MITCHELL-LAMA RESIDENTS COALITION

Vol. 25, Issue 3 WEBSITE: www.mitchell-lama.org February 2020 MLRC 2020 agenda seeks declaration New M-L task force of housing emergency in forms to resist co-op privatization ollowing are the key bills and holder assessments and by prohib- measures the MLRC supports as iting revisiting privatization for 5 fforts to prevent the further privatiza- Fits 2020 legislative agenda. years after any “no" vote. tion of Mitchell-Lama cooperatives were ● Mitchell Lama Reform Bill Additional bills are being Eintensified in January with the forma- (A1349): Authorizes the legislature to drafted that would tie coops to tion of the Mitchell-Lama Task Force (working declare a housing emergency and ex- Shelter Rent eligibility for 50 years name). tend protections of rent regulations to beyond the time mortgages are paid Comprised of members from several former ML rentals or HUD-subsidized off, address coop voting procedures other M-L coalitions, the new group aims to housing. and address board corruption with build on the legislative successes achieved by ● ML transfer tax [of 75%] on provisions that mandate board tenants and their advocates last year, especial- sale of rental project or mutual compa- transparency, adherence to demo- ly with the ground-breaking July 2019 passage ny (2018--A04441/S03184). cratic principles and good gover- of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection ● ML bill on use of funds from nance. Act, which affords tenants protection against privatization (2018--A05011): Revenue ● Platform of Housing Justice evictions and exorbitant rent increases. from buyouts to be used for affordable for All campaign. The Task Force comprises three com- housing purposes. ● Excluding Social Security mittees: bill writing, legislative campaign, and ● NYC Mansion Tax on luxury income from SCRIE eligibility. education/media. condos and homes worth $2 million or ● Indexing Senior Citizen As its name implies, the Bill Writing more. Homeowners' Exemption and Dis- committee will draft proposed legislation. Its ● New program based on SCRIE abled Homeowners’ Exemption to members are working closely with State As- and DRIE to protect rents of former (Continued on page 8) semblymember Linda Rosenthal and attorney ML tenants. Michael Grinthal of TakeRoot Justice. ● Platform of Cooperators Unit- The Legislative Campaign committee is ed for Mitchell Lama. devising lobbying schedules and undertaking The proposed new legislation 'Meet & Greet' efforts to involve more shareholders through will make it very difficult for M-L Confer face to face petitions, rallies, and the like. coops to go private by increasing the with our representatives The Education/Media committee is approval requirement to 80% for each May 2, 2020 preparing written materials for the campaign, phase of the privatization process, by 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. including an informational booklet, letters to mandating the funding of privatiza- Place to be announced legislators, press releases and other items tion plans through dedicated share- (Continued on page 8)

Strengthen MLRC Join today (use form on page 2)

MLRC General Membership Meeting Saturday, March 21, 2020 10:00 a.m - noon

NOTE: If weather is inclement, prospective attendees should call the MLRC hotline at 212-465-2619 after 6 a.m., to learn if the meeting’s been canceled due to the weather.

CONTACT: [email protected] PLACE: To be announced Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition PO Box 20414 Station Park West 10025 NY York, New Page 2 February 2020

Atlantic Towers landlord UPCOMING EVENTS cancels facial recognition system enants at Atlantic Plaza Towers in have also argued that the technology is a Brooklyn who have been fighting "big brother" invasion of their privacy, and MLRC Ttheir landlord's plans to install a can be used to intensify evictions. General Membership facial recognition system of entry--replac- In a related development, City ing keys--won a victory in December as the Councilman Mark Levine introduced Meeting owner, Robert Nelson, agreed to cancel the legislation in October that would prevent project. landlords from improperly using personal Saturday, March 21, 2020 Critics have long argued that facial data collected by smart entry systems to 10:00 a.m. - noon recognition technology, which is in wide- harass or evict tenants, or to monitor their spread use by police in this country and by comings and goings. The bill would also Members are urged to voice concerns general governments elsewhere, especially allow tenants to demand a physical key for regarding their developments, in China, is often inaccurate when scan- entry. And it would prevent landlords from especially long- and short-term ning people of color, a majority of whom collecting data for harassment or for sale to standing issues are tenants at Atlantic Towers. Tenants third parties. Place to be announced

