REALTIME FILE

AHA-TENANT MEETING

APRIL 21, 2020

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Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is provided in

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totally verbatim record of the proceedings.

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>> Hello. Welcome. Who just joined us?

>> Hello.

>> Hi.

>> How do you doing?

>> Can I ask who just joined us? If I can ask -- hi, if I can

ask everyone to mute their phones except for the person that just

joined us.

>> Yes. I'm a tenant. I just joined in.

>> Hi. Can I have your name?

>> Rosalyn Green. Live at 1 Lincoln Square. Thank you for

joining us.

>> No problem. I'm interested to see what's going on. Just

like everybody else.

>> I see Mr. Wilson joined us?

>> My name is Lamont Green.

>> Welcome, Lamont.

>> How you doing?

>> You're also 1 Lincoln?

>> I'm in 3.

>> 3 Lincoln. Welcome. Thank you for joining us.

>> Yes, yes.

>> I'm going to do my best to capture everyone who is on the

call. Time is now 1:01, so we will begin our presentation.

I want to welcome everyone for joining us today to discuss

Lincoln Square Homes proposed disposition residents meeting. I

thank you for your interest, and, again, joining us.

We do have --

>> Hello?

>> Hi. Thank you for joining us.

>> How you doing?

>> I'm well, thank you.

>> Hi.

>> What I am going to do to control the conversation at the

moment, I am going to have to mute everyone. Everyone is welcome

to join, but I just need to mute everyone for the moment so that I

can complete my introduction, and then we'll -- there will be a few

instructions, and then we'll go forward.

And again, I want to capture everyone who is on the call. Right

now it's showing 16 people, but bear with me as I go through this.

Thank you all.

>> Okay.

>> So, again, I want to thank everyone for joining us, for our

Lincoln Square Homes proposed disposition. We do have several team

members on this call. We have -- my name is Chiquita D'Arbeau. We

also have Laura Moody, she is our in-house architect for the Albany

Housing Authority. We have Steve, our senior asset manager. We

have Tina Noguera. We have Dara Sims, who is our -- the executive

assistant to Mr. Longo and our executive team.

We also have Brian Heeger, who is a partner. And Segun, I know

I'm going to butcher your last name. We have Segun, who is a partner

of ours. I need him to pronounce his last name, because I do not

want to butcher it.

>> Hello. It's Obasanjo.

>> Again, can everyone please mute their phones? Thank you.

Repeat your last name for me?

>> It's Obasanjo. O-B-A-S-A-N-J-O.

>> Obasanjo. Now I will never mispronounce it again. Thank

you so much for that clarification. And last but not least, we have

our executive director, Steven Longo, who will be presenting the

presentation, as I will act as the moderator. At the moment, he is

going to start the presentation. There will be times -- moments

where you can ask questions.

I do ask that you all mute your phones during his presentation.

At some point, we will take a break and ask if there are any questions.

If you have the ability, you can ask your questions in the chat room.

You will see on the upper right-hand corner next to the number of

attendees there is a little -- I guess a bubble.

If you click on that, you can type in any questions. I will

be looking for those questions, and at some point, will address them

as well.

When you do speak, please identify yourself and where you live.

Again, I want to thank you for joining us, and we will get started.

Mr. Longo?

>> Yes. Thank you, Chiquita. I greatly appreciate that. Can

everybody hear me? Can you hear me?

>> Yes.

>> Great. So, as she mentioned, I'm the executive director of

the Albany Housing Authority, and I'm coming to you today from the

headquarters building at 200 South Merle Street. We are still open

for business during this health crisis. The majority of our office

workers are all working remotely. They have the ability to use the

computer at home, and a phone at home, as if they were at their desk.

So all of our caseworkers are still interacting with all of their

clients in public housing and Section 8. Our maintenance

department, down to 50%. And the maintenance folks are doing

emergency-only work orders right now. And keeping the interior of

the building as clean and trying to sanitize any areas that people

touch. I truly hope that everyone on the call today is healthy. I

implore you to stay safe. I ask that you abide by the social

distancing wherever possible in the buildings, and that you wear a

mask.

We are working on trying to get masks for those residents that

don't have them. And we will keep everybody posted on that.

So, with all that's going on today, the last thing I want to

do is to give you another thing to worry about. So I ask that

everybody take a deep breath and let it out and relax, and understand

that nothing -- the Housing Authority is not going to do

anything -- but we do want to keep you all informed, and we want to

be open and transparent.

For some 15 years now, the housing authority's strategy and

long-range plan was to replace the Lincoln Towers that are stacked

on top of each other with lower density apartments, or apartments

scattered throughout the south end. So we have produced many of

those apartments, but we didn't move families out of the towers,

because we didn't have the funds to take the towers down.

And because we have so many people on the wait list. However,

because we have not replaced the elevators and the electrical gear

switches and the boilers and the other things, we're not able to keep

Lincoln online. And so, over the next year to year and a half, we

will be working with each family in Lincoln, starting at 3 Lincoln,

and offering another public housing apartment, and/or a sectioning

8 voucher, along with any out-of-pocket expenses that you would incur

in moving.

So, at this point in time, those of you that are able to join

us with a visual on your computers or smartphones, there is a slide

presentation. And I'm going to be going through the slides you can

use the chat function. It's the circle in the top right-hand corner

to type any comments that you might have, or if you want to ask a

question. And she can handle interrupting me.

Otherwise, we're going to have a question session at the end

of the slide presentation.

