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THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
NEW YORK, NY 10007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2023
CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958
MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES NYC’S FIRST-EVER JUVENILE JUSTICE ADVISORY BOARD
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Adams and New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Jess Dannhauser today announced the launch of the city’s first-ever Juvenile Justice Advisory Board to advise and provide recommendations to the mayor, the City Council, and ACS on issues related to juvenile justice. The 20-member board — 13 of which are appointments — follow Mayor Adams’ signing of Intro. 436 in March, establishing the new advisory board and providing for annual reporting to the mayor and the City Council speaker.
Today’s announcement builds on the Adams administration’s work towards improving outcomes for all youth in New York City. Recently, New York City expanded the successful Fair Futures model, which provides one-on-one coaching and tutoring to those whose lives were touched by foster care from sixth grade through age 26 to include youth involved in the juvenile justice system. ACS has also made several enhancements in detention, including the creation of a new school-based team that is responsible for encouraging young people to attend school, which has significantly improved engagement and attendance across both secure facilities.
“Public safety and justice are the prerequisites to prosperity, and our administration has already taken significant strides in making our city safer and more prosperous for all New Yorkers — especially our young people,” said Mayor Adams. “The city’s first-ever Juvenile Justice Advisory Board will give young people a voice in juvenile detention and let their voices be heard by their city government. These appointees bring a wealth of experience in juvenile justice, mental health, and public safety to ensure our young people have a fair shot to succeed.”
“We are excited to launch the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and to do so with the singular focus of supporting the city’s young people who are justice-involved,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “The board will provide guidance and recommendations for helping every young person involved in the system secure the support they need as they transition into being young adults and adults. Thank you to Nancy for helping lead this effort and to all those that will join in on this important work.”
“New York City is working to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for all young people. As Mayor Adams often reminds us, when we invest in our youth, including those in the juvenile justice system, they can do anything — even lead the greatest city in the world,” said ACS Commissioner Dannhauser. “The new Juvenile Justice Advisory Board includes individuals with lived experience, as well as other experts, and I am confident that their recommendations will help further the city’s efforts to strengthen the juvenile justice system.”
“The Juvenile Justice Advisory Board is a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering a brighter future for our juvenile population,” said New York City Department of Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes. “Together, we are paving the way for positive change, collaboration, and innovative solutions to ensure that our young individuals have the support and resources they need to thrive. We are embarking on a transformative journey, empowering voices, embracing diversity, and nurturing a safer, more inclusive city for all.”
“As the agency overseeing the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Crisis Management System and working side by side with a powerful roster of youth-focused CBO partners, DYCD is proud to join our esteemed colleagues on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board,” said New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “We look forward to advancing Mayor Adams’ vision and commitment to young people by recommending new, upstream solutions that support our youngest New Yorkers — especially those most at risk or already justice-involved.”
“We owe our young people engaged in the juvenile justice system a responsive and thoughtful plan to lift them up and guide them towards a path to lifelong success,” said New York City Department of Education Chancellor David C. Banks. “The robust roster of individuals appointed to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board will represent a range of perspectives, including individuals with a background on mental health. I’m eager to witness the impact of this village of support for our young people and commend the city leaders who are prioritizing this work.”
“Identifying opportunities — including at the community level — to reduce youth involvement in the justice system is key to building community safety,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. “I am grateful for Mayor Adams’ leadership in creating the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. I look forward to collaborating with this diverse team of interdisciplinary experts to develop recommendations for comprehensive supports that effectively serve New York City’s justice-involved youth, creating opportunities to thrive and reach their full potential.”
“We know that to build a healthier city, we need to center the needs of our young people,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Bringing together interdisciplinary experts for the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board will help establish a foundation for the future and support the wellbeing of the city's justice-involved youth.”
Chaired by ACS Deputy Commissioner of the Division of Youth and Family Justice Nancy Ginsburg, the advisory board includes members with different types of expertise in the juvenile justice system, including attorneys who specialize in defending New York City youth, mental health professionals, advocates, and individuals personally impacted by the juvenile justice system.
“It is pivotal to empower our city’s young people to have voices in determining the policies that impact their health and well-being,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “I’m proud the council enacted legislation to create a new Juvenile Justice Advisory Board that includes input from parents and directly impacted young people, which can pave the way for a more holistic approach to youth justice. I thank Youth Services Chair Althea Stevens for her leadership on this important bill, and I look forward to their critical work.”
