Housing

Housing policy - building, zoning, affordability, financing, discrimination, segregation, and regulations - reflects New York City values like no other issue except for Education, with which it is intertwined. 

New York government and politics, and to a very large extent also our culture, has lost its way concerning housing. Developers of luxury tower condos benefit from taxpayer subsidies while foreclosures still loom over diverse families who cannot get needed access to Housing Court because of inadequate translation services. Abusive, unscrupulous property owners are illegally forcing tenants out of apartments while celebrity brokers fill the pages of magazines purporting to report on news. Neighborhoods are being gentrified without regard for their history or sense of place, public housing is in shambles, and too many families are homeless. 

Definitions of affordability have become stretched, with double income families also stretched thin. 

As an organizer, activist, and as your next Assembly Member, Jenifer:

- Will speak up for building supportive housing for our neighbors struggling with mental health issues, addiction, and medication regimens;

- Will fight for laws and regulations that protect renters from arbitrary, unreasonable increases;

- Will stand up for the interests of homeowners;

- Always be vigilant and active on issues to protect the affordability and character of our neighborhoods against inappropriate development that will endanger communities and lower market values, or that will price out longtime residents;

- And will organize and forcefully advocate for reforms to NYCHA funding, repairs, and services. Strong leadership is needed to address issues as varied as storm resilience, basic repair and maintenance, forcing more federal dollars to be brought home and used more efficiently, and oversight of plans to build on open NYCHA property