So the first slide that we want to cover, incidentally, we are

asking everybody to identify themselves with their apartment numbers

to Chiquita, because not only are we recording the presentation along

with the questions, but we also are going to be taking a record of

everybody who joined us today and letting the United States

department of housing and urban department follow along with this

procedure that we're following in order to decommission the Lincoln

Towers.

So I'm just going to go through the slides. You can indicate

that you have a question using the chat bubble.

Lincoln Square was built in 1967. It was substantially

rehabilitated in the mid 1980s. There were four buildings. One

was -- all three were renovated. The systems are breaking down.

[Indiscernible]

>> If I can ask you to pause the meeting. Whoever just joined

us, please mute your phone.

>> Again, a vacant high-rise was demolished in 2004. That was

4 Lincoln Square. The Albany housing authority, when someone moves

out and we canvas people off the waiting list, it is difficult to

find residents or applicants on the waiting list that want to move

to Lincoln Square.

In 2019, an analysis by an independent consultant has gone

through the requirements to meet the HUD obsolescence test, or

determine that the physical conditions of the building are beyond

what can be rehabilitated reasonably.

HA in the past 15 years has built 156 low-rise apartments in

the neighborhood. That are available to be used for relocation units

for Lincoln.

Let's see. Other things we wanted to mention on this site. The

city of Albany, working with the housing authority and our other

partners, have come up with a neighborhood plan. It's over 15 years

now old. It's called Capital South, and a copy of that plan is on

our website.

The city has recently announced that due to the age of the plan,

they are going to be working with a new urban planning consultant

to update the plan. And we're looking forward to the Housing

Authority and its residents participating in that plan.

[Indiscernible]

[Background noise]

Step one, is to over the next year, to year and a half move the

folks out of Lincoln and then determine what will be coming.

The immediate plan. AHA administrative transfers. The Albany

housing authority has the authority to make administrative

transfers. So, in our annual plan and our statement of policy for

public housing, there's three or four criteria to meet for transfers.

So we have many people now that are on the transfer list at

Lincoln. And we're going to begin or we have already begun to contact

people that are on the transfer list asking if they would like to

leave now, and that policy is outlined in ACOP, Admissions and

Continuing Occupancy Policy.

[Indiscernible] requested a transfer, and then we're going to

be contacting [indiscernible] -- [background noise]

In the poorest condition. Our goals are to take the stress off

the major building systems. So, for instance, 1 and 3 Lincoln, the

electrical equipment and the boiler is located in 2 Lincoln. Each

unit that we empty is going to take the stress off of the building

system.

[Hearing background noise from unmuted participants]

To keep the 1 and 3 running until all those families or

individuals are out.

Okay. So next, we have a schedule. It's subject to change,

but it's based upon the best available information.

So, we are planning on submitting the paperwork and the final

plan to HUD next month, in May of 2020. And we're hoping that the

HUD folks, they too are affected by COVID-19, and are largely working

remotely. But we're hoping that we will get approval by the plan,

of the plan by August.

We then will be working to give all residents a 90-day notice

and in September we will be starting interviews with residents,

starting in 3 Lincoln, moving on to 1 Lincoln, and finally to 2

Lincoln, meeting with residents and coming up with an individual

tailored relocation plan for each resident.

There are some residents that may wish to wait and try to get

another public housing apartment as they become available. Others

may want to avail themselves of a Section 8 voucher. That will be

going on starting in September. We're going to start the required

portion of the resident relocation in December.

We have some commercial tenants in the building that in 2021

at 3 Lincoln will begin to move them out. The resident relocation

priority is number 1 Lincoln, number 2, 3 Lincoln, and the third

priority, 2 Lincoln. With the approval, residents will get a

permanent relocation. There won't be any right to return, because

the Lincoln Square apartments will be no longer available.

So once you move, you will be leaving Lincoln Square and not

returning.

There is a possibility, if you have time, and you review the

capital South Segue to the Future Plan, you'll notice that the plan

does say that there is the possibility of leaving 2 Lincoln after

everyone has been moved out and the units restored or rehabilitated.

But that is just one of the many options available.

So we're going to go over the relocation. Notification and

support features based upon HUD and New York State relocation

guidelines.

There will be no required move without a 90-day notice. So you

cannot be required to leave until the plan is approved by HUD, which

we talked about in August, and then you have the right to have a 90-day

period before you are required to move. We will be starting

voluntary transfers now or told older and disabled that voluntarily

want to move.

There will be ongoing communication with the residents all

during this process, and we're open to suggestions on how we can be

open and transparent and how we can keep the line of communication

open at all times. There will be physical movers and expenses.

Financial assistance to offset any out-of-pocket expense a resident

may have. For instance, if you're moving and the cable requires

additional moneys to shut the cable or the phone off and turn it on

in a new apartment, those are available out-of-pocket expenses, along

with the security deposit needs to be increased, those would be

out-of-pocket expenses.

The relocation plan and staffing. The Housing Authority will

have a staff designated to assist the residents and implement their

individual relocation strategies. HA staff will periodically be

available for evening meetings and weekend meetings for those that

cannot meet during the week.

Staff will additionally -- now, again, this is -- if the COVID

ordinance is expired, and things are somewhat back to normal, we will

be able to make home visits if that's more convenient for the

residents, but not during this time.

The staff will provide case management and link families and

individuals up to other not for profits providing support services

that may be needed.

There will also be a policy in place where if you disagree with

the housing authority and you want to file a grievance that you'll

have the opportunity to file a grievance. You'll have a hearing and

there will be a claims procedure.

