses Tenant
Association President Darlene
Waters. “Thanks to our partners,
especially the housing advocates
and elected offi cials, who fought
alongside us to make this happen.
After approximately 18
months of weekly meetings, the
amalgamation of diverse individuals
from a wide variety of
backgrounds worked together to
PHOTO BY ANDY CAVALLARO
and comfort of Kathleen Casillo,”
said Roque Rodriguez, still propping
himself up on crutches.
While many of the protesters
say they are still struggling with
physical and emotional angst
stemming from the traumatic
instant a car broke through their
ranks and sent bodies fl ying, they
determine key points that Chelsea
NYCHA’s buildings need to focus
on repairing.
The Working Group was determined
to safeguard and expand
tenant rights both current and
future, which included a 99-year
lease with the development team.
In protecting residents, they are
calling for rents to be capped at
30% of income or the contract
rent in order to protect tenants
whose home may be converted
through the Permanent Affordability
Commitment Together
say Casillo was given an easy ride
by police and the District Attorney’s
offi ce.
Charged with reckless endangerment,
Casillo was given a desk
appearance ticket following the
collision between human bodies
and the car’s hood. Still, protesters
say they are not advocating for
the driver to be imprisoned, only
for her license to be revoked and
for the truth to be acknowledged.
According to those at the rally,
Casillo was given such a light
charge since members of the DA’s
offi ce say it cannot be known for
certain if the driver’s intentions
were to harm people, something
protestors at the rally fi nd to be
ridiculous, especially after releasing
videos of the incident.
The previously released footage
appears to show the Queens
resident’s BMW Sedan hitting a
single protester, lifting the man
off his feet before the vehicle stops
(PACT) program.
In addition, the group wants to
create a continued engagement so
that community input will always
be involved in the NYCHA renovation
processes.
Their main concern was demolition,
which the Working Group
hoped to avoid, according to a
press release on their concerns.
“Additionally, the report asserts
that development of any
residential infill sites should
balance maximum revenue
for capital renovations while
respecting the NYCHA campus
and neighborhood context and
providing a range of additional
affordable units while minimizing
market rate units. Revenue
generated from infi ll development
will be targeted to critical repairs,
including new kitchens and
bathrooms for all current public
housing units, new elevators, new
and more resilient heat and hot
water systems, increased security
measures and bring the buildings
up to current fl ood protection
standards, among other improvements,”
the press release read.
for a number of seconds. After the
brief delay—which drew the ire
of several other marchers—the
Sedan then sped forward, sending
those in the roadway hurtling into
the air. With all this backing their
claims, those there that day say
the truth is self-evident.
“She sat in the BMW beside
her daughter, she saw people
protesting with signs and horns,
she saw people with their back to
her,” said Sofi a Vickerman, one
of those who participated in the
Dec. 11 march. Ms. Casillo could
have turned to her daughter in the
passenger seat and said look at
those disgusting people. She could
have rolled down the window
and screamed ‘All lives matter.’
She could have laid down on her
horn so our message could not be
heard. Kathleen Casillo plowed
through an intersection of fathers
and sisters and lovers and friends,
all behind the safety of her white
skin and two tons of metal.”
The Villager and amNY
reached out to the DA’s offi ce
for comment and is awaiting a
response.
Schneps Media Month Day, Year 3