SOUTHERN BROOKLYN NYCHA HOUSING

NYCHA HOUSING IN S. BROOKLYN IS NEGLECTED, THE MARLBORO HOUSES IN GRAVESEND ARE JUST ONE EXAMPLE

The Marlboro Houses at 2740 86th Street ranks as the 41st most neglected development under the New York City Housing Authorities’ management, with some residents waiting years for repairs on leaking pipes, crumbling walls and peeling paint, according to a 2013 “Hall of Shame” list produced by the public advocate at that time, Bill de Blasio.

“Right now we have no gas, and we’re cooking on hot plates,” said Carolyn Spivey, a Marlboro Houses resident. “How much can you cook on a hot plate? Not no turkey for Thanksgiving.”

On October 14th, NYCHA shut down the gas in Building 28, due to a gas leak call. After a “freezing weekend,” as one resident described, the building manager turned the heat back on.

But gas lines to the kitchens have remained shut. And residents have been told by management that it will stay that way until the new year.

One resident, Lisandra Renta, lives with her family in a two-bedroom apartment. Three generations share a home that has gone years without repairs. She said she didn't have grandchildren when she originally asked for her home to be repainted, eight years ago.

Families said they tend to call NYCHA more about complaints since utilities are used more, but that the Customer Care Line doesn't respond faster. Even children are not considered in the ticket system NYCHA broadly applies to anyone that calls with an issue that needs to be fixed by them. And studies show that poverty is shared at a highter rate when family units are larger. The stress of the system is not prepared to handle repairs, even a need for heat, on a case-by-case level.

CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE MEANS FIXES ARE ALWAYS NEEDED

“They’re saying that the gas may not be on until the end of January or February,” said Venice Gaddy, another resident. “Who’s to know? They’re not telling us anything.”

The Customer Care Line is supposed to serve the needs of residents who complain about any number of fixes. Tenants say calls get backlogged and never resolved. Experts, such as Hunter College Urban Planning Professor Nicholas Bloom, say NYCHA residents should take their complaints to the top of government instead of the underfunded call system.