Relocation orientation is another slide for today's

presentation. We'll be conducting an interview with each household

to determine relocation needs and preferences.

At the interview, we will provide you with both written and

verbal explanations that are available of all the different housing

options that will be available.

We'll also review with each household, both in writing and

verbally, all the laws pertaining to discrimination and fair housing.

Anticipated housing options. I'm going to have to move because

my slide is cut off. Hold an just a minute here.

Going to actually use the slide on the screen. So, vacant

housing. The authority managed units at other sites. And Section

8 tenants. Vouchers. So I guess what we're saying here, Albany

Housing Authority manages 2,400 apartments around the city. Once

the plan is approved, Albany Housing Authority will stop leasing

those other units so we can come up with as many vacant apartments

in our inventory as possible to offer them to Lincoln residents during

the relocation stage.

We also will be provided with Section 8 vouchers from HUD that

will be used for those tenants that want to or need to move to other

neighborhoods in the city or outside of the city, and use the Section

8 voucher to pay rent.

The housing authority will also work with private landlords who

have apartments available, and so those Lincoln residents

relocating, their caseworker, their relocation specialist will

provide you with available apartments in the private sector that you

may use your Section 8 voucher with.

Tenant paid rents. Tenant rents for public paid housing units

are typically 30% of the gross total household income. And there's

allowance for adjustments. If you move to another public housing

unit, your rent will not be affected by the relocation. If you move

to Section 8, if you move to a Section 8 project-based unit, your

rent should remain the same as well.

If you move using a Section 8 tenant-based voucher, your rent

should remain the same unless you choose a unit that rents at above

HA's payment standard. Then you may have to pay up to 40% of your

income if you move into an apartment that has a rent beyond the HA

rent payments standard.

Rent you pay with a voucher will also depend on the bedroom size

of the unit. Size of the unit must be appropriate for the family

size. So in other words, if you were a single individual, your

Section 8 voucher would be a one-bedroom. And the one-bedroom Albany

Housing Authority voucher payment standard is less than a

two-bedroom, so that you would not be able to move into a Section

8 or a private two-bedroom unit because the Section 8 rent would not

cover it. It would only cover the one bedroom that meets the housing

authority -- Albany housing authority voucher payment standard.

The voucher payment standard is arrived at by the housing

authority searching for compatible units in order to determine what

the fair market rent is, so that HUD does not pay above the fair market

rent which is the Albany housing authority's voucher payment

standard.

So moving on, we came up with resident counseling. So, during

the initial interview and afterwards, we'll assist each house hold

at their option, with the preparation of a budget for living expenses

such as rent, utilities, and maintenance, if necessary, and desired

by the resident, we will refer residents to counseling and other

services for rent and debt delinquency problems.

We also will be available to you for referrals to community

resources for other specialized and personal needs. We're going to

offer a housing locater service to help you locate suitable

replacement housing, we'll provide these services to your household.

Maintenance and updates of lists of qualified housing providers and

the landlords, help in contacting landlords and housing providers,

arrangement for transportation to inspect the apartment, information

regarding school, public transportation, shopping, and other things

in the new area that you wish to relocate in. Assistance with

completing rental applications. Assistance in obtaining necessary

certifications. And assistance with negotiating with your new

landlord.

Other relocation support services are, we would provide moving

assistance to a qualified moving company at no cost to you. If you

desire to move yourself, we would provide an allowance that we would

have paid to the private moving company to you. Coordination of the

actual move with date and time. Help with the resolution of

relocation or moving issues. So complaints that arise during the

process.

Assistance with utility providers. Gas, electric, water,

trash removal, phones. The Housing Authority can put a resident in

touch with resources that will help with unpaid utility bounces. HA

will attempt to locate housing when utility connection is a problem.

So if you need to or want to move to an apartment with utilities

included, we would try to accommodate you.

Coordination of all qualified and HUD-approved relocation

reimbursements. Provide any specialized services for the elderly

and disabled.

Next, we have our final slide for today's presentation and it's

entitled COVID-19 possible impact. So all we're doing here is trying

to predict if we're going to be doing relocations with the same

COVID-19 type of requirements that we're all under.

So, AHA has instituted practices compliant with social

distancing guidelines and contactless processes.

So, for instance, right now, we are actually doing move-ins and

we are doing contactless move-ins, where you sign -- you provided

with a copy of the lease, you Saturday night, and you just leave it

for us in our mailbox, so there is no contact. HA will follow

guidelines, wearing masks, providing tenants with masks, and also

may or may not have to be wearing other protective garments, wherever

the requirements are. The personnel involved in services entering

the home may need to talk about health conditions of the residents

in order to act adequately serve and protect occupants of the home.

Financial hold harmless policy is already in place and will

apply. Residents that suffer a loss of a job or income, no matter

if it's COVID virus related or not, will have their rent adjusted

by the federal guidelines the same as if you have not moved prior

to COVID.

That's the end of the formal presentation. I don't know -- I'll

turn it over to our moderator and deputy director to see if anybody

has any comments, and she can unmute the different microphones.

>> Thank you, Mr. Longo, I appreciate it.

At this time, we are going to open it up for questions.

Although, I do have most people muted at the moment, please bear with

me as I go through some of the questions. I will look through the

chat first, and then I will unmute.

If you hear someone speaking, please make sure your phones are

muted. Sometimes it's difficult for me to determine who is actually

talking, so I will do my very best to ensure everyone can clearly

hear the question as well as the response.

