Residents of public housing are asking some tough questions about Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to overhaul the city's housing authority. NY1's Rocco Vertuccio filed the following report.

Cleaning crews were busy polishing up the Johnson Houses in East Harlem Tuesday morning, sprucing it up for the mayor's visit to announce his plan to overhaul the city's public housing authority. Residents here say they want to see routine maintenance all the time, not just on special occasions.

"The elevators are always dirty," said one resident. "The hallways only get cleaned maybe once every two to three months."

When Shevawn Anderson moved in 30 years ago, her rent was a little more than $300 a month. Now, she pays $1,300. She feels she's getting less for her money.

"I was paying less rent, the conditions were better. And now, I'm paying more rent and the conditions are not as good," she said.

The mayor's plan to overhaul the New York City Housing Authority includes streamlining the repair and maintenance process by cutting red tape. By next year, the city hopes to reduce repair times for basic maintenance to seven days.

A couple of years ago, Sam Sierra's family waited a year for NYCHA to repair a leak in their kitchen.

"The repair was done quickly, but the waiting time? It's terrible," he said. "It's too long."

Residents of this complex constantly complain of broken elevators and doors that don't lock.

Vertuccio: What would you like to see done here?
Rosario Rozon, resident, Johnson Houses: The door. To knock the door.
Vertuccio: Fix the door.
Rozon: Yeah, because there are people, they don't live there.
Vertuccio: And you're worried about your security and safety?
Rozon: Yes. I have two children.

To increase revenues, the mayor's plan includes modernizing rent collection to improve the rate of collection. Some fear that could mean a raise in rent.

"Of course it concerns, because we have a low income and all that," said Jaime Fajrado, a resident of the Johnson Houses. "I have to put food on my table."

The city promises cutting expenses by moving 1,000 NYCHA employees to other city agencies will not hurt services. It's a promise residents hope is not broken.