UPPER WEST SIDE — Victor Gonzalez has been a resident of New York City Housing Authority developments for 50 years — and now he's going to be one of the agency's decision makers.
Gonzalez, who lives in Rabbi Stephen Wise Towers on West 91st Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, was appointed this week to NYCHA's four-member board.
The Air Force veteran will be the first current public housing resident to serve on the NYCHA board, which votes on contracts and helps set agency policy.
"I bring to the table the reality of what the residents are going through," Gonzalez said. "Not that the board doesn't know, but it's a better perspective from someone who lives it on a day to day basis. It will help then strengthen their policy making."
NYCHA, which provides housing for 650,000 New Yorkers, has struggled recently as federal funding reductions have hampered its ability to make long overdue repairs. Gonzalez is well-acquainted with the issue. He's been president of the Wise Towers Residents Association since 2003.
In January, Gonzalez convened a face-to-face meeting at Community Board 7 between NYCHA residents and housing department heads so tenants could voice concerns and get answers to long-lingering questions.
As chairman of Community Board 7's housing committee, Gonzalez has worked to raise awareness about public housing issues. He led his fellow community board members on tours of Upper West Side NYCHA developments so they could meet with residents and hear about problems firsthand.
Gonzalez beat out 600 applicants for the board seat. He said he applied because he wants to take what he's learned at Wise Towers to a citywide level.
Gonazalez, who has a bachelor's degree from Mercy College, served five years in the Air Force, then spent 33 years working for United Parcel Service. He retired from UPS in 2005 as an international team leader in customer service.
As president of the residents association, Gonzalez said he's strived to improve communication between residents and NYCHA officials.
"I got [residents] to understand the Housing Authority better and how to work within the system to get problems resolved," Gonzalez said. "Screaming at the management office was truly not the way. Now they understand what the system is, where they have to call, and their concerns are being addressed better."
