Michael Che, the co-host of Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” is tapping the comedy community for a show to benefit the Fund for Public Housing, a city-run nonprofit that raises private dollars for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). According to a news report in The Wall Street Journal, the city’s housing authority, which operates 175,000 apartments for about 400,000 residents, estimates it needs nearly $32 billion to make crucial repairs to its buildings. Che said he hopes to raise money for the struggling system when he headlines a “Night for NYCHA” benefit on Jan. 11 at Irving Plaza in Manhattan.
Challenges of Public Housing Projects
The article states that Che grew up on the Lower East Side and didn’t live in NYCHA housing, but spent a lot of time in buildings run by the authority including the Alfred E. Smith houses where many of his relatives lived. Che said a friend approached him about doing a show to benefit NYCHA as news broke about the slew of problems facing the authority, particularly poisoning as a result of lead paint, lack of heat, broken elevators and issues with rats and roaches. The city has until the end of January to exhibit a plan to address those problems.
If they don’t do that, the federal government may take over administration of the agency. Other comedians including Michelle Wolf, Jeff Ross and Dave Attell are also expected to perform at the benefit. Proceeds from the benefit will go to the Fund for Public Housing, which was launched in 2016 with the goal of raising $200 million in private funds over three years. However, by the end of 2018, it had raised just about $2.5 million, according to NYCHA. City officials and others are hoping that Che’s show shines the light on the challenges facing public housing and its residents in New York City.
Lead Paint Issues in Lower East Side Housing
The neighborhood as well as the Alfred E. Smith houses where Che visited family members as a child has been repeatedly identified as public housing projects with lead based paint. Here is a list of some of the major public housing projects on the Lower East Side:
Alfred E. Smith Houses
Baruch Houses
Gompers Houses
Hernandez Houses
LaGuardia Houses
Rutgers Houses
Vladeck Houses
Wald Houses
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 4 million households have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead. There are approximately half a million U.S. children ages 1 to 5 years with blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter – the reference level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated. Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in a child’s body. Because lead exposure often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized until the later stages.
If You Have Been Affected
If you are tenant in any of the NYCHA’s projects, please remember that you have the right to live in a safe and healthy environment. If you live in public or private housing, and your child has been diagnosed with high blood lead levels, then you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the NYCHA or private landlords for damages.
You may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, cost of diagnostic tests, permanent injuries, lost income and benefits, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. A knowledgeable New York City lead poisoning lawyer will be able to help you file the lawsuit and compile the evidence that is required to hold the agency accountable for its negligence.
If your child has been affected by lead poisoning, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Our firm recovered $1,162,500 for a child who suffered lead poisoning from paint in her apartment. The child’s injuries were subtle and difficult to recognize. We recovered $162,500 above the $1 million dollar total insurance policy in this case. Despite the judge’s efforts to settle the case for $950,000, we fought hard and recovered $162,500 more than the insurance full policy of one million dollars.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/snl-comedian-michael-che-stands-up-for-nycha-residents-11546700400