Brownsville slated to receive NOTE: If weather is inclement, prospec- tive attendees should call the MLRC hot- three fully-affordable developments line at 212-465-2619 after 6 a.m., to learn if the meeting’s been canceled because of the hree new fully-affordable housing sand square feet of retail and community weather. redevelopments are slated for Brook- facility space, and will offer bicycle areas, For more information, e-mail: info@ mitchell-lama.org Tlyn's Brownsville neighborhood by laundry and community rooms, energy the end of 2021. Part of the Marcus Garvey efficient major appliances such as refriger- Apartments, a former M-L complex, the ators and dishwashers, and high-efficiency three will provide 348 units, with more lighting. than half becoming supportive housing. Support services will be offered by The land is owned by L+M Development WIN, formerly Women in Need, which Mitchell-Lama Residents Partners. currently provides services for various Coalition, Inc. Units will be allocated by lottery. family shelters in the city, and the Osborne Press reports on the developments Association, a nonprofit long involved in Officers indicate that the apartments, which will creating "opportunities for people affected Co-chairs: Jackie Peters contain a mix of studios and one- , two- by the criminal justice system," as noted on Ed Rosner and three-bedroom units--will be afford- its website. Sonja Maxwell able to people earning between thirty and Funding of $179 million is being seventy-seven percent of the area median provided by direct subsidies and tax-ex- Treasurer: Carmen Ithier income. empt bonds issued by the NYS Housing Corresponding Sec’y: Katy Bordonaro The three developments-- 215 and Finance Agency, Low Income Housing 169 Livonia Avenue, and 449 Chester Tax Credits, and a construction loan from MLRC NEWSLETTER STAFF Street--will also provide around six thou- Wells Fargo. Editor: Ed Rosner Assistant editors: Katy Bordonaro Sonja Maxwell Jackie Peters JOIN THE MITCHELL-LAMA RESIDENTS COALITION Managing editor: Nathan Weber 2020 INDIVIDUAL: $15 per year; DEVELOPMENT: 25 cents per apt Circulation: 5,000 ($30 Minimum; $125 Maximum) Articles, letters and photographs are Name ______welcome. Send to MLRC, PO Box Address ______20414, Park West, New York, NY City______State ______Zip code _____ 10025. Fax: (212) 864-8165. Voice Evening phone______Day phone ______Mail: (212) 465-2619. E-mail: Fax [email protected] Current ML: Co-op ______Rental______Former ML: Co-op ______Rental ______Development ______President’s name ______Donations in addition to dues are welcome. February 2020 Page 3 City passes law to stop corruption Homeless population in city to be offered 1,000 units of Mitchell-Lama waiting lists under new de Blasio plan n the face of a corruption scandal vocate Jumaane D. Williams was the last year in which employees of a primary sponsor of the law. new plan announced by Mayor de IMitchell Lama development in Co- The scandal that motivated the Blasio in December to combat home- ney Island accepted bribes to place ten- law came to light last October, when Alessness in the city seeks to create ants in apartments ahead of others on prosecutors accused three employees one thousand new "low-barrier permanent the official waiting list, the City Council of Luna Park housing--Leonid Dakhe, apartments" for the homeless, plus another passed a bill in November requiring the 64, Tatyana Langman, 71, and Sabina thousand beds in the "safe haven" program, Department of Housing Preservation Berkovich, 40--of using bribe money to which encourages people living on the and Development to report on all M-L buy Florida real estate, fur coats, hand- street--estimated at roughly 3,600 peo- developments in which any legitimate bags and jewelry. ple who tend to be "service-resistant"--by applicant was passed over or removed. Notwithstanding the new law, ending curfews and sobriety requirements, Designed to promote transparen- allegations of waiting list corruption and offering more individualized living cy, the report must stipulate the number continue. In December, a lawsuit filed accommodations. Founded by the of applicants on the waiting list on the in Brooklyn Federal Court argues that Residents Committee several years ago, last day of the previous calendar year; the city and HPD have been “deliberate- these safe havens are usually provided by the number of waiting list applicants ly indifferent since at least 2009, if not religious institutions. who weren't selected; and any and all earlier” regarding M-L waiting lists. Ac- The plan is expected to cost $100 people who were selected even though cording to media reports, one resident, million next year. they were behind others. Kinetta Berry in Mount Vernon, argues While support for the plan came In addition, the report must indi- that she was on the waiting list for a from the Coalition for the Homeless, City cate the number of veterans and others two-bedroom unit in Adee Tower Apart- Comptroller Scott Stringer, who is qualified for preferential treatment, as ments in the Bronx for two years, but likely to run for mayor in the next election, well as the number of complaints about was then removed from the list "without dismissed the plan as a "band-aid." the waiting lists regarding preference, notice on the false ground that she did In related news, Dr. Raul among other issues. The reports will be not respond when contacted about an Perea-Henze, a former Obama admin- posted on HPD's website. Public Ad- available unit." istration official and longtime federal and local administrator of human services programs, was named by de Blasio as the Curtailing services to evict tenants new overseer