housing for all

For far too many Housing in New York City is increasingly unaffordable.The economic crisis sparked by the pandemic further exacerbated our already escalating housing crisis.

I’ll get straight to the point: we need to increase the money in emergency relief set aside for both tenants and landlords. If we do not take these measures, we will surely have more homeless tenants. But let’s not forget here in Queens many of our 2-or-3 family homes are owner occupied. Without relief many of them are at risk of losing their properties. That is their American dream and we cannot allow this crisis to steal it from them.

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Yes, there are some scrupulous landlords out there and I will work with the Public Advocate and city agencies to root them out. But so many of our landlords have great relationships with their tenants and want to support their tenants. Let us not pit our communities against each other.If there are landlords out there who think now is the time to push out their long time residents, well my office is here to make sure that just does not happen on my watch

So let us give the aid to those that need it regardless of whether they owe back rent or on their mortgage. The housing crisis requires both new building and repurposing, it is multi-layered. Regardless we need the creation of more affordable housing, more senior housing, and more veterans housing. There is just no way around it and as our population continues to age that need will continue to grow. We must also support, protect and develop plans to once and for all improve the quality of life in our boroughs public housing.

I am ready to use my authority to guide re-zonings earlier in the process so we ensure real affordable housing and address the following key priorities:

  • Creation of at least two thousand, truly new affordable housing unite for our seniors

  • Ensure that all new developments are sustainable and work to finally achieve the greening of all city-owned sites in Queens

  • Find new locations for senior housing, including the potential of city-owned sites currently in use for other purposes or vacant land and parking lots

  • Forster the growth of supportive housing for our veterans.

As for our public housing, I created a working group of New York City Housing Authority Tenant Association Presidents to ensure frequent communication between NYCHA residents and my office. Let me be perfectly clear This is a working group intended not just to improve communication but to get things done

Under my direction, my office is reviewing capital procedures at NYCHA for sustainability. We must start addressing our housing crisis with our finances, our zoning changes, out broader housing policy and our partnerships with the state and federal government not to mention the private sector. If we do not change, we will have an unprecedented amount of people in our borough who are housing insecure.

We cannot let this happen. It is our current President, Joe Biden, who said, “Don’t tell me what you care about, show me your budget and I’ll tell you what you care about.” Part of addressing affordable housing means promoting affordable homeownership.

I am calling on the city to work with the federal government to purchase foreclosed homes and working with our non-profit organizations to refurbish them and provide affordable  opportunities to first time home buyers.

Years ago, I led efforts in the City Council to pass legislation so we fund Community Land Trusts. We must double our investment in CLTs to give communities control over their land and keep housing affordable. By boosting our housing, we enhance our neighborhoods.

Immediate relief for our current residents, producing more affordable units for all our vulnerable communities, protecting and investing in our public housing stock, and promoting home ownership, we have a plan. Now let’s get to work!