The race for the Gubernatorial Democratic primary has officially begun in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams alongside newcomer Cynthia Nixon, toured the Albany Houses in Crown Heights earlier today to shed some light on some of the issues plaguing the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
This was a first for Nixon, who just last week launched her campaign to oust incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Nixon used the tour as an opportunity to place blame on Cuomo, while staying clear of pointing a finger directly at Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“Every branch of government has neglected public housing for far too long. I include everyone in this, but I know the mayor has made replacing boilers a priority,” said Nixon, a strong supporter of de Blasio.
Nixon went on to demand more funding from Albany, claiming that the funding lies in the state.
“The bottom line is every branch of government has to step up, and the state more than anyone, that is where the money is, that is where the funding ability is possible. I don’t know how Governor Cuomo could have toured NYCHA three times in the last week and half and seen what we’ve seen and not pledged billions of dollars,” added Nixon.
Earlier this week, Cuomo pledged $550 million toward the public housing crisis, for emergency repairs and upgrades.
Cuomo might have an idea of the necessary funding and resources needed to save NYCHA from its state of crisis as a former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Clinton Administration.
Nixon and Adams toured multiple units at the development including one apartment with a handicapped resident who claims she is a prisoner in her home due to a backlogged work order on her front door.
“There is a woman whose apartment we went into, who is in a wheelchair, who talked about how long she’s been asking them to widen her front door because she is literally trapped in her home. Yet, she has a host of health issues and needs to see her doctor but remains trapped at home,” said Nixon.
Adams went on to state that the event was an opportunity to highlight the struggles of the city’s public housing residents
“I thought it was important as we move through this gubernatorial election cycle, that we take a real look [ at public housing], that’s not filtered at the real lives of the people how live here and have been forgotten. The federal government has turned its back, Albany has turned its back on these families, said Adams.
However, Adams did note that he has not yet officially given his endorsement to Nixon and is still weighing his options to support a candidate in the Governor’s race.
The embattled authority has been fighting multiple controversies in recent months related to fraudulent lead inspections and a heating crisis that left some 320,000 of the 390,000 public housing residents without heat or hot water this past Winter.
In addition, just last month, New York City public housing residents sued the authority alleging “years of neglect” and “systemic violations of the law.”
“Somebody along the line decided that the residents at NYCHA don’t matter. It’s kind of like were little pawns in the game. We are just going to let you live in the buildings until they crumble and you all die,” said Kayaswonna Williams, resident of Taylor Wythe/Independence Towers development.
