Rosemary Salazar testifies on fire panel responsibility at NYCHA OAC
Rosemary Salazar, program director at University Settlement, asks NYCHA to take responsibility for fire panel systems at older adult centers on NYCHA property. She says NYCHA previously monitored the fire panel but now refuses responsibility, saying it belongs to the community-based organization. She says the fire panel at the Neighborhood Center is not connected to FDNY or a monitoring company.
I am.
Good afternoon, everyone.
So good afternoon to the committee.
My name is Rosemary Salazar.
I'm program director for University Settlement's Older Adults Program, serving New Yorkers age 60 and above.
And thank you so much for providing the space to discuss our experiences.
I'm testifying to ask that NYCHA take responsibility for tasks that fall under the domain when older adult centers are located on NYCHA property.
Specifically, I'm speaking about fire panel systems, which in our experience have been monitored by NYCHA.
However, now that one of our centers requires a functioning and properly connected fire panel, NYCHA is removing itself from that responsibility.
We know this affects other centers as well, and as part of University Settlement, a settlement house in the Lower East Side that works diligently
for its community members as well as with its partners, we're aware of the challenges that OACs face when NYCHA does not act to maintain these spaces.
I oversee two older adult centers in the Lower East Side, including the Neighborhood Center, which has been part of University Settlement since 1974.
My goal is to ensure that these sites are comfortable, they're engaging, and that our spaces are safe for our older adults.
Like many centers throughout the five boroughs, our sites are located
on NYCHA property, and that presents some challenges.
For instance, our fire panel at the neighborhood center is not connected to the FDNY alarm system or any monitoring company, and NYCHA has refused to take action to correct the issue.
They say the responsibilities lie on the community-based organization that occupy the space.
So for as long as I can remember, and even staff before myself, NYCHA has partnered with FDNY Fire Safety to conduct and inspect and monitor the fire panel and the safety of our center.
In 2024, when the panel developed serious issues, FDNY inspectors repeatedly reported the needs to repair a replacement to NYCHA.
Because of the functioning...
Thank you.
Your time has expired.
Thank you.
That's normal.
All by now, are you there?
No?
Okay.