“I’m excited that through the juvenile justice advisory board we will be able to provide guidance and support to our justice-involved youth and their families, to cultivate an equitable system that promotes voice and choice,” said New York City Councilmember Althea Stevens. “Although I am excited about the introduction of this advisory board, this is just the first step to develop new preventative and diversion strategies to ensure young people stay out of their system. We must get to a place where we are investing in our young people on the front end, so we don’t need to invest in them on the back end.”
Juvenile Justice Advisory Board Appointees:
Nancy Ginsburg is the deputy commissioner of the division of youth and family justice at ACS, overseeing a continuum of community-based services aimed at preventing youth from entering the justice system, as well as non-secure detention, ACS’s two secure detention centers, and the Close to Home juvenile justice placement system. She previously oversaw the adolescent intervention and diversion project at The Legal Aid Society in New York City, where she worked for 30 years, and served as a member of the New York State Raise the Age Implementation Task Force, the mayor’s leadership team on school climate and discipline, the New York City School Justice Partnership Task Force, the New York City Council Gun Violence Task Force, and the Task Force on the Future of Probation in New York State. Ginsburg earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. at Albany Law School.
Juanita Holmes is the commissioner of the New York City Department of Probation. She previously served in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) as chief of training, chief of patrol, and chief of collaborative policing, after having overseen the NYPD’s school safety division and domestic violence unit. In the NYPD, Holmes created the highly successful “Girl Talk” mentorship program, where NYPD officers serve as surrogate families to at-risk young women and girls. She also founded the NYPD’s Blue Chips program, which utilizes mentorship, personal enrichment, and sports to help bridge the gap between the police and youth. Holmes earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from St. Joseph’s College and graduated from the Police Management Institute at Columbia University.
Karina Christiansen PhD is the deputy executive director of Office of Neighborhood Safety at DYCD. Karina has been working in New York City government since 2017, starting at the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, where she focused on gun violence prevention policy and co-developed the Atlas Initiative. The mission of Atlas is to improve public safety and to enhance the capacity of community-based organizations to serve people at the highest risk of violence. As the deputy executive director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety at DYCD, she supports the development and implementation of community-based public safety and quality of life initiatives centered around community leadership, healing, and trust. She has a Ph.D. in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Deanna Logan serves as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, previously serving as general counsel and deputy director of crime strategies, where she coordinated multiagency efforts with the courts to meet the requirements of the city’s Criminal Justice Reform Act. She has worked with Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark to create and oversee the Rikers Island Prosecution Bureau, with the New York City Department of Correction to reform and strengthen internal discipline at the jails on Rikers Island, and in the Office of the New York County District Attorney on felony cases involving narcotics violations, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and child abuse. Logan received a B.A. in political science from Boston University and her J.D. at New York University School of Law.
Kristila Brace currently serves as co-acting assistant commissioner of the Bureau of Health Promotion of Justice-Impacted Population at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). The bureau aims to reduce the negative social and health consequences of criminal legal system involvement through innovative policy and practice change. Previously, Dr. Brace served as regional director of mental health, executive director of the crisis prevention and intervention unit at DOHMH, director of crisis assistance, and training/director of the health engagement and assessment program at DOHMH. She has also worked as a behavioral intervention specialist for the New York Foundling’s Developmental Disability Division and was the director of the Bronx Community Reentry Center (Federal Halfway House). Dr. Brace earned her B.A. and M.A. from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Dr. Brace received a doctorate in clinical forensic psychology from the California School of Forensic Studies at Alliant International University.
Sandeep Kandhari has served as the litigation supervisor of the Center for Family Representation’s youth defense practice since 2019. He previously served in various roles with The Legal Aid Society, where he litigated juvenile delinquency cases from pre-petition hearing to post-dispositional hearings. Kandhari received a B.A. from the New York University Stern School of Business and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
Deborah Rush is an attorney with the Bronx adolescent, intervention, and diversion practice of The Legal Aid Society. Having served in this role since 2004, she represents adolescents prosecuted in the Bronx Supreme Court. Rush received a B.A. from Colgate University and a J.D. from Rutgers University Camden School of Law.
Elisabeth Bernard is a staff attorney with the school justice project of Advocates for Children of New York, having previously been an agency attorney with ACS and a youth and community programs coordinator with the Center for Court Innovation. Bernard received a B.A. in criminology from Long Island University, an M.A. in youth studies from the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Professional Studies, and a J.D. from CUNY Law School.
