New York City is launching a new series of public forums aimed at giving NYCHA tenants a direct line to city agencies, an effort officials say is designed to address long\u2011standing issues inside public housing developments.<\/p>\n
The initiative, called “NYCHA In Your Neighborhood,” is being led by the Mamdani administration in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority. The forums come after the city\u2019s recent \u201crental rip\u2011off\u201d hearings for private housing tenants.<\/p>\n
For many NYCHA residents, the concerns are familiar and urgent. <\/p>\n
At the James Monroe Houses in the Soundview section of the Bronx, residents say basic services often fail. On a recent day, the building\u2019s elevator was working, but tenants said that\u2019s not always the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re always fixing it, like putting little band\u2011aids on it, but they don\u2019t actually fix the issue,\u201d said resident Giselle O., who has lived in the development for 24 years.<\/p>\n
She said outages, temporary repairs and a lack of long\u2011term solutions have become routine. Her concerns extend beyond the elevators. <\/p>\n
\u201cCold nights, the water is always going in and out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Another resident, Wendy Pagan, said she lived for four years in an apartment with no cabinets, no sink and deteriorating walls before she was transferred to a new unit. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy house was with no cabinets, no sink, the walls were falling down,\u201d said Pagan. <\/p>\n
City officials say the new forums are meant to address these types of persistent problems. Multiple agencies will be on site to provide resources, while NYCHA staff will offer one\u2011on\u2011one assistance for repair requests, environmental hazards and other tenant concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a wonderful idea,\u201d said resident Carmen Trinidad, \u201cI know a lot of people around here have a lot of opinions, a lot of things to say.\u201d <\/p>\n
Trinidad said her top concern is public safety. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more police officers to patrol,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the administration hopes to use tenant feedback to help shape housing policy and improve living conditions for the thousands of New Yorkers who rely on public housing. For residents who have filed repeated service tickets with little progress, the forums represent a chance for meaningful change.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou gotta wait, and wait and wait just to have something done,\u201d Giselle said.<\/p>\n
The first three NYCHA in Your Neighborhood forums will take place across the city beginning May 20 in the Bronx. <\/p>\n
The city says tenants can register<\/a> online and that more events are expected to be scheduled.<\/p>\n Bronx<\/p>\n Date: May 20, 2026<\/p>\n Location: Classic Community Center at Melrose<\/p>\n Address: 286 East 156th St., Bronx, NY 10451<\/p>\n Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Doors open at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Requests for reasonable accommodations or language interpretation should be made by May 11, 2026, by emailing accessibility@nycha.nyc.gov <\/a>or calling 212-306-3335.<\/p>\n Brooklyn<\/p>\n Date: June 3, 2026<\/p>\n Location: Van Dyke Community Center<\/p>\n Address: 392 Blake Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11212<\/p>\n Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Doors open at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n Requests for reasonable accommodations or language interpretation should be made by May 25, 2026, by emailing accessibility@nycha.nyc.gov<\/a> or calling 212-306-3335.<\/p>\n Manhattan<\/p>\n Date: June 17, 2026<\/p>\n Location: Ethel Battle Velez Community Center<\/p>\n Address: 1833 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10029<\/p>\n Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Doors open at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n