of the city's growing homeless population. His official title is deputy mayor may soon lead owners to prison for health and human services. Meanwhile, officials at Advocates for andlords who deliberately curtail housing." Prosecutors will now be enabled Children of New York (AFC) found that the services or otherwise create unin- to charge landlords with a Class E felony, number of homeless students in the city's Lhabitable conditions in rent reg- if they curtail services in an effort to evict district and charter schools has increased ulated apartments in an effort to force two or more rent regulated tenants, again, every year since the 2014–15 school year. out the tenants will soon face criminal even if no injuries were sustained. Penal- Last year, 114,085 students across the city charges, even if no injury was sustained ties for such felonies can include prison were either living in shelters or doubling up by tenants. In some cases, the owners time for up to four years. with friends. may also face prison time. A law that will go into effect in May 2020 replaces the current law pro- Knickerbocker Village tenants hibiting such behavior that is virtually ineffective, since it requires aggrieved may see good rents for 50 years tenants to demonstrate not only that esidents of Knickerbocker Village in the law will lower the property tax to $3.4 mil- they suffered some type of physical in- RTwo Bridges section of the lower east lion, down from $400,000, and keep rent jury, but that the injury was intended by side may see their rents stay affordable for increases lower than 13 percent. Still, that the owner--a bar almost impossible to the next fifty years, and in some cases see amount could confront families with an av- meet. In fact, under the current law, in even a rent reduction, under a bill passed erage increase of about $125 per apartment. effect for two decades, no landlord has in December by the City Council. The law ever been convicted, according to law- prevents the housing development--built makers who supported the new law. under provisions that served as a model for Marbut new federal homeless czar "Until now, it has been nearly the future Mitchell Lama program--from obert Marbut, Jr., has been appointed impossible for criminal charges to be raising rents more than thirteen percent by Rto lead the U.S. Interagency Council filed against even the worst offenders," providing the landlord, Cherry Green Prop- on Homelessness. In San Antonio, Marbut said State Senator Liz Kreuger (D) of erty Corp., with a property tax abatement became known for creating a shelter to . "As of today, the law will worth three million dollars. provide beds only for people passing a drug Tenants at the complex, which con- be updated to protect tenants and give test. Those who don’t pass are forced to tains 1,590 apartments, have been battling them a fighting chance and to safeguard sleep in a concrete courtyard. our dwindling stock of affordable a rent hike for the past five years. The new Page 4 February 2020

Barika X. Williams named head of ANHD, Developers in NYC must now following departure of Benjamin Dulchin provide 15% for homeless arika X. Williams, formerly NY urban studies and planning, Ms. evelopers of new buildings who receive New Sate's assistant secretary for Williams has published articles at the York City subsidies will have to set aside at Bhousing, has been appointed Urban Institute, and served as a proj- Dleast fifteen percent of their units for home- the new head of the Association for ect manager for a DC real estate firm. less individuals and families, if the buildings contain Neighborhood and Housing Develop- Benjamin Dulchin has worked at least forty apartments. Current estimates place ment, succeeding longtime director at ANHD for 17 years, including ten the city's homeless population today at more than Benjamin Dulchin. A leading afford- as director. In a statement, the orga- 60,000 people. able housing advocate and training nization noted that Dulchin helped to The new law, passed in December, amount- organization, ANHD comprises more expand the association "in so many ed to a compromise between the mayor and the than 80 community groups. ways to become one of New York City Council, which felt an earlier version was too While at the state, Ms. Wil- City’s premier policy, advocacy, and onerous and would curtail housing development in liams "managed the Governor’s capacity-building organizations." He general, according to Politico, a major public opin- major housing priorities consisting has "tripled ANHD’s budget and staff; ion firm. of various agencies with a combined helped to win significant city-and- The compromise, sponsored by Council workforce of over 1,000 employees state-wide housing campaigns (421a, member Rafael Salamanca of the Bronx, received and an annual budget of more than Mandatory Inclusionary Housing, significant support from other councilmembers and $2.5 billion dollars," according to an and the Tenant Protection Act); and, various community advocacy groups. ANHD statement. In that position, expanded the breadth and depth of she participated in efforts to expand ANHD programs, including . . .our tenant protections. With a master's responsible banking and equitable degree from MIT's department of economic development programs."

