Message from Commissioner Carroll

June 3, 2020

Dear HPD team,

The events of the past week have been deeply personal for me, as I am sure they have been for all of you. I am haunted by the horrifying deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and of the countless Black Americans who have been victims of police violence. Or the experience of Christian Cooper in Central Park whose color was used against him in a way that mercifully did not end in tragedy. These tragedies are not anomalies, they are an outgrowth of the structural racism that underlies all of our institutions and perpetuates inequities in everything from education to health to housing. And they have sparked justifiable protests across our city, around the country and internationally, that are important to elevating this issue and forcing a much-needed, if difficult, dialogue about race in America and the rest of the world. 

I want you to know that I stand with all of you at HPD, who, once again, are grappling with the pain and trauma of not just this latest tragedy, but the systemic injustice that continues to plague our society. I especially want to acknowledge the anger, fear, and frustration of the many people of color like me, who are our colleagues, who live with this trauma each and every day. I want you to know that you are seen and valued, and I want you to know that HPD is here to support you, not just now, but through and beyond this painful moment. For me, it’s not just about words, it’s about concrete actions we can take as an Agency to make meaningful change not just in the communities we serve, but in our own community.

I believe that the first step is to listen. The senior leadership team and I want to hear from you. Tomorrow, I’m meeting with all of HPD’s Assistant, Associate, and Deputy Commissioners to discuss the best forum and structure for hosting a series of conversations with colleagues from across the agency, from all levels and all divisions, about the kinds of changes we need to make to ensure that HPD is a place that is welcoming and inclusive for people of color, and that our work is helping in meaningful ways to create a more just and equitable city. 

I know the problem from my own experience, but our experiences are the same and different as well. I do not have all the answers, nor the power to fix all of the problems that we face as an agency, a city, and a nation, but let’s start by having the conversation and asking the hard questions. In the spirit of the ongoing protests, I want to foster a dialogue and create safe spaces for members of the team to voice the pain and outrage they are feeling; to truly listen to each other; and to identify concrete and actionable steps that we can take together. 

I will follow up soon with more information on next steps and additional resources to support you during this difficult time. I also encourage anyone feeling overwhelmed by these events, who need a day or half-day to reflect and clear the mind, to ask for that time off. In addition, if you want to talk confidentially to someone, contact the Employee Assistance Program at 212-306-7660 or eap@olr.nyc.gov for free confidential phone, video, or text sessions with licensed mental health professionals.  

Please know all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. My hope is that we will seize this tragedy as an opportunity to come together as a community to work for real and lasting change.

Louise 

Louise Carroll
HPD Commissioner