NYCHA Chair Meets with Electeds to Discuss Federal Budget Cuts

Elected officials representing New York at the federal, state, and city level met with Chair Shola Olatoye to discuss how to advocate for public housing in the face of the most significant federal budget cuts NYCHA has ever faced. Attendees included Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, State Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and City Council Member Ritchie Torres, plus representatives from the offices of Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Congressman Jose Serrano, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, State Senator Jeffrey Klein, the City Council, and the Mayor. Chair Olatoye explained that the outlook for NYCHA is ominous, but could have been even worse had the NextGeneration NYCHA strategic plan not been launched in 2015. “Federal cuts will directly impact half a million New Yorkers who call NYCHA home. They will mean slower repairs, less maintenance to our aging buildings, and fewer services for our residents,” the Chair said. “This is not business as usual. It is a serious situation and we need all of our allies to stand with us. Some tough choices have to be made and we need everyone’s support.”