So, as I go through here, I see one question, and it says, so

we would not be able to pay the difference for a two-bedroom using

a Section 8 one-bedroom voucher? Mr. Longo, did you want me to

respond, or would you like to?

>> Could you respond to that, Chiquita?

>> Absolutely. Based on your income, if you make enough, you

may be able to pay the difference from the one-bedroom voucher for

a two-bedroom. Basically, how that happens is when you find a unit

and you're eligible for a one-bedroom voucher, the payment standard,

and based on your income, if it continues to allow you to pay within

the 40% of your income, you will be eligible to rent that unit. But

when I speak of 40%, that would include your rent and utilities

combined. I hope that answers your question.

The next question the what about first and last month's rent?

Last month's rent or security. Mr. Longo, did you want to answer

or did you want to respond?

>> Why don't you, and then if you need me, I'll stay onboard

and listen in, and I'll add anything if you want.

>> Sure. One thing I would like to point out, with the New York

State's tenant protection law, landlords can no longer ask for first

and last month's rent. They can only ask for the amount of rent for

the security amount. However, in the security, I believe we are

under our section 18, we can assist you in this security deposit.

Am I correct, Mr. Longo?

>> Yes.

>> Okay.

>> I can give you an example. So we have a Lincoln family that's

moving, and their security deposit may have been based upon their

income-based rent at the time they moved in. And now that's much

different.

We would pay the difference. You know, if you're moving to

another Albany housing authority apartment, we would add additional

money to your security deposit that you would get back when you leave,

or if you were moving in to Section 8, taking a voucher and moving

into private housing, we would assist you. We would give you your

security deposit from Albany housing and any difference that the

private landlord required.

>> Thank you, Mr. Longo, for the clarification.

The next question I have, I believe we answered it, but I will

paraphrase it. My grandmother is 63. She lives -- she has lived

here -- she lives at 2 Lincoln. She's lived here for many years and

would like to know where is she going to live now.

Mr. Longo, did you want to respond to that?

>> Well, I'll let you, and then I'll be happy to jump in.

>> As Mr. Longo stated in the presentation, there will be some

housing -- we have housing eligibility coordinator that will sit with

your grandmother and go over her options. And we'll assist her in

locating some place to live, whether it's with the Albany housing

authority or if she's issued a Section 8 voucher, we will provide

the resources to assist her in locating a home that fits her needs.

I hope this answers your question.

Those are all the questions that I have in the chat. I am going

to unmute everyone. Again, in order for this to remain orderly, if

I can ask if you hear someone speaking, just hold off and I promise

I will get to you. Upon your question, if you could please notify

us who you are and what building you live in, I'd appreciate it. Just

give me one second.

Okay. Everyone is currently unmuted. If you do not have a

question, please mute yourself.

>> Hello?

>> Yes. Who may I ask is calling? Unfortunately, I can't

recognize the person. Please ask your question.

>> Willie Collins, 2 Lincoln Square, 5B, as in boy.

My question is, how soon can we start the relocation with the

help of Albany Housing as you expressed about the young lady's

grandmother? Because I'm 67, as of last Wednesday. And I wanted

to just find out how soon would this process start?

>> Mr. Collins, thank you for your question. Really quick, I

want to ask, have you submitted -- are you on the transfer list at

the moment?

>> I think I am. I spoke to the contacts manager, which was

a gentleman a couple of years ago, and I'm supposed to be on it. I

haven't heard anything since, but I should be on it. I'm not sure.

>> Based on your age, I believe you are on our transfer list,

so you should be contacted soon. However, you'll have a one-on-one

conversation in terms of your options and choice and which way you

would like to proceed.

>> Okay, thank you.

>> You're most welcome.

>> Hello?

>> Yes.

>> How you doing. My name is Lamont. I reside at 3 Lincoln

Square. If a person is being open to being moved as soon as possible

and they're not on the transfer list, how do they go about getting

in -- the movement?

>> Are you referring to without the benefits that we've just

described? Just moving out?

>> Yeah, without a transfer, without being on the list for a

transfer.

>> Well, I just needed to clarify in terms of being on the list

for the transfer. Mr. Longo described the additional benefits that

relates to the application of submitting for the purpose of closing

the Lincoln Square towers.

If you're not interested in the benefits described during this

presentation, that is another conversation we could have.

I just needed to know, were you interested in the benefits that

were described in this presentation.

>> Yes.

>> For that, you would have to wait for the application to be

approved, for us to start that process. You will then be contacted

for those options.

>> All right. It's whenever I come up for replacement.

>> When the application is done, and when we are -- once we are

approved to proceed, you will then be contacted for the process, yes.

>> All right.

>> I would add that we're going to --

>> Hi. I have a question. Hello. Hello?

>> Hold on just a moment.

>> If I can ask you to hold your question and let Mr. Longo

complete his response. Thank you. Mr. Longo?

>> I just wanted to make it clear that we have to -- in order

to have the funds to pay for the moves and the other expenses, HUD

has to approve the application.

So what we talked about was the application would be submitted

in May. Only a few short weeks away. And we're thinking that we

might get through as soon as August. You would be able to move and

avail yourself of all the benefits.

>> So in May, I'll be contacted if I'm willing to move as soon

as possible then? Without the transfer?

>> No, you've got to wait until August, sir, in order to get

the benefits.

>> Okay. Thank you.

>> You're welcome. There are several questions on the chat.

But there was a young -- there was someone on the call that had a

question. I will let you ask your question, and then from her, I

will go onto the chat again.

>> I have a question, too.

>> Okay, that's fine. Please let us know who you are, what

building you live in.

