East Harlem, NY – At a press conference today inside Corsi Houses, Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs joined NYCHA tenant association presidents from Corsi Houses, Gaylord White Houses, UPACA 5, and UPACA 6 to call on NYCHA to address the safety crisis developing in developments in Harlem and across the city. Assemblymember Gibbs issued the following statement:

“In NYCHA developments throughout our City, non-residents are taking advantage of broken doors and locks to trespass, use illegal drugs, urinate, defecate, and create an unsafe environment in public areas including stairwells and lobbies. It is unacceptable that seniors feel unsafe in their own buildings.

“I am demanding that NYCHA take steps to better secure public housing developments in Harlem and citywide. Most urgently, NYCHA must repair doors and provide 24-hour security guards for these buildings. Furthermore, I am calling on NYCHA to repair lighting systems in outdoor spaces and indoor common areas. We do not want temporary fixes. We want solutions that keep out trespassers and protect NYCHA residents.”

“We also need to address the root causes of these issues, primarily homelessness and mental health. It is heartbreaking that so many New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and mental illness resort to trespassing in NYCHA buildings. This will require coordination between NYCHA and other City agencies, but I am confident we can find solutions that protect public housing residents and the individuals who need support.

“I joined many of my Assembly colleagues in advocating for the $500 million in capital funding for NYCHA that was included in the Assembly one-house budget adopted earlier this week. I am already in contact with NYCHA and we are meeting again soon to discuss these much needed changes.”