Twin Parks M-Ls in Bronx purchased for $166 million; Units to remain affordable even Mitchell Lama buildings in 355-365 East 184th Street, and 333 MLRC Developments the Bronx, containing over twelve East 181st street. Shundred apartments, have been The new owner has invested in These developments are members of the purchased for $166 million dollars. affordable housing elsewhere in both Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition The new owners, LIHC Investment New York and other cities. In 2018, for Group, Belverson Partners and Cam- example, it joined HPD and the city's Individual Membership: $15 per year ber Property Group, have promised to Housing Development Corporation to Development Membership: 25 cents per apt improve the properties while retaining preserve 669 Section 8 subsidy apart- ($30 minimum; $125 maximum) the rent regulated apartments. The ments in several gentrifying New York buildings, known as Twin Parks, were neighborhoods under a tax abate- Donations above membership dues are welcome constructed in 1970, and were upgrad- ment program. As those units become ed in 2014. vacant over the next forty years, "they Adee Towers Assn The properties include 2111 will be reserved for low income fam- Amalgamated Warbasse Meadow Manor Southern Blvd, 800-820 East 180th ilies, with 20 percent set aside for Arverne Apartments Michangelo Apartments Bethune Towers 109th St. Senior Citizens Street, 1880-2000 Valentine Ave, homeless individuals and families," Castleton Park Plaza 1985 Webster Ave, 2100 Tiebout Ave, according to an owner statement. Central Park Gardens 158th St & Riverside Dr. Clayton Apartments Housing Coalition to save Affordable Parkside Development M-L resident fights for, and wins, Housing of Co-op City Pratt Towers Concerned Tenants of Sea Promenade Apartments traffic lights at dangerous crossings Park East, Inc. RNA House Concourse Village Riverbend Housing esidents of the , for the safety of the community," she Dennis Lane Apartments River Terrace Raround Clinton, Henry and Cher- said. 1199 Housing River View Towers ry Streets became a lot safer recently, Rolling up her sleeves, she Esplanade Gardens Rosedale Gardens Co-op thanks to the efforts of M-L occupant approached City Councilwoman Franklin Plaza Ryerson Towers Sallie Stroman. Margaret Chin and her staff, the start Independence House Starrett City Tenants Assn Tenants Assn St. James Towers For decades, the heavily traf- of a long task of contacting every- Independence Plaza North Strykers Bay Co-op ficked area had no traffic lights, de- body from the city's transportation Inwood Towers Tivoli Towers spite the presence of a public school department to numerous other public Jefferson Towers Tower West and hospital. officials. Finally, on December 19, the Knickerbocker Plaza Village East Towers Six years ago, Stroman, who traffic lights were installed. Linden Plaza Washington Park SE Apts resides in the local M-L, vowed to act. When the victory was an- Lindsay Park Washington Square SE Apts Lindville Housing Westgate Tenants Assn "When I saw a large tractor nounced at the 7th precinct commu- Lincoln Amsterdam House Westgate trailer struggling to go down the nity council meeting, Stroman got a Manhattan Plaza Westview Apartments narrow street at Henry and Clinton, well-deserved round of applause. Marcus Garvey Village West View Neighbors Assn I decided something had to be done Masaryk Towers Tenants West Village Houses February 2020 Page 5 Downtown NYC tenants New HUD rule would roll back and owners in legal battles effort to fight housing bias over back rents, leases nder a rule passed during the On the state level, onerous restrictions ueling lawsuits regarding back Obama administration, state and on zoning — and on environmental reg- rents and stabilized leases are local governments and public ulations — can add dramatically to the Dheating up the atmosphere in Man- U hattan's downtown neighborhoods, in- housing agencies were required to collect costs of housing." patterns of segregation in their areas, as In a counter statement, Peggy cluding Tribeca and the Wall Street area. a step in developing plans to promote Bailey, an official of the liberal-oriented A New York State court ruling in neighborhood integration and housing Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, June 2019 found that owners who ben- opportunity. said that under the new rule, "ongoing efited from a tax break known as 421-g, That requirement will likely be housing discrimination and segregation which applies to downtown properties eliminated by the Trump administra- will likely continue to be swept under the only, must provide rent-stabilized leases tion, part of a blizzard of deregulation in rug and HUD resources will do far less to to their tenants, as well as legally mandat- areas ranging from the environment to reduce segregation and expand housing ed back rents. financial protection to voting rights. If, opportunities for protected groups." Spurred by the ruling, thousands of as likely, the proposed rule becomes law, Under the Obama rule, local gov- tenants in the Wall Street area, including it would appear to directly counter the ernment recipients of HUD funding had those in dozens of luxury buildings, have federal Fair Housing Act, which requires to work with HUD to create fair housing filed class action lawsuits, demanding that