>> Well, right now, me. My name is Yvette McLean. I live in

building 2, Lincoln Square, apartment 12B. I'm 57 years old. Right

now, I have not been able to sign a new lease. My lease was due to

be signed in April. I went on a zero income. I have filed the zero

income three times. I have not gotten a response yet about it. I

have not signed a new lease.

I do want to know, like, what's going to happen in my situation,

and if I am up for the transfers, when they come up in August if

approved, and my choice of moving to another section, I would like

another building that has electricity included. But I would not like

to be on the other side of central avenue. Am I going to have a

problem?

>> Well, let me just respond to your first initial concern

regarding lease. Actually, the manager is also on this call. So

I'm sure she has taken your name and your unit number. She will

contact you as it relates to your lease.

Let me make sure I'm addressing all of you questions. Once that

is resolved, you want to know if you are eligible for the benefits

come August? Is that correct?

>> Yeah, for like when you're changing people to apartments.

>> Again, your will be counseled on your options hopefully once

you're approved for the application. As Mr. Longo stated before,

that process will most likely not start until August. And at that

time, you will be contacted and you will have a one-on-one

consultation to go over your options at that time.

>> Okay. So, basically, I'm in the same situation as the other

guy, wait until August?

>> Correct.

>> In the meantime, I should be hearing something about my lease?

>> You got it.

>> Thank you.

>> Was there another question?

>> I have a question. Can you hear me?

>> Yes. Can you identify yourself?

>> Hello.

>> Yes, I can hear you. Can you identify yourself?

>> Yes. My name is Rosalyn Green. I live at 1 Lincoln Square.

My question is, I wanted to know, do we get a choice of housing

location of where we would like to go?

>> At the time that this process begins, we will advise you of

what is available and what are your options based on what you qualify

for in terms of bedroom size and income.

>> Okay, because I'm not on the transfer list or anything, but

did submit an application for 280 north. So I might be on their

waiting list, which is still part of Albany housing.

>> In order for the benefits -- to take advantage of this

benefit, you do not have to be on the transfer list. This will apply

to everyone living in the Lincoln Towers, particularly 3 and -- well,

living in the Lincoln Towers, depending on what we decide to do with

2 Lincoln.

>> Can you repeat that?

>> Am I coming across clear now?

>> Yes, that's better.

>> All right. Depending on when the benefit -- if you're still

living with us, we will advise you as to what options are at that

time.

>> Okay. And then I just have one more question. I know that

you said this is going to phase out. Like, you're going to start

with number 3 Lincoln, as far as moving people out. Is it going to

be like around November, December? I know you're going to do number

3, you said. Mr. Longo said that's going to start first.

>> Let me see. I'm going off two of these scheduled process.

Let's see. September, we are probably -- I would say 3 would

be -- let's see. It looks like September 20th will start --

>> [Indiscernible]

[Simultaneous speakers]

>> Between December 2020 and December 2021, we

will -- unfortunate, I can't really give you an estimate at this time.

>> I have a question.

>> If you can let the person who is speaking complete their

thought. Thank you.

>> The only reason I was asking was because he said that he's

going to start with building 3 first, which would be around September,

correct? Because you're going to hear from HUD in August, right?

>> Yes. 3 Lincoln first.

[Simultaneous speakers]

>> Doing number 3 first, right?

>> We can't predict how long it's going to take us before we're

finished with 3. But when we're done with 3, we're going to go to

1.

>> Right. Okay. So that's why I wanted to have an estimate.

But I know you really don't know because you don't know how long it's

going to take to move people out. Okay, I just wanted an estimate

just to kind of plan around when you plan to start moving people out

of Lincoln 1 just so I kind of -- you know, we kind of know. But

I guess as you go along with HUD, you'll let us know.

>> We'll keep you updated with the progress.

>> I'd just like to --

>> Hold on one moment, please.

>> I'd just like to remind everybody that you're not -- it's

not like we're going to knock on your door and say you have to move

next week. We have to and we will give you a minimum of a 90-day

warning that you have to move. So you have that built-in protection.

>> Okay. So, this is back to me again. McLean. I heard y'all

were doing building 3 first also, and from what the young lady was

asking about, building 1 seems to be getting hit at the end of the

year and probably January. The reason why I came back in the

conversation is because I also put in a maintenance report about my

bathroom wall. It is peeling so bad. It's like asbestos is exposed.

Now, I'm not trying to be exposed to that for the rest of the

year. And I have put in a request and they complained about the COVID

thing. But I hope that this whole holdup with the COVID and Lincoln

Square, it doesn't stop someone from coming in here and replastering

my building because I am afraid of the mesothelioma.

>> This is Steve Longo. We need to get the contractor in to

handle the replacement of your bathroom wall, and in order to do that,

the manager who is online will contact you right after this call or

tomorrow. And we have to ask certain health-related questions if

we're going to be able to work in that apartment. And if you can

answer those questions successfully, we will be able to do the work

now.

If it is a dangerous situation, we will try to transfer you.

It's the only other alternative.

>> And the most important thing is that you called in a work

order.

>> I did.

>> Okay. Excellent. Thank you.

>> I put a lot of stuff on chat, and I haven't had no one answer

not one thing.

>> I'm getting ready to go to the chat as well. I was trying

to allow others to answer the question who were on the phone. I'm

getting ready to transfer over to the chat. So if you could bear

with me, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

>> Are you done with the phone questions?

>> I will go back.

>> I had a question also.

>> I have to -- ma'am, if you can allow me to go to the chat

for a moment, and then I'm going to come back. I'd appreciate it.

