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May 4, 2015

Hon. Sharon Devine

Acting Commissioner

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

40 North Pearl Street

Albany, NY 12243

Dear Commissioner Devine:

We are writing to you regarding the homeless shelter at the Pan American Hotel at 79-00

Queens Blvd, Elmhurst, NY 11373 which is located within our districts. In an April 29th

, 2015

article titled Cuomo gives NYC one week to clean up homeless shelters that regularly have code

violations the Daily News cited a letter from you to the New York City Department of

Homeless Services (DHS) warning the agency to take corrective actions at 24 shelters including

the Pan American Hotel or risk hefty fines or even closure.

From the moment that DHS utilized an emergency declaration to open the shelter with no

prior warning either to the community or to elected officials, there have been a myriad of

problems which include some of the following:

Lack of kitchens in the housing units which violates NYC Administrative Code 21-124.

According to HPD records there are numerous complaints about issues with plumbing such as no heat, no hot water, raw sewage accumulation, and leaking

pipes.

There is currently an open violation with the New York City Department of Buildings from 2013 for failure to file an annual boiler inspection report.

Infrequent Community Advisory Board meetings.

Reports of bed bugs, vermin, and roaches at the facility most likely caused by inadequate trash removal.

At the first community advisory board meeting on August 18, 2014, our offices witnessed

firsthand plumbing issues at the site. During the meeting water began dripping down from the

ceiling which quickly became a deluge that interrupted the meeting. Half jokingly, a remark was

made that we hoped this was not indicative of the conditions at the shelter. Unfortunately, that

has turned out to be true.

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The most disturbing part of all of this is the lack of transparency and accountability from

DHS regarding the shelter. They have repeatedly ignored our letters and FOIL requests that we

filed nearly a year ago addressing our concerns and questions about the day to day operations of

the shelter. This is unfortunate given the fact that approximately 700 of the most vulnerable

people including many children are living in squalid conditions.

Given this information, we implore your agency to conduct a thorough review of the

conditions at this shelter and if necessary consider closing it. We feel a sense of total frustration,

with DHS lack of accountability and transparency.

Sincerely,

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky Congresswoman Grace Meng