People all over New York City are feeling squeezed. With rising rents, endless problems in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and homeownership at an all-time low of less than 50%, finding a safe and affordable place to live can feel impossible. But, that shouldn’t be the case. New York City needs investment in our housing stock for families, seniors, and young people at all income levels. And, we need to think comprehensively about the impact our buildings have on jobs, the environment, and long-term stability.

So far…
As an elected official, I’ve made it my priority to increase the affordable housing stock in the neighborhoods I represent and throughout the city - that is why I created New York City’s first-ever Basement Legalization Pilot Program, which gives homeowners financial and legal support to safely upgrade their basement, while keeping rents low for tenants. This program is intended to go to scale throughout all five boroughs, which will bring immeasurable relief to homeowners and tenants alike. I have also pushed the de Blasio administration to expand the city’s HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Loan Program, giving more families access to stable homeownership. Lastly, I strongly believe we must incentivize affordable housing for low to middle-income earners, including single people making $30,000- $75,000 annually, who feel apartments aren’t being made for them, and I am a strong advocate of universal rent control. 

NYCHA
More must be done to protect the 600,000 people living in our public housing. For too long, NYCHA residents have been treated like second class citizens, as we’ve seen in recent history with dangerous lead-paint levels, heatless apartments, and crumbling conditions. I was the only Council Member to proactively invest in a new boiler at a NYCHA facility in my district before it became apparent that there was a problem. I will continue this advocacy and fight to fully invest in NYCHA so its infrastructure is improved and families get to live in dignity. I also have a plan to make NYCHA buildings more environmentally sound, by installing green roofs that will provide fresh food and educational outlets for our kids, as well as push for more environmentally-efficient designs in lighting, heating and cooling. 

What’s next:

• Increase in homeownership assistance through the first-time homeowners program 

• Advocate for more construction for homeownership 

• Affordable Housing for low to middle-income earners (single people making $30-75k annually feel apartments aren't being made for them)

• Advocate for universal rent control  

• Push for full investment in NYCHA and green its infrastructure (green roofs for farming, abate lead in all units, fully fund a capital plan to improve overall living conditions)

• Fund NYCHA upgrades by ending rebates of the existing New York Stock Transfer Tax.