Dr. Akeem Marsh is a child and adolescent psychiatrist serving as assistant medical director for New York Foundling’s Home for Integrated Behavioral Health. He previously served at Bellevue/NYU Occupational Environmental Medicine Clinic, working closely with ACS’ secure detention centers, and recently co-edited a book, “Not Just Bad Kids: The Adversity and Disruptive Behavior Link,” which aims to provide child welfare professionals with tools that can be applied to their clinical work. Dr. Marsh received his B.D. from the CUNY School of Medicine at the City College of New York and a M.D. from SUNY Health Science Center at Downstate College of Medicine.
Jayne Bigelsen has served since 2019 as vice president of advocacy and legal and previously as director of anti-human trafficking initiatives for Covenant House of New York, an organization that provides immediate needs for youth experiencing homelessness or sexual exploitation, including housing. She received a B.A. in psychology from Brandeis University, a master’s degree in applied developmental psychology from Fordham University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Alex Griffith serves as director of court partnerships and strategy for Exalt, an organization that supports youth ages 15-19 who have been involved in the criminal justice system with skill development, navigation of the education and justice systems, paid internship placements, and resources to avoid further justice system involvement. He received a B.A. from John Jay College and completed Columbia Business School’s executive education nonprofit leadership program.
Rev. Wendy Calderón serves as the executive director of the Urban Youth Alliance International, a faith and community-based organization that services youth and their communities. She received a B.A. from Brown University and is currently completing an M.P.H. degree program through the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
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THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
NEW YORK, NY 10007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2023
CONTACT: press@hpd.nyc.gov
HPD Seeks New Partnership to Help Homeowners Pay for Flood Prevention Improvements, Expand Assistance for Small Home Repairs and Upgrades
Seventy-five percent of buildings in the city’s coastal floodplain are one- to four-family homes, highlighting the urgent need to address increased flood risks and other climate threats.
New York, NY – Weeks after New York City was impacted by major rains and floods and just days before the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is searching for a partner organization to launch the expansion of a program that helps low- and moderate-income homeowners pay for repairs and upgrades to their properties – including improvements to protect their homes from extreme weather and flooding events. The City housing agency’s request for interested parties to submit their proposals to implement the program expansion moves NYC one step closer to capitalizing on a key initiative of Mayor Eric Adams’s “Housing our Neighbors” Blueprint, to help communities build and maintain intergenerational wealth through homeownership.
“As the impacts of climate change grow, New York City is committed to maintaining safe and resilient homes, with a focus on supporting lower income homeowners,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Equipping homeowners with critical funding to prevent the worst impacts of flooding provides New Yorkers with the peace of mind through future weather events, and builds on this administration’s work on sustainability, reducing emissions and decreasing energy costs.”
“Just weeks ago, torrential rains and flooding underscored the critical need to help homeowners protect and prepare their homes for inevitable and more frequent storms,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “We are witnessing the direct impacts of climate change, especially in the city’s costal floodplain, where many homeowners live. We are committed to equipping homeowners to face that reality. Through this process, we will bring on a new partner to deliver vital repairs and improvements to homes across the city.”
Originally launched in 2019, HomeFix provides access to low- or no-interest loans up to $60,000 per unit to owners of one-to four-family homes in New York City. The loans pay for repairs that address building systems, housing deficiencies, and other conditions that may be hazardous to residents' health and safety. Eligible renovations may include window replacement and heating, hot water, roofing repairs, and accessibility improvements to help seniors age in place. The program pairs both financial and technical assistance from community-based organizations and non-profit partners, providing financial counseling, construction management, and other individualized services to help homeowners achieve long-term stability.
In the first three years after the program launched, homeowners expressed a lot of interest. To meet this demand, the City is expanding this critical program to help homeowners without access to traditional home repair financing address urgent repair and maintenance needs. The expanded program, HomeFix 2.0, will be funded through a contract with the City for the first time, allowing for the program to cover sustainability and resiliency upgrades to reduce energy costs, advance emissions reduction goals, and help protect homeowners from extreme weather and flooding events.
The request to bring on a new partner to help lead this work comes at a critical time as the city is still recovering from heavy rain and flooding just weeks ago, and as this program aims to serve a population that is particularly vulnerable to flood damage. This Sunday, October 29, marks the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, underscoring the dire need for supporting homeowners in protecting their homes. Seventy-five percent of buildings in the city’s coastal floodplain are one- to four-family homes, highlighting the urgent need to address increased flood risks and other climate threats. In doing so, HomeFix 2.0 will support the long-term preservation of the city’s housing stock, promote the health and safety of residents, and provide critical stability for approximately 150 homeowners each year.
