Int. No. 1709
By the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Member Ampry-Samuel
A Local Law in relation to the creation of a task force to study, report on, and make recommendations to improve New York city housing authority’s engagement with tenants and to address tenant concerns about safety and quality of life
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. a. For purposes of this local law, the term “housing authority” means the New York city housing authority.
b. There is hereby established a task force that shall study, identify issues with and recommend changes to the housing authority’s policies regarding tenant engagement and addressing tenants’ concerns about building safety and quality of life.
c. The task force shall be composed of the following members: Two members who shall be appointed by the mayor, two members who shall be appointed by the speaker of the council, and two members who shall be appointed by the public advocate. One member shall be designated as chairperson by the public advocate from among his or her appointees. In addition, the mayor shall invite the housing authority’s chief executive officer, the executive vice president for community engagement and partnerships, and the federal monitor’s community advisory committee each to appoint a representative to the task force.
d. All members shall be appointed to the task force within 60 days of the effective date of this local law. The task force shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days after a majority of its members have been designated or appointed pursuant to subdivision c and shall meet at least quarterly thereafter. Members of the task force shall serve without compensation.
e. No member of the task force shall be removed except for cause and upon notice and hearing by the official who appointed that member. In the event of a vacancy, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
f. Within 1 year after the first meeting of the task force, and annually thereafter, the task force shall submit a report to the mayor, the speaker of the council, the public advocate, and the federal monitor established pursuant to the January 31, 2019 agreement with the housing authority, identifying key tenant concerns regarding building safety and quality of life, the housing authority’s progress in addressing the identified issues, and recommendations for addressing tenant concerns.
g. The task force shall hold at least two public meetings before submitting the report required pursuant to subdivision f of this section.
h. The task force shall continue for as long as the January 31, 2019 agreement establishing a federal monitor is in effect. If such agreement ceases to have effect, the task force shall submit a final report pursuant to subdivision f following such cessation and shall dissolve 1 year after submitting such final report.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
EB
LS #9473
June 7, 2019 1:31 pm