An Open Letter to Our City, State, and National Representatives
Residents at NYCHA’s Elliott-Chelsea Houses are fighting for their homes. Who’s on their side?
Editor’s Note: This is an open letter to NYS Assembly Member Tony Simone, NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher, and Congress Member Jerrold Nadler Chief of State Robert Gottheim, following the recent Town Hall held at P.S. 33 in Manhattan regarding NYCHA’s plan to to privatize and demolish the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses. You can read more about that plan here.
By Lizette Colón
I woke up this morning with the following phrase roaming in my mind and soul: “..In an ideal world…”. It was a phrase used several times by you, as the invited elected officials to the CB4 Town Hall held last night at PS 33. Throughout the evening you pretended to answer the CB 4 questions that were framed by the moderators. Every answer you gave was characterized by half truths, rehearsed statements and discernible paternalistic demeanor.
It became evident that your responses were primarily tailored to serve the interests of private entities seeking to appropriate Chelsea public housing. As our elected representatives, you appear to have fundamentally deviated from your mandate to represent the constituents that elected you, opting instead to champion powerful vested interests. Your prolonged and inscrutable explanations, delivered with condescending bravado, seemed designed to project an image of competence while disregarding the detrimental impact on the community.
Following the meeting, numerous tenants and other Chelsea community members expressed increased confusion and frustration stemming from the vague and noncommittal answers they received. More significantly, many conveyed a profound sense of dismissal and a pervasive feeling that their concerns were disregarded.
Returning to your aforementioned phrase, “in an ideal world”, I wish to delineate what should have transpired in a truly ideal scenario last night.
In an ideal world… tenant-posed questions would have been prioritized at the Town Hall. These questions would not merely have been collected on index cards, with uncertain timelines for their resolution, but would have been addressed directly by you, facing the NYCHA tenants with transparent and factual information regarding plan options and their respective timelines. The NYCHA tenants and other Chelsea community members were encouraged to attend and voice their opinions, only to be informed upon arrival that the plan had been altered.
In an ideal world… you would have demonstrated the requisite time and courage to unequivocally and respectfully express your commitment to listening to tenants' concerns and pleas, refraining from dismissing them from the stage or presenting the entire plan as a ‘Done Deal’.
In an ideal world… the elderly residents of Elliott-Chelsea Senior Housing, their most vulnerable population, would have been afforded protection. Their building would never have been designated as the first for demolition in the proposed plan. They would not have been exploited throughout this process or subjected to partial information and unfulfilled promises, which have instilled fear and uncertainty regarding their already precarious future.
In an ideal world...as elected officials, you would have tirelessly advocated for the consistent and systematic repair and maintenance of Chelsea NYCHA tenants' homes since the inception of your terms.
In an ideal world...as elected officials, you would never have condoned NYCHA's lack of accountability. Instead, you would have joined tenants in denouncing and combating NYCHA's substandard practices, including management inefficiency, misuse of funds, and deficiencies in accessibility and safety.
In an ideal world... instead of talking about future amenities such as modern dishwashing, chutes and sun rooftops, you would have already initiated an investigation into the discrepancy between the availability of funds for repairing vacant apartments and the lack of funds for repairing residents' apartments. Furthermore, clarification would have been provided regarding the potential reduction in the size of new apartments.
In an ideal world...you would have offered honest answers pertaining to the ULURP process.
In an ideal world… as elected officials, you would have embraced the voices and support of the surrounding community as fellow NYCHA neighbors, rather than promoting our portrayal as adversaries, a tactic reminiscent of the divisive "divide and conquer" strategy. You would also have acknowledged that as neighbors in the immediate Chelsea communities, we possess valid concerns about the impact of the proposed demolition plan that warrant comprehensive answers.
In an ideal world…current reports and studies by experts would be meticulously considered for any proposed new option plan.
In an ideal world... a survey result that conspicuously omitted the "No Demolition" option would never have been construed as a legitimate voting outcome. Any future voting mechanisms, if deemed necessary by tenants, should be meticulously constructed and clearly phrased, with the direct input of tenant leaders. Moreover, an independent and credible source, such as the AAA, should be engaged to ensure a transparent and equitable outcome. Once again, such a decision must be made by the tenants.
In an ideal world... our elected officials would possess unwavering courage and a mindset unburdened by scarcity.
In an ideal world... as elected officials, you should have delivered a clear message to the Chelsea NYCHA tenants last night: a reaffirmation of your accountability to them and a commitment to honor your roles as elected officials, just like you do with us in Penn South. You should have pledged to respectfully address their needs and relentlessly advocate for the living and safety conditions they have consistently demanded and deserve, and for which you, and all your predecessors have historically failed to be responsible.
While acknowledging that we do not reside in an ideal world, it is imperative to remind you that as our elected officials, you are fully responsible for representing all residents of Chelsea. I urge you to commence honoring your roles with courage and political will. The time for meaningful action is long overdue for the residents of Chelsea-Elliot and Fulton Houses.