Bland Houses Without Gas: NYCHA Residents Left Frustrated Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday

By Jessica Easthope

A watched pot never boils.

“I’m gonna be watching forever because it’s still not boiled yet,” said Lyndia Bitler, a tenant at the Bland Houses NYCHA complex.

Bitler usually does Thanksgiving big, but without gas in her NYCHA apartment, holiday plans have been canceled, a single hot plate isn’t going to cut it.

“I wanted to do a turkey,” Bitler said. “I usually either do a lasagna or baked macaroni and cheese and I can’t do that on a hot plate.”

Bitler and her neighbors in this building of the Flushing NYCHA complex haven’t had gas for a month. They were given a hot plate and crock pot to hold them over until repairs to a gas leak are made, but Bitler has a family to cook for, which includes four children, all with developmental or physical disabilities. NYCHA said what they gave her is good enough but Bitler believes otherwise.

“I’m used to cooking on the stove, cooking in the oven,” Bitler said. “I can’t do that now. It’s taking a toll on me.”

We tested just how long it would take the hot plate to bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. On a stove it takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.

It took 23 minutes and Bitler worries she’ll be waiting much longer. She heard her gas could be out for six months.

“I got kids I gotta feed, [and] a husband,” Bitler said. “It’s really not acceptable.”

She currently has 31 open work tickets NYCHA hasn’t responded to, for mold, leaks, holes in her walls, cracked ceilings, and Bitler’s biggest concern, mice.

“Every time they put holes in the walls they come, 30 in three days,” Bitler said. “I’ve been hounding them. Hello, I have a rodent problem here. Oh we don’t do that. What do you mean you don’t do that? You’re Housing! It really makes me cringe.”

Bitler said at this point her issues have become an emergency. She’s even taken NYCHA to court. She expects Thanksgiving to come and go.

“I have prayed a lot, the ongoing problems here has really tested my faith a lot,” Bitler said. “If they don’t turn the gas on, what am I supposed to do? It’s just gonna be another day.”

Currents News reached out to NYCHA about Bitler’s issues but we have not yet received a response.

The nightmares at NYCHA were the focus of an exhibit in The Bronx.

Twenty people who lived in public housing in the borough were interviewed and photographed for the “speak out” exhibit at The Bronx Documentary Center.

It depicts the yearslong struggle to secure better living conditions for the residents.

While the exhibit is now closed, you can read and see more of it in this week’s tablet.

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 11/16/2023

The U.S. bishops are still in Baltimore for the Fall General Assembly, although the public portion is over.

There was a revival event in Queens last night at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal church in Ridgewood.

Tenants of the NYCHA complex, Bland Houses in Flushing said they don’t have any gas to fire up their ovens.

USCCB Amends Catholic Voting Guide, Says Abortion Is ‘Preeminent Priority’ in ‘Faithful Citizenship’ Document

By Jessica Easthope

Many anticipated a passionate debate, but there was none.

The more than 200 voting members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted to approve amendments to “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a guide for Catholics on how to carry out their civic duty in a way that’s consistent with their faith.

The voting document doesn’t tell Catholics who to vote for, but it does touch on moral issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, and treatment of the poor.

The guide’s characterization of abortion as a preeminent issue has sparked debate in years past; however, it didn’t this year. The wording stands in the most recent edition.

“Thanks Archbishop Lori to you and the task force for this very important work,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the USCCB and archbishop of Military Services in the U.S.

The USCCB voted in new chairmen of several committees on Tuesday Nov. 14. Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan was elected to lead the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church. He said his biggest qualification heading into the role are the two boroughs he shepherds.

“I bring with me the experience of our many different communities in the diocese,” Bishop Brennan said. “It sounds like very exciting work, it’s all very new to me but it’s very interesting and very exciting.”

As for the “Faithful Citizenship” document, for the past several years it has been updated ahead of each presidential election. Last year the bishops voted to postpone writing a full revision until after 2024.

The National Correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, John Lavenburg, talks with Currents News from Baltimore, where the U.S. bishops are holding their fall general assembly, to talk about the topics that were discussed on Nov. 15.

Fake Priest Targets Church as Parishes in Texas Are on the Lookout for Imposter

People heading to church in Houston Tuesday night were concerned about a man police are calling a fake priest who targeted St. Thomas More Church.

“I don’t have words for that, trying to impersonate someone,” a parishioner at the church said. “It’s sad. You would wish that that didn’t happen.”

Parishioners said they were just recently alerted to the crime, which happened on Oct. 27.

New details from Houston police are emerging about what happened. They said the man seen in these surveillance images claimed to be “Father Martin,” a visiting priest from Chicago.

He said he’d left his keys in the priests’ residence and bluffed his way past a church staffer.

Once inside, police said, he stole cash from the rooms of the rectory.

In all, they say he was on the church grounds for 30 minutes before leaving in a vehicle he’d left parked nearby.

This week the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston shared this memo with its parishes, a security alert, concerned this imposter priest could try to hit other churches.

They said he’s on the radar of Dallas police and has warrants out in California and Pennsylvania.

Parishioners at St. Thomas More said they’re on the lookout and are praying for the man who’s accused of victimizing their church.

