NYCHA ,which stands for The New York City Housing Authority ,was founded in 1934 after the Great Depression during Fiorello H. LaGuardia’s time being mayor between 1934-1945. “The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from the stock market crash of 1929 to 1939”. This led to low income for residents in New York City as well as the rest of the United States and also led to unemployment for the American people. NYCHA was the first organization in the world to provide low cost housing for people in the 5 boroughs of NYC. It brought a new style of living for people after the Great Depression. The first development was made in 1935 which was called the “First Houses”. It was located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It was made from apartments that were already there and was just renovated. Beginning as a private property , it was purchased by “eminent domain” which is the process of the state or government taking private property for the public to use. The Federal Housing Act of 1937 and 1949 helped to expand public housing and improved living conditions for low income families.
Here is what I would say to the mayor.Although there has been improvement , there are also some downfalls. Just recently on June 11,2018 , “U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman filed a lawsuit accusing NYCHA of violating health and safety regulations, exposing children to lead paint, and training its workers to deceive inspectors under the oversight of chairwoman Shola Olatoye from 2012 to 2016”. This accusation was brought up by NYCHA tenants who just want a stable living conditions for them and for their families if applicable . As the mayor I believe you should take note on these kind of things and try n help prevent further endangerment towards ur citizens.
Speaking towards the residents,As a people , we are usually judgemental without knowing or actually knowing. It’s a natural human thing. Living in NYC , some people are told that living in NYCHA you must have a low income (basically calling you broke and poor). Another example would be that your “ghetto” with intentions to stir the pot in that specific environment. As I was growing up , I always seen people in the residency and some people i know for a fact that they are gang affiliated which leads me to the reason why people expect you to fit that criteria because you live around those people on an everyday basis. From the article  “We The People: The Citizens of NYCHA in Photos + Words’ opens at the Brooklyn Historical Society” it states “The stereotype for someone who lives in public housing is you come from a single parent household. You’re on welfare. You’re involved in some type of elicit crime, probably drug dealer or on drugs,” said Washington, who lived in public housing in Washington, D.C. He says the stereotypes are untrue” For example , that’s just like saying because you live in a white neighborhood , your expected to adapt their culture which is not true. You can live in a place and keep your culture intacted and still come out of there without attachments from that environment. There is even a stereotype amongst the residents themselves. Some residents believe that they can’t make it out the residency due to economic factors or personal factors and decide to put in their mind to stay there and not progress which is also not true. Everyone has their opinions on each other when we should be focusing on bettering ourselves. So therefore together as a unit , residents will have a better outcome of living  if standing up together to help one another  rather than keeping quiet and shutting everyone out .
