Project Heat

Today we are NOT discussing a new collaboration between Jay Z and Pitbull. But stay, please! We’re actually discussing inefficiency in NYC public housing. Nothing demonstrates this failure like the infamously uncomfortable temperatures created by mismanagement and antiquated facilities. These result in what is colloquially referred to as “project heat”.

Project heat is the term used to symbolize the exaggerated heat that is unleashed upon NYCHA residents throughout the winter. You must think I’m crazy to be complaining about being warm during the winter months. Allow me to clarify.

New York City has established heat and hot water guidelines in order to ensure that landlords provide adequate levels of heat and hot water during cold temperatures. NYCHA tries to follow these guidelines but the way it is delivered leads to asthma, heat rashes and the need to open windows to offset the hotness. Just don’t try to take extra showers because the same heat that is making you sweat, has made the hot water disappear. Enter inefficiency. Basically one has to run fans, and open windows to create a livable environment. This got me thinking.

When NYCHA finds itself in the spotlight, it is mostly to highlight the ways the agency fails its residents. It seems that weekly residents are paraded on the tv, or at town hall meetings. They all talk about the horrible conditions they live in. Ceilings cave in, bathroom flooring sinks, plumbing ruptures, and rats make themselves at home. These are the stories we associate with NYCHA. But there is another side to NYCHAs failures. Project heat is symbolic of this.

It seems that NYCHA is really good at certain things. The question is should those things be the priority? And if not, what should be?

NYCHA houses 400,000 New Yorkers throughout the city. Managing 328 buildings is not an easy task and NYCHA has faced significant budget constraints, meaning they do more with less. The current NYCHA Chair and CEO, Shola Olatoye, has created “NextGeneration NYCHA”. NYCHA is proud of its progress and toots its horn proudly in the 2017 executive summary. But in the Mitchell Projects’ senior building improvements have translated to new (hideous) red flooring throughout the hallway. And numerous discussions over bingo games about said flooring being too “dam bright!” And not more important than the “dam stove!” the residents have a clear idea of what repairs would positively impact their lives.

Residents on the top floor deal with water leaks anytime it rains or snows. I’m sure deep down the seniors enjoy bloody red flooring, who doesn’t? But why would NYCHA choose to replace flooring in public spaces, that was in no way hazardous, instead of repairing ceiling leaks, wall cracks, leaking refrigerators and broken down elevators?

NYCHA is attempting to address what it can, with what it has. This translates to critical repairs such as roofs happening slowly, and new hallway tiles appearing overnight. Funding is allocated to projects without considering the livability of individual units. NYCHA is the organizational equivalent of anyone living below in poverty in NYC. You do what you can, not what is necessary. Roof and elevator repairs at Mitchel are the medical equivalent of a visit to Lincoln Hospital when one isn’t shot. But if shot, by all means request Lincoln. But if you are suffering from gallstones, you will die in that waiting room, praying that someone would shoot you…. I digressed.

The things that could truly make a difference like alternative energy solutions/ efficient windows have not been prioritized in the past. The new sustainability efforts are focused on; you guessed it, quick fixes, with promises of long-term climate adaption in operations and building. I’m a fan of recycling BUT, when you have seniors accustomed to garbage shoots you can’t expect them to suddenly start sorting trash and walking outdoors to place everything in the appropriate shiny new container. If you look at the progress report, NYCHA has spent millions on external lighting. But for most residents external lights do very little for their quality of life.

If we look at Singapore, only because I’ve been there, NYCHA is a joke. In Singapore 80% of residents live in some form of public housing. 90% of them own their unit. Their housing authority takes into consideration density, environment and community needs. This translates to high rises developed as communities with shared spaces/ experiences encouraged. They also deter ethnic clustering, ensuring diversity amongst residents. Their buildings honor their environment by taking advantage of crosswinds, using solar energy, including rooftop green spaces and encouraging residents to line dry their clothing. They are also well lit.

But NYCHA has an app. Which is great I guess… because the last time my brother went to visit he called customer service and was told that my grandmother places too many complaints. At least the app isn’t passive aggressive. But what happens the next time it rains? And when will my grandmother’s ceiling stop leaking? And how can we direct the leak into the empty bottles we’ve sorted? Or did she figure out how to get the water seeping through her ceiling to direct itself towards the refrigerator? All of that water should be there. And why is it so fucking hot in this apartment!?