WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 30, 2019 13
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
SPEND OUR TAX
DOLLARS ON
LIBRARIES
It was recently reported that
Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to cut $10.4
million from NYC’s public libraries,
including one in Park Slope that he
oft en used.
Those funds can be restored by
diverting them from the $13.6 million
that tax-payers shelled out to lawyers
to defend the mayor and his cronies,
whom he called “agents of the city,”
from federal and state charges
resulting from investigations into
his Campaign For One New York and
meddling in upstate N.Y. politics.
Bogus Bill broke his promise to
pay these legal costs. That makes
him about as trustworthy as the
“My Pillow” guy in TV ads. Our
City Council members and City
Comptroller Scott Stringer must
make sure those funds go to public
libraries, not private law firms
charging $900 an hour.
Richard Reif, Kew Gardens Hills
SUPPORTING
SAFER STREETS
Thank you for your recent editorial
asking for safer streets for cyclists.
Safer streets for cyclists are also safer
streets for pedestrians. It’s incredible
that 100+ pedestrians and cyclists die
every year at the hands of careless
motorists in NYC.
Contrary to the points made by a
letter writer last week, many cities
in Europe have a higher population
density than NYC yet they have a
better cycling infrastructure and
more dedicated bike lanes.
Free on-street parking is not a
God-given right. Protecting the
most vulnerable is what makes our
society unique. Anything we can do
to protect pedestrians and cyclists
should be considered, like more bike
lanes and fewer parking spots.
While most drivers are courteous
and respectful, we wouldn’t need
any of this if all drivers were more
careful about the lives of others.
Jeff Vogel, Queens
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SNAPS
Policies that matter in Albany
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OP-ED
BY JAY MARTIN
In politics, it’s a lot easier to
blame others than shoulder any
responsibility on your own. Case
in point – the recent rent regulation
debate in Albany.
With the laws governing aff ordable
rent stabilized units set to expire on
June 15th, state lawmakers have an
opportunity to seriously tackle the
housing aff ordability crisis that has
befallen our City. Unfortunately – but
not surprisingly – we are not seeing
the leadership required for such an
intricate issue.
That’s why our organization, the
Community Housing Improvement
Program (CHIP), which represents
4,000 property owners across all fi ve
boroughs who own or manage one-third
of the City’s rent stabilized housing
stock, is putting forth proposals that
focus on giving working class and poor
New Yorkers the housing security they
deserve.
Our members are mostly small
business owners who understand the
diffi cult balance of maintaining safe
and high-quality aff ordable apartments,
with still earning a living in such an
expensive city. Many members have
worked here for generations and have
seen the City climb out of the depths
of urban decay into a community that
attracts new residents and visitors
every year.
Part of this success stems from state
policies such as the Major Capital
Improvement and Individual Apartment
Improvement programs. These key
mechanisms incentivize property
owners to maintain their buildings by
permitting them to recoup the costs of
upgrades through small rent increases,
but only upon the submission of
evidence to regulators that the projects
met stringent guidelines.
The programs have delivered – since
the 1970s, there has been a 90% drop in
blocks that are blighted with boarded
or broken windows. But other policies,
including preferential rents and
vacancy allowances, also contribute to
the overall upward trend in the quality
of rental housing.
And yet, Albany politicians are more
interested in currying favor with a
small subset of activists by upbraiding
property owners than helping New
Yorkers aff ord their homes.
We see this lack of leadership with
the complete mismanagement of
NYCHA. The government is the largest
landlord in the city, but cannot get its
own properties to meet even the lowest
standards of livability.
That’s why we have recently
announced an aff ordability plan that is
intended to refocus the housing debate.
Specifi cally, New York should pass the
Home Stability Support Program. The
legislation would expand supplemental
housing aid for individuals and families
on public assistance.
The city and state must also support
appropriate funding levels for the
NYC Rent Freeze Program, which help
seniors and disabled individuals aff ord
their rent stabilized units. Veterans
should be included in an expanded
program.
Additionally, the lowest-rent
apartments should be reserved for lowincome
New Yorkers by making rent
stabilized units means-tested.
CHIP members have been part of this
city for decades, and we will always
remain committed to our home and
yours.
With only a few weeks left of debate
before a major vote on housing reform,
we’ll do our best to make sure Albany
lawmakers actually assist the most
vulnerable New Yorkers, not just
indulge the most vocal activists.
Jay Martin is the executive director of
the Community Housing Improvement
Program (CHIP), which represents
4,000 property owners that manage
1/3 (400,000) of all rent stabilized units
throughout the city.
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