any locality getting funding from the goals. But under the new rule, regard- back rent and stabilized leases. federal department of Housing and Ur- less of how long their communities have But attorneys for Clipper Equity, ban Development "affirmatively further" been segregated, local agencies would the owner of 50 Murray St., are hoping equal and fair housing opportunities. be allowed to devise their own goals and that the US Supreme Court, with its cur- Although that Act specifically procedures to deal with discrimination, rent conservative majority, will agree with includes "segregated living patterns" as without federal oversight. its claim that the state court's ruling is un- an indication of unfair housing options, The proposal states that the new constitutional, contending that it violates the proposed Trump rule does not men- rule will enable "jurisdictions to measure the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment, tion the term "segregation." In its place, their progress, understand their success- which prohibits private property from it notes that people should "live where es or failures, and continue to improve being taken for public use, unless there is they choose, within their means, without their efforts, without a mandate from just compensation. unlawful discrimination based on race, HUD on exactly what steps to take." (Em- In response, attorneys for the color" and other factors (not including phasis added.) building’s tenants have filed papers argu- gender or sexual orientation). The new rule appears to be of a ing that the Court “lacks jurisdiction to Ben Carson, the HUD secretary, piece with HUD's other forays in the area review” the landlord's interpretation of a argues that the Obama rule "is actually of housing discrimination. For example, state law. suffocating investment in some of our HUD eliminated the old rule that al- The owner's contention may be most distressed neighborhoods that need lowed tenants to sue for discrimination difficult to uphold. According to Rich- our investment the most.” by demonstrating that a housing agency's ard Leland, a member of the Real Estate This view mirrors the argument of policy had a discriminatory effect, even Board of New York, a landmark 1978 Su- real estate developers and conservative if it did not purposefully discriminate preme Court case regarding development critics. As expressed by Joel Griffith of against each individual tenant. Proving at Grand Central Terminal found that the right-leaning Heritage Foundation, intent is often an impossible legal stan- “depriving a property owner of the highest “Too often, government mandates, re- dard. and best use of his or her property is not a strictions and subsidies fuel rising costs. regulatory taking.”

Applicants for ML units paid $ thousands, NYC program financed but most have no chance of securing an apartment 34,000 affordable units undreds of applicants for Mitch- In addition, the audit found that he de Blasio administration an- Hell Lama housing collectively paid the waiting lists "contained numer- Tnounced in January that it has fi- thousands of dollars in application fees ous inaccuracies" and "weak controls" nanced 34,160 affordable units of housing over the years, but most have no likely regarding both eligible and ineligible in 2019, setting a record both for new chance of ever getting an apartment. applicants. construction and renovation. An audit by Thomas DiNapoli, In addition, some property man- A statement released by the May- the New York State's comptroller, re- agers failed to return application fees, or's office said that the total number of leased in December 2019, found that the and some mislead hopeful applicants homes financed to date reached almost city's department of Housing Preserva- about their chances of securing an 122,000 apartments. More than four- tion and Development, which admin- apartment. fifths will be affordable to low-income isters many of the developments, has The fees paid by applicants were New Yorkers, of which more than forty failed to establish criteria about which as high as $200 each; fees were reduced percent will go to families earning less applicants for lotteries should be placed to $50 in August of last year. than $46,950. on waiting lists. Page 6 February 2020

Mayor rejects Bushwick community's Candidates for city offices reject $ donations anti-gentrification & displacement plan from real estate industry esidents of Brooklyn's Bushwick section lost a long-running battle wo contestants for the office of against growing gentrification Manhattan Borough President, and R one for the Mayor's office, have and displacement in January, as Mayor T de Blasio rejected a plan prepared by the been rejecting or returning donations local community board, Make the Road from the city's real estate industry. New York, Churches United for Fair City Councilmen Mark Levine Housing, and Brooklyn Legal Services, and Ben Kallos and Council Speaker among others. Corey Johnson have all made public The community's plan countered statements that they will not be influ- enced by one of the city's most powerful a plan put forth earlier by the de Blasio Example of street art adorning numerous blocks administration, which called for upzon- in Brooklyn's Bushwick community political forces. ing 300 blocks, creating around 5,600 The statements come amid a grow- additional