NEW YORK CITY—Judge Carol R. Edmead of the New York State Supreme Court earlier this week had granted a preliminary injunction requiring emergency lead paint inspections of thousands of NYCHA apartments. The Citywide Council of Presidents, a group acting on behalf of NYCHA tenants, and the non-profit At-Risk Community Services, Inc., filed a lawsuit against NYCHA and its chair, Shola Olatoye, in February. The lawsuit alleges failure to protect the public housing tenants from toxic lead, mold, vermin, roaches, violent offenders engaging in criminal activity, and failing to provide heat and hot water.

Olatoye had resigned on April 9, effective at the end of this month. Michael Kelly, who had been NYCHA's general manager, resigned at the end of February and in March accepted the job of COO and EVP at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation.

Justice Edmead announced her findings after oral arguments in which Jim Walden, an attorney at Walden Macht & Haran representing CCOP and At-Risk Community Services, argued NYCHA was legally required to inspect apartments for toxic lead but did not. A report by the city's Department of Investigations indicated from 2013 to 2016 NYCHA had falsely certified compliance with lead paint safety inspections with the federal government. The judge stated NYCHA must identify the apartments that required these inspections and inspect them within 90 days.