Res. No. 1963
Resolution calling upon the New York City Housing Authority to adopt a policy of expediting repairs and capital improvements to vacant units in order to reoccupy them as quickly as possible.
By Council Members Vallone Jr., Barron, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, James, Liu, Mealy, Mitchell, Nelson, Sanders Jr., Sears, Stewart, Vacca, White Jr. and Oddo
Whereas, The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) currently oversees 179,000 apartments citywide and is charged with the crucial duty of providing affordable housing for New York City residents of low and moderate means; and
Whereas, Currently, there is an acute shortage of such housing, as evidenced by NYCHA’s waiting list of over 131,000 families, as of November 30, 2008; and
Whereas, According to a New York Daily News article dated June 6, 2008, NYCHA’s occupancy records show at least 6,500 vacant apartments that may be awaiting repairs or capital improvements; and
Whereas, A 2006 audit conducted by New York City Comptroller William Thompson, Jr. that studied six NYCHA developments, revealed that the units taken off the rent rolls at these developments were vacant for an average of 40 months, with 27 percent off the rent rolls for more than 60 months, for reasons including the lack of planning regarding the work to be done, when the work would commence, long delays at developments where construction was started and faulty contractor choices; and
Whereas, Families that have been placed on the waiting list must often wait years for an apartment to become available through NYCHA; and
Whereas, The delay in making repairs and capital improvements has caused thousands of valuable units to remain unavailable to such families of need; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Housing Authority to adopt a policy of expediting repairs and capital improvements to vacant units in order to reoccupy them as quickly as possible.
LS# 6548
SC
3/26/09