units of residential housing, ed luxury development in other areas. ing political emphasis on affordable hous- of which thirty percent would be afford- In rejecting the community's plan, ing and tenant protections, which the real able. That plan was rejected by the NYS Deputy Mayor Vicki Been said that it runs estate lobby has often stymied. Lately, the Supreme Court on the grounds that it "counter to the City's goals of the rezoning, tenant position has gained considerable did not sufficiently consider the environ- which would be to encourage new mixed-in- political support. mental concerns expressed by residents. come housing to prevent displacement Last June, for example, after In the community's counter plan, spurred by current market forces while Democrats took control of both the senate the number of new housing units would promoting a diverse, healthy and inclusive and assembly, and with a Democrat in be 2,000 (less than half in the Mayor's neighborhood and city." the governor's mansion, the state passed plan) with all of them being deeply af- Bushwick is a rapidly gentrifying historic pro-tenant legislation, offering fordable. neighborhood. According to NYU's Fur- tenants more protection against evictions, It also limited large-scale devel- man Center, the average monthly rent for a soaring rents, and perpetual payouts for opment on side streets, although allow- one-bedroom apartment there had soared to apartment renovations long after the cost ing for such structures on large boule- $2,323 in 2019. of the renovations had been fully re- vards such as Broadway. The plan also Notwithstanding the gentrification, couped. demanded the preservation of affordable Bushwick remains widely known for its Councilman Levine, whose district housing and the creation of new histori- dramatic street art, prepared years ago by includes parts of the Upper West Side and cal districts, which have effectively limit- residents, which adorn numerous buildings. Northern Harlem, returned $175 from Eric Rudin of the mogul real estate fam- ily, and $250 from Harold Fetner, who Low transit costs here make New York City had been in a battle over his proposed tower on NYCHA property on the upper more affordable than seven other major cities east side. The proposal was scrapped after a lawsuit. Another donation of $1,000 iven its ever-soaring cost of hous- from Marian Klein of the Brooklyn-based ing, New York City is the fifth most Park Tower Group will be returned. expensive in the nation, when G Councilman Kallos whose district compared with so-called "competitor spans the Mid- and Upper East Sides cities." along with Roosevelt Island and East However, when transportation Harlem, has returned donations amount- costs, which are also central to the overall ing to $425, and has announced his notion of affordability, are added in, New NYC bus intention to giveback another $100 from York is only the eighth most expensive. a Sotheby's agent. That is because transportation costs here more affordable for lower income house- Earlier, he returned $2,150 from are the least expensive among the twenty holds among peer cities, but costs for various real estate agents. However, he cities; the median household here spends these households are still unaffordable." will keep a donation from realtor Edward only 14.4 percent of its income on transit. Among all twenty cities, fifteen of Mermelstein,” who also chairs the Council These are among the findings of them "are considered unaffordable for of Jewish Emigré Community Organiza- a new report released in January by the the 'median household,' which spends tions. Accepting that contribution, Kallos Citizens Budget Commission. "A location’s more than 45 percent of its pre-tax and said, reflects his stand against a growing affordability is best understood as the pre-transfer income on housing and antisemitism in the city. portion of a family’s income devoted to transportation." Johnson, whose district covers housing and transportation," the report, The seven most expensive, or unaf- much of the lower- and mid-west side and which uses data from the US Department fordable, cities, according to the CBC, are, parts of the upper west side, had formerly of Housing and Urban Development, says. in order: Washington, DC; San Jose; San worked for two real estate developers. Regarding New York, the CBC Francisco; Boston; Minneapolis-St. Paul; notes that "New York City is relatively Seattle-Tacoma; and Baltimore. February 2020 Page 7 Affordable housing news Local Housing Briefs from around the nation Evictions in city drop notably since passage of new law National: More cities support Colorado: Community college Evictions of residential tenants in legal counsel for tenants to open homeless shelter New York City have plunged since the state Following the lead of New York, Red Rocks Community College is legislature passed blockbuster tenant pro- several cities have passed laws guar- partnering with a nonprofit group, The tections in June, according to an analysis anteeing legal representation to low Action Center, to open a shelter for de- by the Wall Street Journal. For example, income tenants facing eviction. They gree-seeking students. Nearly one in five nonpayment-of-rent evictions dropped by include Cleveland, Philadelphia, and students at four Denver schools said more than 35,000, or 46 percent, following