Posted on 03/11/2006 2:55:28 PM PST by Libloather
New York Asks Help From Poor in Housing Crisis
By JANNY SCOTT
Published: March 9, 2006
The New York City Housing Authority, landlord to more than 400,000 poor New Yorkers, is facing a budget shortfall of $168 million and has proposed narrowing the gap by charging residents new fees and increasing old ones for everything from owning a dishwasher to getting a toilet unclogged.
Deficits at the Housing Authority The authority says its operating deficit stems from enormous increases in energy and pension costs while its federal financing for public housing has been cut. Since 2001, the agency says, it has spent $357 million from its reserves to close repeated budget gaps; this year, for the first time, it no longer has enough reserves to cover the shortfall.
So it has proposed charging tenants $5.75 a month to run a washing machine, $5 a month to operate a dishwasher, $10 a month for a separate freezer. Parking fees will rise to $75 from $5 a year on April 1.
The authority plans to raise existing fees for dozens of services, like fixing damage to apartments beyond normal wear and tear, and to charge, for the first time, for things like rescuing lost keys from elevator pits after hours. The authority would like to put the fee changes other than for parking into effect around May 1.
The Housing Authority board has asked its senior staff to come up with a plan to balance the budget while preserving basic services, minimizing the impact on the most vulnerable residents and finding what the board called "creative ways to streamline service delivery." The authority has also appealed to federal and city officials for help.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
(New York-WABC, March 9, 2006) - A battle is brewing tonight: New York City versus 400,000 New Yorkers who live in public housing.
The city -- unable to get federal funding -- wants to charge tenants for the most basic services like using a dishwasher, a washing machine or a freezer. Eyewitness News Reporter Stacey Sager has the story.
61-year-old Thomas Martin lives at the Castle Hill Houses in the Bronx. In his kitchen, there is no working stove just a hot plate -- and what he calls a roach infested refrigerator.
He says the city's housing authority rarely fixes anything. So, he can't imagine suddenly having to pay them to repair his appliances.
Martin: "I think it's terrible. I think if the money wasn't mismanaged, we'd still be safe."
The New York City Housing Authority now says it faces a $168 million dollar shortfall due to increasing costs for things like utilities and pension funds. They say there is no choice but to charge tenants in public housing more money for a host of items and services.
For example, parking fees are rising from just five dollars per year to 75 dollars a year. If you run your own washing machine in your apartment, you'll have to cycle out another $5.75 cents each month -- and replacing a door could cost you $118 dollars. That's $40 dollars more than it used to.
Jannie Smith, public housing tenant: "It would hurt my budget. I'm on a fixed income. I'm a senior citizen."
A spokesman at the housing authority did insist that they're not looking to price gauge anyone here. Also, they say if something breaks in your apartment, and you didn't cause the problem, you won't have to pay."
Meanwhile, tenant leaders say the housing authority may end up losing even more money in court costs because residents who signed these petitions say they'll fight the fees.
Gerri Lamb, Resident Council of Presidents: "They simply do not believe that these charges are warranted, and that they don't wanna pay."
Tenants have until March 13th to file their complaints. Barring any changes, the new fees go into effect May 1st.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=3978367
Most Americans have not the slightest idea how hellish government-run housing can be, especially NY City public housing. It is like living in a Mad Max movie.
imagine that. the 'pour' own DISHWASHERS. I dont own a dishwasher until I feel like I can afford it.
The rich poor are supposed to help out the poor poor. Equality of outcome, doncha know?
My rent is well over $1k and I have no dishwasher, no laundry facilities on my floor, and sure as hll have never broken my apartment door. Also, if I had cockroaches inside my fridge, I'm pretty dmn sure I'd figure out a way to fix that problem and not rely on any govt agency to do it.
Quickest way to balance the public housing budget: abolish public housing. Evict everybody. Bulldoze the buildings. Sell the land to private developers to build condos
This has been tried with heavily subsidized buyouts. The tennents rioted because they would lose thier handout. Frankly, no 'pour' person should have a car in the city. Those spaces could be used by commuters and the city would over $200 per month per space in manhattan.
But just think, you federal taxes help pay for this.
What??? A burgeoning welfare program??? Unheard of!
If it was really looked into close they would probably find that the "PENSIONS" eat up most of the shortfall. Good UNION contracts.
I wouldn't say sell it to folks to build condos, I'd open it up to anyone who wants to pay the most for the land, period.
Public Housing in NYC was created by the Gov't of NYC because the government of NYC created a housing problem on its own.
I.E. The government did something stupid which reduced supply and the incentive to build or develop more of a supply, so the governmnt in its infinitate stupidity, had to create public housing which is a human hell hole to fix the problem it created, by making a new problem and then making it even worse since it can't do even the most basic things right.
Well said, totally nailed it.
That's the racket alright, Crowd the poor into roach infested hellholes and skim the money off for salaries and pensions of unionized bureaucrats. No way they could live on their social security.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
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