The legislation, passed last year, requires the city to establish a new 311 option for tenants to report and request inspection of empty units creating hazards in their buildings. It was supposed to go live in early August.
The City Council’s resolution implores the state legislature and HUD to “take strong action and increase NYCHA accountability by auditing the responsiveness of NYCHA managers to tenants,” citing complaints from residents about work orders languishing or getting closed without an actual fix.
“Es hora de reconocer que los residentes de NYCHA son una parte integral de la ciudad. Al igual que otros inquilinos, deberían tener derecho a un acceso completo al sistema de aplicación de los códigos de la ciudad”, dijo un analista de la política de vivienda que pide que los inquilinos de NYCHA tengan acceso a los inspectores de edificios de la ciudad.
“It’s time to acknowledge that NYCHA residents are an integral part of the city. Like other tenants, they should be entitled to full access to the city’s code enforcement system,” said one housing policy analyst calling for NYCHA tenants to have access to city building inspectors.
City Limits examined 311 data related to heat and hot water complaints over the past three years, and found the highest number were in areas populated by communities of color and lower-income individuals. They include Washington Heights, followed by several neighborhoods in The Bronx, including the community district where the deadly Twin Parks fire occurred.
The de Blasio administration sometimes argues that its enforcement of low-level crimes like marijuana possession is driven by calls to 311. But there’s little indication that arrest numbers and call volume are related.
City Limits uses investigative journalism through the prism of New York City to identify urban problems, examine their causes, explore solutions, and equip communities to take action.
Founded in 1976 in the midst of New York’s fiscal crisis, City Limits exists to inform democracy and equip citizens to create a more just city. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by foundation support, ad sponsorship and donations from readers.
Support local, investigative journalism that has informed and empowered New Yorkers for 45 years.
Support local, investigative journalism that has informed and empowered New Yorkers for 45 years.