Newark, NJ. Also, voters in San Francis- that they have been homeless at least the law’s enactment, compared with the co approved a right to counsel in a 2018 part of the 2018 year, according to a re- same period in 2018. Analysts suggest sev- referencdum. (Kansas City, Mo., recently port by a unit at Pennsylvania’s Temple eral reasons: landlords have to wait longer passed a tenants bill of rights, although University. (14 days rather than three) before filing an it does not include access to counsel.) eviction notice; rent-regulated tenants can In addition to helping to right an im- Los Angeles: Housing now dispute rent overcharges going back balance in access to legal aid in housing for homeless finally opens six years instead of four (making owners disputes, the new laws aim to confront The first housing project for more fearful of countersuits); and much a leading cause of poverty. According homeless residents funded under a 2016 more tenant access to attorneys granted by to Princeton University's Eviction Lab, bond sale opened its doors in January. a separate law. eviction “is not just a condition of pover- Twenty more projects are reported to ty, it is a cause of it." be under construction. The mayor, Eric Goodwill Terrace Mitchell Lama Garcetti, said that he expects a new purchased by Rose scion National: Owning a home often project to be opening around every three Goodwill Terrace Apartments, a more affordable than renting weeks. Last year the homeless popula- Mitchell Lama development at 4-21 27th Owning a median-priced, tion in the city reached 36,000, a sixteen Ave. in Queens, was purchased by a scion three-bedroom home in many places percent annual increase. of the Rose real estate empire. Jonathan throughout the United States is more Rose, who acquired the property through a affordable than renting a three-bedroom Seattle: State to invest $28.5 million loan from the City's Housing apartment. This is the case in 455, or 53 $110 million for homeless units Development Corporation, has said that percent, of 855 U.S. counties analyzed Seattle will invest $110 million the development will remain affordable for in a report by Attom Data Solutions, a to construct almost two thousand af- current tenants. real estate research firm. The increased fordable apartments for the homeless Rose said he plans to invest $18 affordability of homes is evident in the across the city in 2020. The funds de- million in the project, which will go towards nation's more populous suburban and rive mainly from the sale of the Mercer upgrading the lobby and hallways, and urban areas. Although the report notes Megablock, a string of properties in the installing energy efficiency and moderniza- that both owning and renting amount to South Lake Union district, very close to tion, including renovation of a community "a financial stretch" for many residents, mega-corporation Amazon's headquar- room and additional social services spaces. "with interest rates falling, owning a ters. The area has recently become "hot" Rose reportedly owns around 15,000 af- home can still be the more affordable according to real estate circles. fordable units around the country. option, even as prices keep rising.” Colombus, Ohio: Authority Two tenant groups sue NYCHA New Jersey: Hospitals to start to spend $250m for new units for overcharges and conditions providing low-cost housing The Columbus housing author- Two groups of NYCHA tenants are Six hospitals in New Jersey have ity plans to spend nearly $250 million suing the agency, which has been under begun projects to construct affordable this year to acquire and renovate new pressure for years of neglect, especially housing, under a program that sees such units, including 500 additional units of regarding lead paint problems. In one suit, dwellings as central to physical and emo- mixed-income and “workforce” housing, nine residents of Forest Houses in the tional well being. and to renovate 928 units at properties Bronx are suing for allegedly overcharging Under the program, the state's it currently owns. It has also expanded them over a decade. The suit alleges that housing and mortgage finance agency its overall portfolio by 1,590 units while the agency neglected to adjust their rents to offers up to $4 million to construct an shrinking the number of units in tradi- 30 percent of their incomes, a federal legal affordable housing development. The tional public-housing projects through requrirement, when their incomes declined. agency will provide a mortgage and programs like the federal Rental Assis- The tenants also argue that the assist in additional financing. The hospi- tance Demonstration. agency utilized incorrect calculations, and tals will match that amount, and provide The agency provides housing even attempted to evict some of them for either land or a building for the housing, that’s affordable for people earning up to nonpayment. In the other suit, residents of to be affordable to families earning less 80 percent of the Area Median Income, the Stanley M. Isaacs Houses and Holmes than 80 percent of the area's median which in Columbus is $62,400 for a fam- Towers in Manhattan claim that NYCHA income, with some units open to even ily of four. has consistently failed to provide legally poorer families. required safe and decent housing. Page 8 February 2020

