Featured in the Gotham Gazette today is an Op Ed, Seize the Albany Opportunity to Do More for NYCHA by Danny Barber. Mr. Barber is the Chair of the Citywide Council of Presidents of NYCHA residents, representing 400,000 public housing residents. He is also President of Jackson Houses Resident Inc., Chairman of the South Bronx District Council of Presidents Inc., and a member of Community Board 1. Mr. Barber stood with Governor Cuomo last year to highlight deplorable building conditions in public housing prior to Governor Cuomo and the Legislature allocating $250 million for capital repairs. He is asking Albany lawmakers to allocate capital funding again this year. Mr. Barber also throws his support behind reform of the Coop Condo Property Tax Abatement to redirect revenue to public housing. “Leaks, mold, pests, broken elevators, and lead are a constant worry for us 400,0000 public housing residents as we try to get to work or school or care for our families at home.” Steady and ongoing revenue would help NYCHA achieve compliance with federal health and safety regulations.
The budget agreed on April 1st left out capital funding for many important issues including public housing. Housing Committee Chairs in both the Assembly and Senate issued a joint press release in April committing to advocating for public housing capital before the end of the session.
On Thursday, Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez and Senator Julia Salazar co-authored an Op Ed in City Limits making the case for redirecting resources to public housing through Coop Condo Abatement reform. They are seeking a more just housing policy in their op-ed, Abolish This Luxury Property Tax Break and Save NYCHA.
Last week, Rachel Fee also shared her opinion in the Daily News on the win-win for renters and public housing residents Albany lawmakers can achieve this session: A real housing victory is in reach: Fix NYCHA by closing luxury tax breaks.
CALL TO ACTION:
Let Albany know that NYCHA tenants and NYCHA’s dire capital needs must not be forgotten! Call and email leadership today demanding that the Legislature provide more NYCHA capital and reform the condo-coop abatement to redirect revenue to NYCHA before the end of session!
Governor Andrew Cuomo
gov.cuomo@chamber.state.ny.us
(518) 474-8390
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stuart-Cousins
scousins@nysenate.gov
(518) 455-2585
Senate Deputy Majority Michael Gianaris
gianaris@nysenate.gov
(518) 455-3486
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie
speaker@nyassemby.gov
(518) 455-3791
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes
peoplec@nyassembly.gov
(518) 455-5005
Senate Housing Chair Brian Kavanagh
kavanagh@nysenate.gov
(518) 455-2625
Assembly Housing Chair Steven Cymbrowitz
cymbrowitzs@nyassembly.gov
(518) 455-5214