>> Okay.

>> Thank you so much. Give me a moment so that I can follow

the last question. Let's see. Just bear with me. I think I

answered that one. Okay. My husband is a senior age 66. Will his

rent remain the same as a flat rate? He works full-time and receives

retirement benefits. Rent will remain the same until the move.

I'm going to combine this question, because it's from the same

person. In what section of the city will locate the tenant from

buildings 1, 2, and 3?

So the first response is based on income, again, when your name

comes up, when it's time to relocate, I don't know which building

you're in, you will be -- you will have a one-on-one consultation,

based on your income and your current situation at that time, you

will be advised of your options.

While you are still in the building currently living in the

Lincoln Towers, your income should remain the same, or depending on

when your reexam is happening from this time moving forward.

The second part of your question is what section of the city

of Albany will AHA [indiscernible]. Again, based on one-on-one

consultation, we will determine what you are eligible for and you

will be given the options of what's available at that time.

Unfortunately, the location. I can't tell you what will be

available at the time your name comes up. But you will be advised

as such, at that time. What will a qualified moving company consist

of?

Basically, we are required to follow procurement. We ask you

to solicit various companies. Sometimes there's companies that we

have worked for in the past. So it's all based on whether or not

they meet the qualifications as it requires insurance and various

other listings. Unfortunately, at this point, I don't have all of

the details. But we do vet the moving companies at that time. And

we'll provide you with the name of that company or companies.

Also families have the option to move themselves, whereas

there's some assistance in that process as well. If you are eligible

for the Section 8 voucher, you are relocate your voucher to buffalo.

That was the question. Do I want to move to Buffalo?

Let's see. When will we be contacted about the various -- oh.

When our application is approved, we will start the interviews as

slated in the schedule. It's anticipated for September. We will

start depending on which building you currently live in. That is

for 3 Lincoln Square. The question was, the process does not begin

until the approval even for 3 Lincoln Square residents. That is

correct. We are currently working off of those who have requested

a transfer. Who's currently on the transfer to give them options

in terms of relocating prior to this benefit, if that's what they're

opting to do.

Okay. Bear with me as I go through these questions. When

should we anticipate when we will be moving due to building 1 being

torn down? I believe I addressed that question. Okay. I will have

to look into your personal situation. Someone stated, I was on a

transfer list and was only given one option. I will have to look

into that. I do have your name, it is up here on the chat. I will

look into that if you want to reply privately, and send me your phone

number. I will have someone follow up for you.

That concludes the chat questions. Are there any other

questions at this time --

>> Yes, I had a question.

>> I have one, too.

>> The first person, can I have your name and where do you live.

>> Yeah, hi. This is Sarah Stewart. I live at 3 Lincoln

Square.

>> Can you repeat your first name, please?

>> Yes, 3 Lincoln Square.

>> What's your first name?

>> I'd like to know if my lease is up, because I haven't heard

anything. Will housing be letting me know? I don't know if it's

with the COVID-19 or whatever, but I think my lease is up. I'm not

sure. It could have been up late last month. I haven't heard

anything, though. I don't know.

>> Okay, Ms. Stewart. I will be -- as I stated, the manager

is online. I'm sure she's tracking your name. She'll look on the

status of your lease. We can check with the recertification

department. I'm sure it's a matter of you just getting it.

>> Thank you. Thank you.

>> No problem. There was another question?

>> Yes.

[Simultaneous speakers]

>> Okay. And this is?

>> I just had one more question. I just want to know, can I

put in a transfer if I wanted one now? Or do I need to wait?

>> You can apply for a transfer now if you would like to. I

don't know how quickly if your name will come up quicker, but you

are more than welcome to submit that documentation, your form, to

be placed on our transfer list.

>> Do I do that online?

>> Hold on one moment. Mr. Longo had a question, or a statement.

Mr. Longo?

>> I just wanted to be clear that the Housing Authority will

not be provided the funds to pay the security deposits and the moving

companies until the application gets approved. So right now, the

voluntary transfers, while we're processing them and prioritizing

them at Lincoln, as opposed to the rest of the company, we don't

currently have the benefit money for the moves and the other things

that we talked about until after HUD approves.

>> That is correct.

>> Okay, great, thank you.

>> You're welcome.

>> I had a question.

>> Yes, can I have your name and where you live?

>> My name is R. Davis and we're in 2 Lincoln Square, apartment

6A. I just wanted to know how -- I mean, is 2 Lincoln Square going

to be like the last apartment to be getting relocated?

>> Yes.

>> We also put in for a transfer before all of this had happened

because of how bad the apartment is, so would that transfer still

have to wait after building 3 and 1 gets approved?

>> No. Well, right now, all of the transfers that are in any

of the buildings, 1, 2, and 3, they are being prioritized. But there

is no moving benefit until after HUD approves the process. And then,

we're probably going to be working on a system where, in addition

to prioritizing 3, we may be prioritizing transfers in the other two

buildings as well just to get a jump. So I can't really say for sure

at this point regarding 2. If you've got a bad situation with your

apartment, I would continue to talk virtually on the phone or however

with the manager, and try to get that taken care of.

>> All right. That's all the questions I had. Thank you.

>> Hello?

>> Yes.

>> One at a time, please.

>> I just want to know, can I go online and put in a transfer,

or do I need to just call the office?

>> This is -- may I ask your name?

>> This is Sarah Stewart. I just want to know about the

transfer. Can I go online and do that, or do I need to call the

office?