Homeless deaths here M-L groups form new task force increased by 39% to resist cooperative privatization ore than four hundred homeless Continued from page 1 drafting bills to tie co-ops to Shelter Rent people died in New York City designed to galvanize shareholders. eligibility for 50 years beyond the time Mlast fiscal year (July 2018 - June New legislation the Task Force is mortgages are paid off, address coop 2019), according to a review in The Go- developing will make it more difficult for voting procedures, and address board thamist, an online news site reporting on M-L co-ops to go private by increasing corruption with provisions that mandate city issues. the approval requirement to 80 percent board transparency, adherence to demo- The review was based on a report for each phase of the privatization pro- cratic principles and good governance. issued by the city's Department of Hu- cess, as well as by mandating the funding The task force is comprised of man Services. of privatization plans through dedicated members of the Mitchell-Lama Residents The deaths reflected a 39 percent shareholder assessments, and prohibit- Coalition, the Brooklyn Mitchell-Lama increase over the previous year, the larg- ing revisiting privatization for five years Task Force, and Cooperators United for est increase in a decade. after any “no" vote. Mitchell-Lama. Causes of deaths included drugs, In addition, the Task Force is heart disease, alcoholism, various acci- dents, cancer, suicides and homicides. Not all the deaths occurred on the MLRC 2020 agenda seeks declaration street. Hospitals, shelters, subway cars of housing emergency in New York City and abandoned buildings were (Continued from page 1) market rate or any other group of tenants. also sites. cost of living (or CPI) index (2016-- Paid amenities to be available on a sliding Homeless S1074/A5416). scale of income. adults and teens ● Prohibiting use of NYC or NYS ● Ending all illegal hotel activity in were not the only pension funds for financing ML buyouts. New York State. victims. Seven- ● Ending source of income discrim- ● Banning use of facial recognition teen homeless ination statewide (2018--S149/A06764). technology to enter residential buildings infants also died, This would protects tenants using Section and schools. (NYS A6787B/S5140A) from such factors as sudden infant death 8 or any other form of rental assistance. (Residential Buildings NYS A7790) (US syndrome, flu, and congenital malforma- ● Repeal of Urstadt law and estab- HR 4008 to ban facial recognition tech- tions, among other causes. lishment of home rule for NYC. nology in federally funded buildings) ● Speedy enactment of NYC human Note: Some bill numbers will be rights law requiring all building amenities revised after reintroduction in 2020. Bill to close mortgage tax equally available to all residents whether loophole would generate funds for public housing Wells Fargo and nonprofit offering $12 million in grants for affordable housing proposals n an effort to level the playing field in Ithe area of real estate taxes, two New ix two-million-dollar grants will be benefit the public. York State lawmakers have introduced a awarded to organizations who come For example, the bank has been bill to close a loophole that allows inves- Sup with innovative ways to deal with fined tens of millions of dollars after being tors who purchase properties for specula- construction costs, mortgage financing, found guilty of opening millions of fraudu- tion to avoid paying a mortgage tax--the and resident services in a push to develop lent accounts on behalf of unwitting cus- same tax that individual homeowners more affordable housing. tomers--and then charging them fees. pay. Offering the grants, in a competi- In January of this year, the Office Under current law, investors who tion, is Wells Fargo, which is partnering of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) buy homes with bonds and certificates of with Enterprise Community Partners, a filed charges against five former senior deposit, as opposed to cash, are allowed nonprofit coordinating financial, business Wells Fargo executives for their actions in scandals dating to the early 2000s. The to ignore the mortgage recording tax. and other resources in developing afford- OCC is hoping to fine them $37.5 million. Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brook- able housing. lyn) and Assemblyman Harvey Epstein For the competition, the bank (D-Manhattan), sponsors of the bill, said Proposals, which must address either or Frederic Berman, 92, key in creating that closing that loophole will generate both single-family and multiple dwellings Rent Stabilization Law, dies millions of dollars, which can be used are due by February 14. The six grant Berman, appointed by Mayor John for desperately needed improvements to recipients will be announced in the sum- Lindsay, was instrumental in establish- public housing developments. mer. ing the Rent Stabilization Law, which "Our state needs to stop encourag- The nationwide competition of- extended regulation to about 325,000 ing the use of limited housing stock as an fered by Wells Fargo may reflect the apartments built since 1947 and another investment vehicle instead of as a place bank's efforts to counter the negative 75,000 that were no longer covered by for people to live,” Salazar said. publicity it has received with actions that rent control.