Mayor Adams hosts community conversation in Parkchester

In an effort to foster direct communication between the city’s leadership and local residents, Mayor Eric Adams hosted a community conversation in Parkchester on December 11, 2024. The event, held at MS 127, gathered a broad spectrum of city officials, including elected representatives and commissioners, to engage with community members on various pressing issues.

Fred Kreizman, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, opened the evening, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to listen to residents’ concerns. “This is an important dialogue,” Kreizman said, noting the meeting’s structure, which included time for residents to ask questions directly to the mayor and his team. He emphasized the commitment to follow up on any concerns not addressed during the session.

City officials in attendance included Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Mark Stewart, Human Rights Commissioner Annabel Palma, and many others from agencies across New York City.

Councilmember Amanda Farías highlighted the significance of the town hall, thanking the mayor and commissioners for their involvement. “Tonight is an opportunity to bring forth all of the issues that are not only coming to my desk but to make sure that it also gets to the other side,” she said, stressing the importance of ongoing community engagement.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the challenges faced by the community while also celebrating the progress made. “We are excited in the Bronx to lead like never before,” she remarked, underscoring the borough’s continued resilience and growth.

Mayor Adams began his remarks by wishing the community happy holidays and reflecting on the challenges his administration inherited when he took office nearly three years ago. “When you think about it, it’s hard for people to believe what we inherited as a city,” he said, noting issues such as a 40% increase in crime, neglect in foster care, and limited access to broadband in NYCHA housing.

Despite these setbacks, Adams highlighted numerous accomplishments achieved under his leadership, including record job growth, significant investments in affordable housing, and a dramatic reduction in crime. “We are doing the job,” he said proudly. “We have more jobs in this city than in the city’s history, more housing renovation records, and we’ve removed thousands of illegal guns and vehicles from our streets.”

Adams also emphasized his administration’s focus on education and child welfare, citing programs like free college tuition for foster care children and initiatives to address undiagnosed dyslexia in schools. “We’re closing the pipeline that feeds Rikers Island so our children can have an opportunity to succeed in a real way,” he said, referencing his efforts to break the cycle of incarceration.

However, not all concerns could be addressed with a broad stroke. One resident raised an issue that particularly resonated with Parkchester residents: the ongoing lack of responsiveness from the management of their private condominium complex, which has failed to address quality-of-life issues like maintenance, elevator repairs, and accessibility for elderly or mobility-impaired individuals.

Mayor Adams, along with Housing, Preservation, and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión, responded by acknowledging the complexity of the situation. Carrión explained that Parkchester is a mix of condominium ownership and rentals, which complicates efforts to enforce repairs and improvements. “We need to take a hard look at refinancing to address a lot of the issues,” Carrión said, indicating that HPD is actively working with local leadership to find solutions. He also pointed out efforts made to inform tenants of their rights and responsibilities.

In closing, Adams reassured the community that their concerns would not go unheard. “We’re not perfect, but we’re dedicated and committed to making sure this city can produce for the children and families of the city,” he said, urging continued collaboration with city agencies to address the needs of Parkchester residents.

The evening ended with an open floor for questions, signaling the administration’s ongoing commitment to transparency and dialogue with New Yorkers. The town hall demonstrated the mayor’s focus on ensuring that city policies not only meet the needs of the community but also address the specific challenges they face in their daily lives.