Residents Demand Mayor’s Attention on Public Housing Issues

Residents living in public housing are calling on Mayor Zoran Mamdani to address the dire conditions in city-run apartments during his first “rent rip-off” hearing in Brooklyn. They described these situations as “inhumane.”

Tenants of the New York City Housing Authority expressed frustration over being excluded from sharing their experiences in a recent case against landlords. They hope the agency will take their complaints seriously, which include slow maintenance, poor pest control, and inadequate security.

“The city is our landlord, the mayor is our landlord, and, well, we are his tenants. So why aren’t we included?” asked Shavoya Cicero, 38, as she pointed out issues in her apartment at Walt Whitman House.

A mother of four, residing just a short distance from the hearing, also voiced her concerns, stating, “It’s unrealistic and unfair for us to live in these conditions and not have a voice.”

Cicero, who works as a hairdresser, mentioned she’s become a sort of DIY expert since getting repairs done feels nearly impossible. She’s painted over water stains and covered broken tiles with contact paper, even using tape to obscure holes in her child’s room.

“I document everything,” she said, frustrated by the agency’s excuses about staffing and delays. “I’m just so tired of waiting.” When asked what she would say to the mayor, she simply replied, “Remember us. We have problems too.”

Interestingly, the “Rental Rip-off” hearings only allow private building tenants to testify, which means 500,000 New York City residents can’t voice their grievances.

The mayor’s office responded by stating that NYCHA tenants would have opportunities to engage individually with city staff regarding various issues, including heating problems. They also mentioned upcoming plans to enhance housing conditions for all New Yorkers, including those in public housing.

Carmen Hernandez, a senior resident at Walt Whitman House, shared her daily struggle with heating issues, saying, “I keep calling about the heat. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve called.” Despite her support for Mamdani, she’s exhausted by the need to repeatedly reach out for help.

Adorn DuBose, who leads the Sumner House Tenants Association, expressed disappointment that public housing tenants weren’t permitted to air their concerns during the hearings. “This landlord needs to improve,” she asserted, pointing out that repairs need to be expedited and that the city should address the increasing rat problem in public housing.

Eloisa Rowe of Borinken Plaza Houses emphasized that tenants in public housing also pay rent, and therefore deserve better service and security to protect their well-being.

Meanwhile, Lucas Greer, president of the Williamsburg Residential Tenants Association, acknowledged the limitations on public participation at the hearings, suggesting that Mamdani’s focus might not align with the pressing concerns at NYCHA. “I understand why he wouldn’t want a huge turnout complaining about NYCHA issues,” he said.