National Action Network Housing Committee New York City Chapter

Community, I'm asking you to please stand in solidarity with the disability community in fighting for equality. Elected officials have a moral obligation to uphold the law and protect the Americans with Disabilities Act - not violate it.

To sponsor buses that are not wheelchair accessible is not only illegal, it's egregiously disrespectful to my disability community as well.

I'm asking my Facebook friends, family members and followers to please stand with the disability community in solidarity as we fight for systemic change and equality. Let's start a petition against those who continue to violate the ADA.

I'm willing to have a sit down with any elected official or organization who's willing to support systemic change.

Martin Baez
Civil Rights Activist

Please join us tomorrow Saturday, November 19th from 1-3pm at the House of Justice for the "most informative and preparatory" Housing Town-Hall you will ever attend.

The Panelists and Keynote Speaker will address why New York City's Affordable Housing is "Under Siege" and what can be done to protect tenants in OUR community. We will have Q&A for the audience as well.

We are encouraging EVERYONE to please arrive early and secure their seat, we are expecting a large crowd tomorrow.

Please feel free to circulate the flyer within your network and bring as many people with you as possible. All Are Welcome!!!

Please join us at the House of Justice on Saturday, November 19th from 1-3pm for the most "informative and preparatory" Housing Town-hall Forum that you will ever attend.

The Panelists and Keynote Speaker will address why New York City's Affordable Housing is "Under Siege" and what can be done to protect tenants in OUR community. We will have Q&A for the audience as well.

We are encouraging EVERYONE to please arrive early to secure their seat as we are expecting a lot of people to attend this special event.

Please share the flier with your network and bring as many people with you as possible. All Are Welcome!!! See you at the event. As always, thank you for your continued support.

Please join us at the House of Justice on Saturday, November 19th from 1-3pm for the "most informative Housing Townhall Forum" that you will ever attend.

The Panelists and Keynote Speaker will discuss why "New City's Affordable Housing" is Under Siege and what can be done to protect the tenants in OUR community. We will have Q&A at the event for the public as well.

We are encouraging EVERYONE to please arrive early and secure their seat, we are expecting a large crowd at the event.

Please share the flier with your network and bring as many people with you as possible. All Are Welcome!!! See you at the event.

The deadline to apply is November 15th.

I received a complaint from Mrs. Davis from the Grant Houses on September 22, 2016 regarding having no gas in building 1315 and 75 Lasalle Street since late August.

I reached out to Mrs. Grace, the Housing Manager of the Grant Houses regarding the no gas issue. She informed me that tenants were given hot plates to prepare their meals.

She also stated that Con Edison started working on the gas line. The gas should be restored hopefully by Thanksgiving. After the gas is restored, it has to pass inspection by the Department of Buildings, Con Edison and the New York City Housing Authority.

I have been in constant communication with CCM Mark Levine's office and BP Gale Brewer's office as well.

Management had a meeting with the tenants of 1315 and 75 Lasalle Street on Thursday, September 22nd and Thursday, September 29th. The TA monthly meeting was held on Friday, September 30th.

Tuesday, October 4th, I reached out to Meals on Wheels and spoke to Tenette. She informed me that they had already started giving out "one meal" a day to home bound seniors at the development; 60-yrs-old and older. I expressed to her that some seniors on fixed income are experiencing major financial hardship therefore more needs to be done to offset further hardship. She agreed. They are willing to provide "two meals" a day for those seniors who are experiencing major financial hardship.

Finally, earlier today, I reached out to David Priston, the Executive Vice President for External Affairs of NYCHA. He gave me updates regarding the gas issue.

Below, I attached the letter I sent to CCM Mark Levine's office on 9/29/16.

September 29, 2016

Stephanie,

It was an honor and pleasure speaking with you as well on the phone regarding the dissatisfaction and concerns of the tenants at the Grant Houses.

To offset financial hardship on the tenants of the Grant Houses, NYCHA should adjust their rent until the gas is fully restored.

Management should make every effort in providing tenants with disabilities, seniors and families on fixed-income reasonable accommodations so tenants can prepare meals to feed their family without further hardship. It is unrealistic to expect tenants to feed a family of three or more on one hot plate.

Solution:

The National Action Network Housing Committee - is fully committed in advocating on behalf of the tenants. We are reaching out to the Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, New York City Housing Authority, grass-roots organizations and elected officials in collaboration to help find the needed resources to better assist the tenants of 75 Lasalle Street and building 1315.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to meeting with you in your office next week to further discuss a plan of action.

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me at the information provided below. Thank you in advance for your time.

Respectfully submitted,

Martin Baez
Chairman
National Action Network Housing Committee of the New York City Chapter

The tenants at the Grant Houses have been without gas in buildings 1315 and 75 Lasalle Street since September 6th.

Tonight's meeting for building 1315 is at 6pm and for building 75 Lasalle Street is at 6:30pm with management at the Grant Houses. Please attend the meeting so you can address your concerns and needs.

I just got off the phone with the manager of the development, there is no date as of yet to when the gas is going to be fully restored.

In the meantime, I am working closely with the office of Gale Brewer and CCM Mark Levine to see how we can best assist the tenants. I will provide more information to people as soon as I get updates.

The New York City Council is sending out the wrong message by lowering the standards of "quality of life" by allowing alcohol consumption in public, public urination, littering, breaking parks rules, and unreasonable noise therefore disturbing the peace of others.

Moreover, this new legislation will support "low moral" and "criminal activities" in low-income communities all around the city. Therefore, sending us back to re-live the era of burning buildings, junkies and panhandler taking over our communities the way they once did back in the 70's and 80's.

Where is the leadership and moral compass of our elected officials? Are we compromising our "public safety" to promote "poor behavior"? This new legislation does not pass the smell test, nor does it afford us real solutions that points us in the right direction!!!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-city-soften-penalties-minor-crimes-article-1.2647309

http://abc7ny.com/news/8-people-shot-across-4-boroughs-in-violent-night-in-nyc/1362206/

Martin Baez
Civil Rights Activist

New York City will soften penalties for minor crimes Penalties for a host of minor offenses will be eased under a sweeping package of criminal justice legislation.

The photos from the Labor Unions' Welcoming Home Rally for Hillary R. Clinton at the worlds famous Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

Residents take matters into their own hands...

I was quoted today in the Daily News regarding the Citi Bike Share program: "The Citi Bike Share program is the gateway to gentrification." - Martin Baez, community leader
http://m.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/harlem-activists-fight-citibike-gateway-gentrification-article-1.2544565

Harlem activists fight Citibike 'gateway to gentrification' Harlem leaders want Citibike to keep its cycle of gentrification out of their neighborhood.