“People don’t always make the best choices and certainly hope that they can turn around choices they’re making,” the parishioner said.

The memo from the archdiocese says the man posing as a priest actually does research on the church he plans to target, so he knows the names of the priests there in order to more easily gain access.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 11/15/2023

The USCCB fall assembly in Baltimore is underway.

U.S. bishops voted to move forward with the sainthood cause of a native New Yorker.

Catholics in Texas are on high alert after an imposter priest allegedly robbed a Houston church.

First Full Day of USCCB Fall General Assembly

The National Correspondent for The Tablet and Crux, John Lavenburg, talks with Currents News from Baltimore, where the U.S. bishops are holding their Fall General Assembly, to talk about the topics that were discussed.

People Line Up for Catholic Charities Turkey Giveaway

By Katie Vasquez

The line at one Brooklyn church wrapped around the block on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

People have been waiting outside Holy Innocents Church for hours hoping to bring home a Thanksgiving turkey.

One thousand birds were waiting for the long line of people outside the Flatbush church.

Many had been standing outside in the cold since 6 a.m., hoping to receive a turkey from Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.

They were handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Catholic Charities CEO Msgr. Alfred LoPinto said the line of people further highlights the great need for the annual giveaway.

“These are difficult times, people are struggling at this point,” Msgr. LoPinto said.”So this is an opportunity to give them a little bit of support so that hopefully they can have a celebration with their family and friends and forget all the misery that’s around us.”

“Things are very hard right now,” said Nancy Duval, from Flatbush. “I’m not working so it’s going to be very helpful for my family.”

Those who came to the giveaway also received a $50 food voucher so they can pick up the rest of their holiday meal.

Catholic Charities is planning to give away more birds ahead of Thanksgiving. For more information, just go to CCBQ.ORG.

Brooklyn Bishops to Lead Committees: USCCB Votes in Brennan, Massa During Fall Meeting in Baltimore

By Jessica Easthope

The votes are in and Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan is chairman elect of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on cultural diversity in the church.

Bishop Brennan won his election by 10 votes.

Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop James Massa was voted in as chairman elect of the usccb’s committee on doctrine. Bishop Massa won his election by seven votes.

The first day of meetings was a chance for the public to get insight into how the country’s bishops make decisions and discuss national church issues – But international peace was front of mind for USCCB President Archbishop Timothy Broglio and General Secretary Father Michael Fuller.

“We recognize and defend the right of Israel to exist and defend the right to exist and to enjoy a place among the nations,” Archbishop Broglio said. “At the same time we know the Palestinians, who represent the majority of Christians in the Holy Land, while still being a minority themselves, have a right to a land that is their own.”

The USCCB welcomed the pope’s representative to the U.S. Cardinal Cristophe Pierre. He addressed the bishops for the first time since receiving his red hat from Pope Francis ahead of the first global synod meeting at the Vatican. Cardinal Pierre’s address spoke about how the Synod on Synodality and the Eucharistic Revival are intertwined.

“The Eucharist is an encounter, helping us to give new life,” Cardinal Pierre said. “It makes us the living presence of Jesus and others, so my brothers, Eucharistic revival and Synodality go together.”

Over the next year, the bishops will engage in prayer and dialogue reflecting on the synod synthesis report. As for bishops Brennan and Massa they will each serve for one year as chairman elect before beginning a three year term as chairman at the conclusion of next year’s fall assembly.

Catholic News Headlines for Tuesday 11/14/2023

Two Brooklyn bishops were elected to head up USCCB committees during the first full day of meetings in Baltimore.

Governor Kathy Hochul says she can’t give migrants jobs in New York.

A food pantry at a church in Queens has fed hundreds, including migrants.

Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens is helping needy families prepare for Thanksgiving.

A Helping Hand for Immigrants: Long Island Nun Honored for Her Legal Assistance Work

by Katie Vasquez

Most people spend their retirement kicking up their feet and reading a book. Not Sister Eileen McCann.

“Why sleep in a chair if you have something left to give?” Sister Eileen says.

The 85-year-old nun volunteers at the Long Island Immigration Clinic four days a week, fighting for those who are just trying to make a new life in a new country. Each argument she makes helps the migrants she calls friends.

“You want to make it as strong as you possibly can so that the friend has a fighting chance to gain some kind of protection in this country,” Sister Eileen said.

It’s that work that was recently recognized by the group, Support Our Aging Religious, or SOAR. Sister Eileen received the Father Victor Yanitelli award which honors a recipient’s length of service in religious life.

Sister Eileen wasn’t always an immigration expert. She was once a teacher, working in Williamsburg, Crown Heights and even in Puerto Rico.

“I was a late bloomer. I was in my 50s when I studied law,” Sister Eileen said.

Despite the late start, she spent the last 20 years helping the country’s newest arrivals. She says it’s some of the most fulfilling work she’s ever done. “It’s so moving. It really is,” Sister Eileen said.

The Long Island nun has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

“Certainly if there comes a time when I’m not able to, if I’m in such a way that I’m not really able to contribute what I should be, then I’ll put up my feet [and] read some good books,” Sister Eileen said.