GOOD OLD LOWER EAST SIDE, INC

169/171 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009  info@goles.org

 (212) 358-1231 / (212) 533-2541  (212) 358-1241

New York City Housing Authority

Ricardo Morales Elias – Chairman
250 Broadway
New York, NY 10007

CC:Rosie Mendez, City Council Member

Chair of City Council Public Housing Sub Committee
Dear Chairman Morales,

We, the Undersigned, oppose the manner in which NYCHA’s amendment to the Pet Policy was
implemented. We oppose arbitrary and condescending rules against particular breeds. We oppose weight
restrictions on dogs. These types of regulations unfairly discriminate against responsible dog owners who
reside in NYCHA and serve only to brand public housing residents and their pets as vicious and out of
control.

Additionally, the manner in which residents were notified was sub par in even the most generous
assessment. Mail notification did not occur in many developments; NYCHA’s newsletter Journal only
announced the policy change on the 11th page of its April issue; and most distressingly, the sparse
notification that did exist was only distributed in English. Spanish and Chinese-speaking residents, among
others, could not read the notice announcing the policy change—let alone follow it.

To rectify these problems we feel like your offices need to:

1- Extend the May 1st deadline to May 1st, 2010.

2- Revoke the bans on specific dog breeds.

3- Conduct a full Authority review of the pet policy with participation of NYCHA tenants who are pet
owners. We must create a real solution to the issues that having pets bring to the public housing
community.

4- Halt any and all evictions in association with the pet policy.

5- At the Town Hall and final presentation of the Draft Annual Plan, solicit resident suggestions on a
more rational pet policy. These suggestions should be the basis of the final pet policy to be
implemented on May 1, 2010.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

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Petition against the New York City Housing Authority’s Pet Policy
 GOOD OLD LOWER EAST SIDE, INC

169/171 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009  info@goles.org

 (212) 358-1231 / (212) 533-2541  (212) 358-1241
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Petition against the New York City Housing Authority’s Pet Policy