Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn’s public housing buildings could receive a critical upgrade if Albany signals its approval this year.
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A new bill passed by the State Assembly this week will seek to qualify 21 state and city developments, which comprise 20,143 apartment units, for federal public housing subsidies provided by the federal government’s economic stimulus package.
“I am proud to sponsor this creative legislation to provide state and city public housing developments with much needed financial resources for their operating and maintenance needs,” said Assemblymember Vito Lopez (D-Williamsburg) who introduced the bill. “Under the current financial climate in New York State, it would be impossible to provide the resources to maintain the quality of life for the residents in these developments.”
Lopez hopes that his bill will allow state and city developments to qualify to receive subsidies through a Mixed-Finance Modernization plan that will seek to improve facilities through funds raised publicly and privately, leading to a newly created entity that would operate as an affiliate of New York City Housing Authority.
“This would be the largest mixed finance deal for housing in the nation’s history once federalization is approved,” said NYCHA Communications Officer Sheila Stainback. “In addition to preserving the 21 unfunded developments as public housing, the federalization plan would enable all of NYCHA’s other developments to benefit from their full portion of federal funds that otherwise must be diverted in part to the developments not included in HUD’s federal funding formula.”
Several Brooklyn public housing developments, which include Marlboro Houses (2292 West 8th Street) in Gravensend, and, in Williamburg, the Bushwick Houses (372 Bushwick Ave.), Jonathan Williams Plaza (227 Division Ave.), Independence Towers (114 Taylor St.) will be affected by the legislation, which could enable maintenance, capital improvements, and increased staffing administered by the New York City Housing Authority.
Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny (D-Coney Island) celebrated the passage of the bill, which would affect residents of the Marlboro Houses in his district by reducing NYCHA’s operating deficits.
“With this reorganization, nearly two dozen NYCHA developments in serious need of improvements will have access to needed funding,” said Brook-Krasny.
Council member Steve Levin (D-Williamsburg), who is working on introducing a companion resolution in City Council, concurred, explaining that Lopez’s bill would likely bring millions of dollars to NYCHA developments for services and repairs at Independence Towers and Jonathan Williams Plaza in his district.
“As an affordable housing advocate, expanding funding streams for NYCHA is extremely important to me, and I am thrilled that Assemblyman Lopez has found yet another way to do so and that I can show my support for this initiative in my official capacity,” said Levin.
Unlike most bills in the legislature, the NYCHA bill is operating on a strict schedule and must pass by March 17 in order to comply with federal Stimulus requirements. The bill also must be approved by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, though the bill enjoyed widespread support in the State Assembly, passing 140-2.
There seems to be no end to yiddeshe and goiyeshe politicians congratulating themselves and issuing self-serving press releases bragging about their efforts to take more of our tax money to “subsidize” housing for those who insist on living beyond their means. Public housing subsidies only serve to encourage people to have larger families than they can afford to support and remove incentives for work and self-reliance.
What a shame that the funding for these subsidies will still run through NYCHA. They are a most incompetent bureaucratic behemoth. I would rather see the funding for this run through one of the state agencies, such as DHCR. Both NYCHA and HPD have proven themselves incapable of living up to their mission statements
why cant people just work an honest job to afford regular rent?
It’s commendable that these selfish politicians finally realize that ultimately the people will win. You can’t have the city overloaded with the homeless and other terrible elements. They are finally getting a grip on this city that’s totally out of control! What will Bloomberg say when the statistics show that 78% of meters in the city are out of order? There is a limit to the expense that would make all these quality of life issues worth its while. Painful as it may, city housing should be a place to house people – not a cover-up or sham to make politicians look good in the eyes of their constituents. Thank you VIN for bringing this matter to the limelight. The public certainly has the right to know the facts and then judge for themselves. Ayn low leDayan aileh mah sheEyenav RoEh.
Perhaps it’s time that Boro Park, Flatbush, Kensington get a fair share of this type of housing. In fact perhaps the fair housing should be in proportion of the taxes paid in a community. It’s not fair to see Williamsburgh getting a large chunk. What about the poor, really poor in Boro Park.
Isn’t time to move out of this jungle whether its Williamsburg, Borough Part etc??? How long will we rely on these politicians?? Its Time to move out of here
who cares about this if almost no yid got an apartment in these public housing facilities for the last 20 years?
Everyone here is missing the point.
These funds have been already allocated by the Obama administartion as stimulus funds.
They, in the current adiminstartion, are desperatly looking for a govermental agency to disburse these funds so that they can claim that their programs were “OH SO BENEFICIAL”.
These funds are going to be spent by any one or other goverment agency for low income/welfare/subsidized housing. (Obama believes that this is the way to stimulate the economy?????)
Why does it bother anyone here that some Jewish families are also on board to receive some of these funds.