“I get involved with everything. That’s why it’s better for a building owner to fix violations before I enter — they don’t want to see me around!”
Coming to New York City was a big opportunity for Vivian who practiced architecture in her home country of Egypt before moving to Staten Island and joining HPD as a construction project manager. Her work to ensure landlords provide safe homes for tenants has become even more vital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I grew up in Egypt loving diversity, accepting others, serving others. I’m open to anything new. I spent a year in Italy serving people. I think this helped me a lot not to have culture shock with tenants in NYC, with different attitudes or different characters.
At HPD I’m in the Alternative Enforcement Program for buildings with really serious violations. If the owner isn’t fixing the problem, we can’t wait, we can’t allow the tenants to suffer. We have to take action. My role is to take the action or force the owner to take the action. I get involved with everything. That’s why it’s better for a building owner to fix the issue before I enter — they don’t want to see me around!
One time, I went into a building, and I took out my carbon-monoxide detector and it started to beep really loud. I realized it was carbon monoxide. Thank God I was there, none of the tenants knew about it, nobody had complained, nobody had called 311 or 911. I’m so proud I could save lives and prevent a big disaster from happening. That’s why I like HPD. I feel like I’m working but also serving the community at the same time.
At the beginning I was very scared. COVID-19 was an unseen enemy: the conditions in buildings I can see, I can protect myself and I can protect others, but this I cannot see. But I think now, we’re less anxious. If I’m going out, as long as I’m keeping myself safe and keeping others safe, and every day that passes, it gives me hope that things can get better.
Every time I put on my uniform, I am proud.