Many low- and moderate-income homeowners need assistance to keep up with rising costs. This need has only grown since the pandemic, which caused instability for many low- and moderate-income homeowners. Rising inflation, supply chain constraints, higher interest rates, and other costs have made home maintenance more expensive than ever. The expansion of HomeFix 2.0 is a vital part of a range of strategies the City is deploying to help existing homeowners address physical and financial conditions in small buildings, prevent foreclosure and displacement, and ensure the long-term stability of one- to four-family homes that are one of New York City’s most important vehicles for neighborhood stabilization, economic mobility, and intergenerational wealth creation.
To learn more about HPD’s programs for homeowners visit the HPD website. For more information about submitting a proposal to the HomeFix 2.0 RFP and other request for proposals, please visit PASSPort.
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THE CITY OF NEW YORK
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
NEW YORK, NY 10007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2022
CONTACT: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov, (212) 788-2958
MAYOR ADAMS, DDC, NYC PARKS BREAK GROUND ON $141 MILLION SHIRLEY CHISHOLM RECREATION CENTER IN EAST FLATBUSH
New Center Will Feature Gymnasium; Walking Track; Indoor Swimming Pool; Fitness, Strength, and Cardio Rooms; Media Lab; and Teaching Kitchen
Project Will Be Completed Two Years Faster Than Through Competitive Bidding Thanks to DDC’s Design-Build Program
New York – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley, and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue were today joined by New York City Councilmember Farah N. Louis, New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, and community members to break ground on the new, $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center at the Nostrand Playground in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. DDC is managing the construction on behalf of NYC Parks.
The new center is named for Brooklyn-born politician, and the first African American woman to serve in Congress, Shirley Chisholm. The daughter of immigrant parents from Guyana, Chisholm also made history as the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties. Her contributions to her community and country are reflective of her desire to affect change.
“Shirley Chisholm inspired millions of young girls to pursue dreams they never thought possible. And when the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center opens, her name will once again inspire another generation, while providing the residents of East Flatbush with a state-of-the-art recreational center that honors the rich history and heritage of this vibrant community,” said Mayor Adams. “I am especially pleased to see that the media lab will bear the name of a personal friend and mentor, Dr. Roy Hastick, who was a true champion of the Caribbean community in East Flatbush. With this project, our administration is using all the tools at our disposal to deliver amenities for New Yorkers more quickly and efficiently than ever before.”
Rendering of the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center in East Flatbush. Credit: New York City Department of Design and Construction
“Shirley Chisholm dared to be a catalyst of change, and this state-of-the-art recreation center will be the inspirational starting blocks for the next generation of New Yorkers to make their mark in the history of our city and beyond,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Thanks to DDC’s design-build program, we will complete this project two years faster than under design-bid-build contracting, and with higher M/WBE utilization rates. Facilities like these underscores the urgency of additional tools, as outlined by the Capital Process Reform Task Force, that will help us to deliver much-needed capital projects throughout the city faster, cheaper, and with greater participation.”
“This project is not only a monument to the famed civil rights leader Shirley Chisholm, it also represents a milestone in city construction as we continue to implement design-build in our capital program,” said DDC Commissioner Foley. “The design-build method involves contracting teams’ designers and builders together as one unit, leading to fewer delays and conflicts, better problem solving, and faster and more efficient projects. Using design-build, we plan to complete the new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center by the end of 2025 — two full years faster than would be expected with lowest bidder contracting.”
“New Yorkers remember Shirley Chisholm as a trailblazer, organizer, and icon. Soon, generations of New Yorkers will also associate her name with this vibrant community hub in the heart of Central Brooklyn — a demonstration of the city’s investing in communities that have historically been neglected,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Donoghue. “True to Shirley Chisholm’s legacy, this administration believes that all New Yorkers — regardless of race, gender, or ZIP code — deserve to be full participants in our city’s cultural, social, political, and economic life. With this new recreation center, the first new Parks recreation center to begin construction in the past eight years, Central Brooklyn residents will have access to vital recreation resources, a beautiful community space, and a state-of-the-art media lab.”
