FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 20, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 25
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With end of eviction
moratorium, New
Yorkers are at risk of
losing their homes
BY RIGAUD NOEL AND YOSELYN GOMEZ
Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are at
risk of losing their homes this year — let that sink in.
With the eviction moratorium expired as of
Jan. 15, our communities are now facing a massive
eviction crisis that will continue to destabilize
neighborhoods that have been desperately trying
to recover following the impacts of the pandemic.
Th is is an absolute outrage, and something must be
done to protect the people of our city and our state.
Across the city, neighborhoods have been
disproportionately impacted by unemployment
and COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths during
the pandemic. We continue to see some of
the highest rates of rent burden, in addition to a
high number of eviction cases fi led since March
2020. Approximately 25% of eviction cases fi led
statewide are in the Bronx alone. And now, the
rising surge of omicron cases is coinciding with
the ending of pandemic benefi ts programs such
as the Emergency Rental Assistance Program
(ERAP).
Th roughout the pandemic, New York state has
been a leader nationwide in keeping its people
safe in their homes by off ering protections from
evictions and creating a robust $2.1 billion rent
relief program; however, that job is not done.
Unfortunately, roughly 75% of New Yorkers estimated
to be behind on rent were left out of ERAP,
and even among those whose applications were
approved, many did not receive the full amount
owed and/or still haven’t been able to pay since
sending their application.
For New York City’s 2.5 million rent-regulated
tenants, the Rent Guidelines Board voted to raise
rents starting in October 2021, exacerbating the
issue of rent debt. To date, there are more than
225,000 eviction cases that have been fi led across
New York, with 40% of cases in New York City
being fi led in the Bronx. With current estimates
showing more than a million New Yorkers owing
rent, this number could now double.
We know there is a growing crisis — so now
what are we doing to save these people from losing
their homes and being forced into congregate
shelters?
Action must be taken to develop long-term
solutions to pandemic-related rent debt, and
ultimately prevent further destabilization of
communities throughout the Bronx and across
the state. It’s critical that our state leadership take
action to protect tenants by taking the following
actions:
Re-opening ERAP with enough funding to
meet the remaining rent debt, consisting of at
least $2 billion in rent arrears
Passing statewide Right to Counsel legislation
to give access to legal representation for all New
Yorkers fi ghting for eviction cases
Passing Good Cause Eviction legislation to
ensure renters have the right to remain
New Yorkers’ livelihoods are at stake, and
we should do everything we can to protect the
people of our great city and state as we continue
to rebuild throughout this public health crisis.
Rigaud Noel is the Executive Director of New
Settlement. Yoselyn Gomez is the Community
Action for Safe Apartments Leader for New
Settlement.
BETTER ALTERNATIVES
AVAILABLE
There are better alternatives to
Governor Hochul’s announcement
supporting a new Brooklyn to Queens
Subway Connection. Th e cost could
easily be several billion more than the
2016 Regional Planning Association
cost estimate of $1 to $2 billion.
Hochul and other project supporters
forgot to tell you about the existing
G line service that has been running
from Brooklyn to Queens for decades.
It was built as part of the municipal
Independent Subway (IND) system
constructed in the 1930s! Whoever
provided her with the proposed system
map airbrushed this out.
Completion of Communication Based
Train Control on both the Queens Boulevard
E, F and R line along with F line
Brooklyn routes will provide increased
capacity on both subway corridors. Current
G line service terminating at Court
Square could be extended to Forest Hills,
Continental Avenue. Th is would restore
this connection which was terminated
several decades ago.
In Brooklyn, G line service could be
extended beyond Church Avenue to
Coney Island Stillwell Avenue Terminal.
Th is would provide connections to
the D, N and Q lines.
Th e G line Fulton Street train station
is located several blocks from the
Atlantic Avenue/Barclay Center LIRR/
NYC Transit subway station complex. A
simple underground passageway could
be constructed. Th is could provide a
direct indoor connection to the G line
from the 2, 3, 4 and 5 IRT, B, D, N, Q
and R BMT subway lines along with the
Atlantic branch LIRR. Upon initiation
of service to support East Side Access to
Grand Central Terminal, the LIRR will
convert this branch to a simple scoot
service between Jamaica and Flatbush
Avenue, maintaining stops at East NY
and Nostrand Avenue.
The MTA has a planned capital
project for renovation of the East
New York J/Z/L/A/C subway station
complex along with the adjacent
LIRR Station. Few people use
this LIRR station due safety and
security issues, poor lighting along
and outdated physical conditions.
Upgrading the East NY LIRR station
might make it more attractive
for those who use any of the five
mentioned subway lines. The L line
connects Canarsie with the 14th
Street Manhattan corridor running
through numerous Brooklyn
neighborhoods. The J/Z connects
Jamaica Center with Wall Street
via numerous Brooklyn and Queens
neighborhoods. The A and C connect
Lefferts Blvd and the Rockaways
with various other Queens
and Brooklyn neighborhoods before
reaching Manhattan.
Th e Woodhaven Boulevard Queens
Atlantic Branch LIRR Station was
closed in 1977. It is still in the concept
planning phase. Reopening is estimated
to cost $40 million.
All of the above could be implemented
far more quickly. Th e cost for
a new underground subway passageway
connection, purchase of additional subway
cars and modifi cations to increase
capacity for storage and maintenance
of equipment at a rail yard necessary to
increase service on the G line to support
extended service to Forest Hills and
Coney Island would be far cheaper that
Hochul’s proposal. It would require
several hundred million in capital
and operating dollars rather than who
knows how many billions for the new
Brooklyn to Queens subway line over
primarily freight tracks.
Larry Penner, Great Neck
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