Council Members Commend De Blasio’s Blueprint for Fair Housing
The de Blasio Administration released the Where We Live NYC Draft Plan for public review. Where We Live NYC is the City’s comprehensive plan to promote fair housing and take action to advance opportunity for all New Yorkers.
“The de Blasio administration’s decision to move ahead with a fair housing assessment demonstrates our City’s commitment to acknowledging that large swaths of New York City are deeply segregated due to years of unjust and racist housing policy,” said Council Member Antonio Reynoso (D-Bushwick, Ridgewood, and Williamsburg) “Acknowledging the impact that predatory policies like redlining have had on communities of color is a starting point towards making housing fair and equitable in New York City. While I am excited by the recommendations outlined in the Where We Live NYC report, they will only be able to successfully confront segregation and promote inclusionary housing if they are executed correctly. I will be keeping my eye on these recommendations and holding the administration accountable in aggressively implementing measures to further equity in New York City’s housing trends.”
The Where We Live NYC Draft Plan outlines key goals and strategies to address New York City’s fair housing challenges. The plan analyzes the state of fair housing in New York City today and lays out an action plan for the next five years.
“The Department of Housing Preservation and Development has been making impressive strides in affirmatively furthering fair housing and improving the condition and availability of housing in New York City,” said Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. (D-Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights), Chair of Housing and Buildings Committee. “I commend HPD for its inclusive and collaborative approach in developing the Where We Live NYC plan, ensuring the plan is equipped to tackle New York City’s unique housing needs. We need clear-eyed and bold plans like this one to address the serious housing crisis we are faced with.”
New Yorkers can now visit the Where We Live NYC website to read the plan and offer feedback to shape the final report. Both HPD and NYCHA worked with more than 30 government partners to evaluate existing policies and initiatives in order to design new, impactful policy solutions.
“As James Baldwin said, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ It’s not easy to take an honest look at the ways segregation scars our city, but it is the only way to begin building a city of more genuine and equal opportunity. So when the Trump Administration cynically turned its back on fair housing, I’m glad that New York City stepped forward. I look forward to working with the City to put the fair housing strategies of Where We Live NYC into action. The Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning is a great first opportunity,” said Council Member Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington).
Salazar Endorses Lander for NYC Comptroller in 2021
State Senators Julia Salazar (D-Bushwick, Cypress Hills, Greenpoint and Williamsburgh, Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, East New
York) and Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx) endorsed Council Member Brad Lander (D-Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Columbia Waterfront, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Kensington) for NYC Comptroller in New York City’s 2021 elections.
“As an organizer working on the police accountability campaign to pass the Right to Know Act, I had the opportunity of seeing Brad’s dedication to working with community members to bring about real change up close. He stood with us unequivocally, earnestly and with integrity. I appreciated that as an advocate, but I appreciate it even more now as an elected official. Brad really models what an elected official should be: someone who brings as many voices as possible into a room. I trust Brad to wisely guard the resources of our city, and to use them democratically. To not just be the chief financial officer, but the chief accountability officer,” said Salazar.
Brad Lander has represented Brooklyn in the New York City Council since 2010. His background in community organizing and city planning informs his commitment to make government work better for people.
“Biaggi and Salazar have fundamentally transformed New York State politics and made millions of lives better. The victories New Yorkers won last year for tenants, immigrants, incarcerated New Yorkers, and our collective future were made possible by these dedicated leaders, who courageously took on the stagnation and obstruction that had governed Albany for far too long. I’m so grateful for their support and proud to be their partner as we work to bring our shared values of a more just, sustainable, and equal city to the office of the NYC Comptroller,” said Lander.
Cuomo Proposes Expanding NY’s Workforce Development Initiative
Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the 32nd proposal of his 2020 State of the State: expanding on New York’s historic $175 million Workforce Development Initiative to meet emerging job demand. The Governor put forward a series of plans, including new workforce training centers and programs, that will retrain and prepare people for new jobs. By expanding the Workforce Development Initiative to target emerging industries, the State will ensure that employers are able to find and hire qualified workers with in-demand skills in New York.
“This aggressive, all-encompassing approach to workforce training will bolster New York’s groundbreaking Workforce Development Initiative by helping to ensure workers have the skills they need to compete and succeed in emerging industries that are quickly developing across our state,” Cuomo said. “With private sector employment at an all-time high, New York must continue to invest in its workforce and make certain that our workers have the necessary skills to work in a rapidly-changing economy.”
One aspect of the plan is addressing emerging demand in the green economy by creating industry-driven green jobs training programs. New York State is a leader in nearly every green jobs sector. Last year, Cuomo made agreements for two offshore wind farms that will create more than 1,600 jobs, with construction, assembly and maintenance facilities expected to come to the Capital Region, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Long Island.
