Friends,

Today I am writing to share about something personal to me that is very important. I am a member of New York Cities Housing Association, or NYCHA, as I live in the 40 projects (South Jamaica Houses) of South Jamaica. 

Recently, the Queens Daily Eagle published an article titled, “Vulnerable NYCHA tenants leaders forced to go door-to-door squirting state-issued sanitizer in coronavirus fight.”  

As the fight against Coronavirus continues, one thing is exceptionally clear. There was no plan in place to protect the most vulnerable parts of our community.

People, like Manny Martinez, my housing association president,  are now forced to go around and individually distribute these items to each of the thousands of residents who live in public housing. This is profoundly negligent with the present circumstances we face. NYCHA tenant association members who have underlying health risks and conditions are now forced to go and interact with every resident to make sure they get the supplies they desperately need.

Why is it that our leadership so often neglects and pushes aside our community members who are in the greatest need of assistance?

This spawns many issues now.

• There are no guidelines or parameters set in place to know how much of the supplies are to be distributed to the residents of the buildings. 

• This forces volunteers and members of NYCHA’s residents associations to interact with thousands of residents spread throughout housing projects. 

• This imposes unsafe conditions and circumstances for Black and Latinx members of our community, who make up the majority of NYCHA housing and are also disproportionately affected by CoronaVirus as it is.

It disappoints me that my neighbors are more inclined to go and get their own things because by the time NYCHA is able to provide these essential services to them, it will have already been too late. For too long our communities and housing associations have struggled and been neglected. 

That's why if I am chosen to represent NY-5, I will be sure that organizations and initiatives such as NYCHA, are properly funded, and strategized to be sure that residents are being properly cared for in these times where they are being left most vulnerable. 

As a public housing resident, I cannot express to you how important it is that we defeat Meeks on June 23rd, 2020 and give all of  Southeast Queens and Nassau county the representation it deserves.

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My work does not end on election day, it begins. 

In Solidarity,

Shaniyat.