Int. No. 1911-A
By Council Members Torres, Ampry-Samuel, Ayala, Gibson, Rosenthal, Barron, Menchaca and Rivera
A Local Law in relation to the provision of information to tenants of the New York city housing authority regarding the mold ombudsperson
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For purposes of this local law, the following terms have the following meanings:
Call center. The term “call center” means the ombudsperson’s call center established pursuant to the court order.
City. The term “city” means the city of New York.
Court order. The term “court order” means the court order issued on September 20, 2019 in the case Baez et al. v. New York City Housing Authority by the United States district court in the southern district of New York.
Elected officials and community representatives. The term “elected officials and community representatives” means each council member, borough president and community board in the city, each state senator and state assembly member representing a district that is wholly or partly within the city, each United States congress member representing a district that is wholly or partly within the city, and each tenant organization and community-based organization identified by the office as providing services to tenants.
Mold ombudsperson. The term “mold ombudsperson” means the ombudsperson appointed pursuant to the court order or any subsequently appointed person with similar duties.
§ 2. Provision of information about the mold ombudsperson. The mayor shall designate an office or agency to distribute to each unit in a development of the New York city housing authority a non-electronic pamphlet, flyer or other printed material containing information about the mold ombudsperson and the right of a tenant of the New York city housing authority to contact the mold ombudsperson. Such pamphlet, flyer or other printed material shall include information in English and each of the designated citywide languages, as defined in section 23-1101 of the administrative code of the city of New York, about how to contact the mold ombudsperson, including through the call center, with a complaint about mold and what information to include in such complaint. Such pamphlet, flyer or other printed material shall be provided to each unit in a development of the New York city housing authority and to each elected official and community representative no later than 60 days after the effective date of this local law. Thereafter, such pamphlet, flyer or other printed material shall be provided to each unit in a development of the New York city housing authority and to each elected official and community representative at least annually. The designated office shall additionally communicate such information about the mold ombudsperson via telephonic communication at least once annually to each unit in a development of the New York city housing authority. For tenants who receive rent statements electronically, the designated office may distribute such pamphlet or flyer via electronic mail.
§ 3. Public briefing. No later than 60 days after the effective date of this local law, and at least annually thereafter, the office or agency designated pursuant to section two shall hold a public briefing for elected officials and community representatives for the purpose of providing information about the functions and responsibilities of the mold ombudsperson.
§ 4. This local law takes effect immediately and expires and is deemed repealed on the date that the mold ombudsperson or any subsequently appointed person with similar duties ceases to be appointed.
NAB/AS
LS #12389
11/10/2020 7:52 pm