>> I will ask you to call the office and the manager would advise

you of the process considering COVID-19 and social distancing.

We'll probably have to slip the form under your door, but she'll make

arrangements with you.

>> Okay, thanks.

>> Okay. No problem. I just want -- there was someone who had

a question?

>> Yes, I had a question. Can you hear me?

>> The name, please?

>> Hello. Yes. My name is Rosalyn Green and I'm at 1 Lincoln

Square apartment 16. I know Mr. Longo mentioned something about

working with national grid. Like, in Lincoln, all the utilities are

included. If we have to move into another housing location that

requires us to pay utilities, I have an outstanding bill. Will my

caseworker the working with me to try to get my lights turned on?

Or maybe I should just pay my bill or...

>> Well, what I can say is that we won't pay previous bills.

However, we've had situations like this come up in the past where

we have tapped our residents into resources that were able to assist

them in that process, in that situation.

>> Okay, no problem. Thanks.

>> You're most welcome.

>> Hello?

>> Yes.

>> Hi, how are you?

>> I'm well, thank you. And your name, please?

>> Good, thank you. This is Dee Walker from building 1. I'm

just asking how long would it take for someone that just moved in,

because I've got a lot of questions, to deal one-on-one with someone

as soon as possible?

>> Ms. Walker, do you have the ability to send a chat? You're

welcome to provide me your phone number, and I can have someone reach

out to you to address your concerns.

>> Okay. I can do that. I'll leave my number?

>> If you can go into the chat, send a private message to me

only as the organizer, I will get your number and then I will -- I

or someone will reach out to you to address your concerns.

>> Okay. Is there any way I can call -- because I don't know

how to do what you just asked, what you just said.

>> Do you have the phone number on file?

>> Yes, I will find out how to reach out to her. You are in

building 1?

>> Yes. What's your first name for me? Can you repeat your

first name for me?

>> [Indiscernible]

>> I'm not understanding.

>> That's why I want to talk to someone one-on-one.

>> We're going to call you.

>> Yes, we're going to call you. I can't do a one-on-one at

the moment.

>> Okay.

>> Okay, Ms. Walker. Building 1.

>> Yes.

>> Okay. Are there any other questions?

>> Yes. I have a question. 1 Lincoln Square. Hello?

>> Yes. Is this Ms. Covington?

>> Yes, ma'am.

>> I just want to know, is there options that we can move -- me

and my husband, we trying to move -- we want to know if there's an

option we can move into like a home. Do y'all got any homes that

we can move into? Like a one-family home instead of living in

buildings next to each other, or on top of each other? We want just

to be able to rent to own or get into a building that is just the

top, the bottom, everything belongs to us.

>> Okay, so, again, it's all going to be based upon when the

application gets approved, what building you live in, and then you'll

be contacted and you'll meet one-on-one with your relocation

specialist.

And what that relocation specialist is going to have is the

addresses of all of the Albany housing authority properties that are

available.

And so you can look at them online, or on Zillow to see where

they are to see if they're what you want. If they're not, we're going

to give you a list of private apartments in the city of Albany that

you could use your voucher on. Or, you could on your own try to find

a property that you like and then contact us and we'll find out if

it is rent reasonable and meets the Section 8 standards.

>> We don't have Section 8. We don't use Section 8. So we won't

be using Section 8.

>> Okay. Let me interrupt and say that because of the

relocation, you would be given the option to convert from public

housing to get your very own tenant-based Section 8 voucher. And

normally, that would take years and years to wait. Right now, you

can't even apply for Section 8. But because you're living in Lincoln

at the time of the relocation, you would automatically be eligible

for your own Section 8 voucher.

>> Yes, I have a question. Okay. Can you please state your

name and which building?

>> My name is Jocelyn Moore. I live in 2 Lincoln Square,

apartment 5.

>> Okay, Ms. Moore, thank you.

>> Yes. I was wondering, if we get the vouchers, can we just

go to look for Section 8 apartments?

>> You can go anywhere in the continental United States. And

I think you can go to territories such as Puerto Rico. Chiquita,

I know you have experience.

>> That is correct. And the Virgin Islands.

>> Thank you.

>> You're welcome. Are there any other questions?

>> Yes. What's your name again?

>> My name is Chiquita.

>> Spell that for me, please?

>> Sure. C-H-I-Q-U-I-T-A.

>> Q-U-I?

>> Yes. T-A.

>> P-A. Okay. Thank you.

>> Oh, okay. Are there any other questions?

Okay.

>> Hello?

>> Oh, yes.

>> [Indiscernible]

>> I'm sorry. Unfortunately, I can't hear. Can you repeat

yourself, please?

>> Are you just shutting down the buildings or are you renovating

them?

>> I think you asked are we tearing down the buildings or

renovating.

>> Right now, we don't know. We can tell you that we went out

and we got prices. It will cost over $5 million to tear the buildings

down. We do not have the money, and so right now, we're only seeking

approval from HUD to dispose of the properties and take the residents

out.

We don't know what's going to happen to the buildings after we

leave.

>> Okay.

>> It is now 2:06. Are there any other questions before we end

this presentation?

>> What is the [indiscernible]?

>> I'm sorry, I can't hear you. The noise in the background.

>> I said, what if residents have service dogs as well?

>> Service dogs?

>> Yes.

>> That too will be addressed in your one-on-one consultation.

In terms of your options.

>> Okay.

>> Okay.

>> I have a quick question.

>> Okay, may I have your name, please, and where you live?