Upon its completion at the end of 2025, the state-of the art recreation center will offer a host of programming offerings and amenities to encourage learning, recreation, and community and civic engagement. The center’s features will include multipurpose rooms; a gymnasium; a walking track; an indoor swimming pool; fitness, strength, and cardio rooms; and a teaching kitchen. The center will also include a media lab named in honor of Dr. Roy A. Hastick, Sr. A Grenadian emigrant and community stalwart, Dr. Hastick founded the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry and served on a number of economic development and community boards to advocate on behalf of the East Flatbush community.
The project is part of DDC’s design-build pilot program and will be completed by the end of 2025, a full two years faster than would be expected under the preexisting lowest-bidder contracting system. Under design-build, design and construction firms cooperate under one overall contract for all design and construction services. This approach increases cooperation between the teams and can cut nine to 12 months off a project’s timeline. The use of design-build also means that construction can begin while the building’s final design is still being developed, something that would not be possible under lowest-bidder contracting.
Earlier this year, Mayor Adams’ Capital Process Reform Task Force — comprised of a group of leaders representing the construction industry, labor, and minority- and women-owned business enterprises — released a slate of 39 recommendations to improve the city’s capital process, from project initiation to closeout. One recommendation advocated for New York state to authorize progressive design-build, a one-step procurement process that would allow the city to quickly select a project team based on qualifications and collaborate throughout the essential early phases of design. This step would build on the city’s successful use of design-build, which was authorized by the state in 2019 and implemented in 2022.
“Today’s groundbreaking of the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is a milestone for our community, whose residents of all ages will soon immensely benefit from a first-of-its kind community hub right in our backyard,” said New York State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. “I’m proud to play a role in offering historic assets and activities for Flatbush, including a teaching commercial kitchen, a state-of-the-art pool, indoor track, a green roof, the Dr. Roy Hastick Media Lab and Business Center, and much more. The $141 million recreation center is carrying Shirley Chisholm’s legacy forward by championing equity with vast opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses.”
“At the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Shirley Chisholm Community Center, it's a moment of great pride and a valuable resource for our community,” said New York State Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman. “This facility has been a longstanding need to provide our youth with a secure alternative to the streets. I'm especially honored to have been involved in the initial planning stages before my election, along with families impacted by gun violence, the youth, and my neighbors. Since taking office we created the Assembly District 58 Public Safety Taskforce that continues to advocate for more resources to invest in public safety and public health. I want to thank Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for laying this foundation, the mayor, DDC, NYC Parks, and my colleagues for bringing this to the finish line and for their commitment to investing in our youth and communities, so that they have the resources they need to live healthy and productive lives. This is a perfect example of ‘It is not an I thing, It is a WE thing!’”
“A portrait of Shirley Chisholm hangs proudly in Brooklyn Borough Hall, reminding us every day that Black and brown voices belong here, in our city, our state, and our nation,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “I’m thrilled that we will continue to honor Chisholm’s contributions to Black excellence and the strength of our democracy with the new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush. Through community, health, and joy, we find the hope that keeps us fighting for a better future. Thank you to Mayor Adams, the Department of Design and Construction, and NYC Parks for breaking ground today on this tribute to a leader who continues to inspire new generations every day.”
“Investing in district 45’s youth, older adults and residents is an investment in New York City's future, and I am delighted to have delivered the $141 million in funds to expand recreation space in Central Brooklyn for its families and, most importantly, East Flatbush scholars,” said New York City Councilmember Farah N. Louis. “The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is a long-overdue and much-needed investment in the betterment of our community. I envisioned a legacy project that included a state of the art and cutting-edge recreation space that this community has long deserved. I am thrilled to see the culmination of all of our community members' efforts to advocate for a recreation facility for all ages, that will provide East Flatbush residents with critical services for decades to come. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioners Foley and Donoghue for their participation in the endeavor to expeditiously establish the most expansive recreation center for the people of Central Brooklyn.”
“The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center is more than brick and mortar; it’s a promise fulfilled to our community,” said New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph. “It represents a space for health, education, and a stronger, united East Flatbush. Today, we break ground on our shared vision for a better tomorrow.”
“The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center has the inspiring mission of serving the community with the same dedication as its namesake, so we are honored to bring our design-build expertise to this important project,” said Steve Sommer, executive general manager and president, east coast region construction, Lendlease. “By collaborating with Studio Gang, DDC, and NYC Parks, we are excited to successfully deliver this recreation center in East Flatbush.”
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to honor Shirley Chisholm’s legacy of public service with a building that will be a true community asset,” said Jeanne Gang, founding principal and partner, Studio Gang. “We designed this building to welcome everyone to gather, learn and play together, and enjoy the park in a renewed way.”