Velázquez Seeks Funding for Critical Housing Repairs
Last Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D) introduced legislation to allocate more money for public housing repairs.
The Public Housing Emergency Response Act would allocate $70 billion for public housing capital repairs and upgrades across the nation. Of that, $32 billion would go directly towards the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
“Public housing was created to serve as a safe and affordable lifeline for families in New York and nationwide,” said Velázquez. “However, the current state of many public housing units is a direct threat to the health and safety of the families who call them home. Residents are exposed to mold, lead, and a lack of heat on a regular basis, all of which put them at a greater risk of contracting a severe case of coronavirus. This issue demands a bold approach, which is why the bill I am introducing today would provide substantial funding for capital repairs and upgrades, taking a concrete step towards renewing our nation’s commitment to public housing residents during the pandemic and beyond.”
Jackson to Demand ConEd to Stop Unsafe Smart Meter Installations
Today State Senator Robert Jackson (D-Washington Heights, Inwood) will be hosting a virtual rally with his fellow legislators to demand a stop to Con Edison’s unsafe in-unit smart meter installations in progress.
Last month, Jackson and 10 of his colleagues sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) about the issue. They expressed concern that Con Edison employees were installing upgrades in their constituents’ housing units at the height of the pandemic, with no COVID-19 testing protocol in place. A month later, those installations are still continuing.
Jackson will accompany affected constituent Andrew Kaufman, along with several other electeds.
The event will take place today from 9:30-10:30 a.m. over Zoom.
Cuomo Deploys a Thousand National Guard Members to Washington
Last Wednesday, at the request of the U.S. National Guard, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) deployed 1,000 members of the New York National Guard to Washington, D.C.
Cuomo enacted the deployment in response to the attempted violent insurrection at Capitol Hill. The troops will remain in D.C. for up to two weeks to ensure the peaceful transition of presidential power.
“This deployment will not impact our state’s ongoing efforts to contain and combat the COVID virus,” said Cuomo. “For 244 years, the cornerstone of our democracy has been the peaceful transfer of power, and New York stands ready to help ensure the will of the American people is carried out, safely and decisively. God bless our brave men and women in uniform, and God bless the United States of America.”
