Thursday, September 13, 2007

Gov. Signs Shelter Allowance Increase for NYCHA

On Aug. 15, the Governor signed a bill to increase NYCHA's shelter allowance to the level that private landlords receive for tenants on public assistance. This is an important step forward in the effort to secure public housing for the 600,000 New Yorkers who live in these developments. The shelter allowance increase will provide an additional $63 million in funding to NYCHA over the next two years.Thanks to all who campaigned for this. The intensive push of calls and letters, press work and other grassroots organizing paid off. The Governor was under pressure to avoid this spending, but ultimately did the right thing. There is much more to do to ensure full funding for public housing and to preserve other types of housing low and middle-income families rely on, but this is an important moment to celebrate.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Message from Starrett City Tenant Leader on Buy Out Notice

From Linda Tilton, ACORN member and Starrett City Leader:

We got rid of the potential buyer, Clipper Equity, who was trying to buy Starrett City for $1.3 billion. For that much money, Clipper would have had no choice but to raise rent and displace tenants who could not afford the new high rents.

But here we go again! We just got a buy out notice – the landlord wants to leave the Mitchell-Lama program. It’s sad to think that Starrett City might not remain as it is. The people who built Starrett City built something wonderful and should be proud of this. Instead, the money becomes most important, not the people or the place. We are going to remain strong and united. We are not giving up.