>> My name is Rob Bierbauer. I live at 2 Lincoln Square. If

I chose a Section 8 voucher, would you pay my moving expenses to Long

Island? To Nassau County?

>> What would basically happen is we will assist you in the

moving expenses if you were eligible for a Section 8 voucher. Yes,

we would assist you in your moving expenses you have to a certain

amount.

>> Thank you.

>> You're welcome. Okay. Time is 2:08. I want to thank

everyone for joining us today.

>> Hello?

>> Yes.

>> I have a question. Working for social services, what do I

do? I live at 1 Lincoln Square. My name is Cynthia McCall.

>> Cynthia McCall?

>> Yes.

>> Okay, Ms. McCall. Can you please repeat your question?

>> I'm disabled and I have a social worker at social services.

He takes care of my rent and cable and telephone. What do I do? I

have to move?

>> We would assist you with your process. You will have a

one-on-one consultation and you can include your social worker as

well, and they will help communicate the information necessary to

ensure your transition is smooth.

>> When will that be; do you know?

>> You're in -- unfortunately, I can't give you a timeframe,

but when the time is comes, we will notify you in writing. And then

you can have -- your social worker come to the meeting with you, if

you like.

>> I have to move? I have a lot of stuff and I was wondering

what I do with it.

>> Okay, all of that can be addressed on the one-on-one

consultation. The meeting that you have at the time when it's

necessary for us to determine where you would be moving. We will

help you with those resources, okay?

>> Okay, thank you. Have a nice day. Bye.

>> You're welcome. You have a nice day as well.

>> Hello?

>> Yes. My name is Juan Carlos. I live in --

>> Which building, Carlos?

>> 8C. How can you guys no have a translator to Spanish?

>> Espanol? I can have -- unfortunately, I'm sorry, I don't

have anyone who speaks Spanish on this call.

>> I can assist.

>> Okay. Please.

>> Excuse me. I just said that because there's a lot of people

that live here that speak Spanish. They don't know English.

>> Ma'am, one moment, Carlos. And your name?

>> Yes. I'm Delana Martinez, 3 Lincoln Square.

>> Can you please find out what kind of question he has?

>> He started by saying that, I guess will there be anyone to,

like, help assist the people that live in his building, because

there's a lot of Spanish speaking people that lives in his building.

So I guess when social workers or whoever do come around, is it

possible that they'd come around with a translator for the ones who

live there who aren't good with English.

>> We will do --

>> Thank you. Gracias.

>> You're welcome. Okay.

>> Was that the question?

>> Yes, correct.

>> Okay. So, we will do what we can to provide translators.

We do have some of our employees who are translators. However, they

do other jobs. We will do what we can to provide you those resources

to assure that you can clearly understand the process of what's

happening as it remits to your move.

>> Okay, thank you very much.

>> Okay. You are most welcome. Thank you for bringing that

up.

We are -- it is 2:12. I can take one last question.

>> Hello.

>> Yes.

>> May I have your name, please?

>> Yeah, my name is Ronald Cuffee. I live in 1 Lincoln Square.

>> Hi, welcome. How can I help you?

>> I just want to ask one simple question. At 1, 2, and 3 Lincoln

Square, if these buildings go down, will they be in the last buildings

in the area that are HUD buildings?

>> No. There are HUD public housing units right across the

street from 1 and 3 Lincoln. There are hundreds and hundreds of other

HUD buildings all around 3 Lincoln, Steamboat Square Ezra Prentice.

>> Why do we have to pay utilities? We don't pay utilities in

1 Lincoln 2 and 3, but across the street they do. Everything is not

included. So that's not a HUD building.

>> Excuse me. So, your building was built in the 1960s. HUD

for the last 20-plus years have had a policy in which when they build

new buildings, they try to do it so it's tenant-paid utilities. So

that when you move out of public housing, you're used to budgeting

for paying private utilities. That's the way it was done.

Some of our older properties still have landlord paid utilities.

Like, for example Robert Whelan and some others. So when you come

up for a transfer, you can try to move into a property in which

utilities are included, or you can move into the private sector with

your Section 8 voucher because some private sector apartments include

utilities.

>> I heard that Section 8 vouchers, if you get Section 8 voucher,

you have never been on Section 8 and you try to go for a house, you

got to stay in Section 8 housing for one year, and then you have to

be able to --

>> Sabrina.

>> To be able to get a house.

>> These are questions that I can address in and assist you

offline, okay?

>> Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate it.

>> You're welcome. You're welcome.

>> Have a good day.

>> You as well. Thank you so much. And I want to thank everyone

for joining us this afternoon, and especially Mr. Longo for his

presentation. And all those who were engaged in asking questions.

I do hope that we help address them.

>> I have a question. I have a question. I just want to know

why are they closing the buildings out and do we as tenants have any

say-so in, like, holding these buildings up. Like, some of us might

not want to leave.

>> Oh, God.

>> So, based on -- I'm not sure when you joined the call.

>> Obviously she just getting on.

>> Okay. So, what I can do, because we are ending this call

at the moment, I can ask your name and where you live, and I can address

the questions of what you missed after this call.

>> Again, this is McLean from building 1.

>> Okay. Ms. McLean, I can contact you offline, because at this

point, this presentation, we are ending. And I would need to contact

you offline.

>> Okay. You want my phone number? You guys have my number.

Okay.

>> Yeah, I can look it up. Okay.

>> Okay.

>> All right, Ms. McLean. Thank you so much.

>> You're welcome. Bye-bye.

>> Bye-bye. Have a great afternoon.

>> You, too.

>> Bye-bye.