Billions For NYCHA Repairs Unlocked With New Trust, Gov Says

NEW YORK CITY — Flakes of lead paint. Cabinets falling off the walls. Hot water disappearing. Long waits to replace single lightbulbs.

NYCHA residents for years have waited for such repairs to 25,000 apartments, which officials project will cost $40 billion — and a new land trust enacted Thursday could help finally fast track them.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust into law. She said the trust will unlock billions in federal funding to fast track long-overdue repairs.

“Never again will conditions be able to deteriorate the way they have,” she said.

“We’re going to cut all the red tape, we’re going to cut the costs and speed up the construction timelines."

The trust established in bills sponsored by state Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz and state Sen. Julia Salazar isn't only focused on repairs.

A key provision in the law is what Hochul and officials touted as a first-in-the-nation opt-in voting process for resident, which encompasses everything from the trust itself to choosing vendors for repairs.

Mayor Eric Adams said NYCHA residents under the trust will effectively be like homeowners such as himself who can choose their own mortgage program, among many other rights.

"Now, NYCHA residents will have the right to decide if they want to participate in this land trust," he said.

"I have the right to pick the vendor that I want to repair something in my home — now, NYCHA residents have the right to pick the vendor to the repair something in their home. I have the right to say if the ticket is closed or not, not that you decide is closed based on your standard, but it's closed based on my standard. Now, NYCHA residents have the right to determine if it's repaired or not. You are now having the rights that you fought for."

Adams blamed racism toward Black and Brown residents for letting conditions in NYCHA residences deteriorate.

Public officials were in "total denial" of NYCHA residents' complaints of faulty elevators, leak-prone apartments, problems with heat and a slew of other long-standing issues.

“All you were saying is, ‘Give me what I was paying for,’” he said.

The trust also will fix procurement policies and double federal subsidies for NYCHA, Hochul said.