40 THE QUEENS COURIER • JUNE 17, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
During Queensbridge visit, Schumer calls on White
House to double investments in public housing
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Senate Majority Leader Chuck
Schumer visited the Queensbridge
Houses in Long Island City — the largest
public housing development in north
America — to urge the Biden administration
to double its funding for public housing
in the American Jobs Plan.
Schumer joined community leaders and
called for at least an $80 billion investment
in federal public housing funds to
remedy decades of disinvestment, bad
management and federal neglect.
“For far too long, our public housing
infrastructure needs have been left
unaddressed, left to get worse, and have
brought serious harm to hundreds of
thousands of New Yorkers,” Schumer said.
“Lead in the bodies of our children. Toxic
mold in the lungs of our friends and
neighbors. Leaky roofs. Dilapidated playgrounds.
Non-working elevators. Unsafe
environments. Polluting and expensive
boilers and heating systems.Th e maddening
list goes on and on.”
Th e administration’s plan calls for $40
Senator Charles Schumer urges the federal government to double its proposed investment in public
housing under the American Jobs Plan.
billion for public housing across the entire
nation when repairs in New York City’s
public housing system are estimated to be
$40 billion.
“However you want to put it: public
housing residents, and NYCHA residents
in particular, are in need of some real
Courtesy Gianaris’ offi ce
help, and this, right now, is a now-or-never
moment. We must repair, upgrade and
transform our public housing so it is both
livable and sustainable,” Schumer said.
“One of my number one priorities in any
infrastructure package is to double down
on the president’s original proposal and
fi ght for at least $80 billion in new funds
to meet the capital repair needs of public
housing agencies across the country, especially
those of NYCHA.”
Bishop Mitchell Taylor, the co-founder
and CEO of Urban Upbound, who
has lived in and around Queensbridge
his entire life, added that public housing
neighborhoods have been “overlooked
and underserved” for far too long.
“For most residents of public housing
life can be a living hell,” Taylor said. “With
a $40 billion capital defi cit looming, help
is not a request, it’s a demand. I implore
President Biden to increase funding for
public housing nationally.”
State Senator Michael Gianaris, who
represents the NYCHA complexes across
western Queens, added that the city’s public
housing developments have been systematically
pushed to the side, stripped of
funding and left to crumble.
“NYCHA residents have the right to live
with dignity and respect — with functioning
elevators, pipes, utilities, and under
clean, healthy conditions,” Gianaris said.
“Th is is an investment in our neighbors
and the future of public housing. We cannot
leave these families behind.”
Queens electeds pass bill to extend tax exemption and abatement for property owners
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@schnepsmedia.com
@jenna_bagcal
Two Queens lawmakers announced the
passage of legislation that would grant
relief to property owners who make
improvements to their buildings.
Known as the J-51 property tax exemption
and abatement program, the bill is
sponsored by Senator Toby Ann Stavisky
and Assemblyman Edward Braunstein.
Under J-51, relief would be given to property
owners who renovate residential
apartment buildings or convert commercial
structures into residential units.
“Renewing the J-51 tax incentive will
provide needed property tax relief to eligible
New York City co-ops while ensuring
that buildings and structures undergo
necessary capital and safety improvements.
I will continue to advocate for
property tax reform in Albany and I thank
Senator Stavisky for her support on this
issue,” Braunstein said.
In order to allow more property owners
to take advantage of J-51, the lawmakers
said that it would be renewed for one year
until June 30, 2022. Th e bill will utilize the
assessed valuation — which determines
the property tax rate — prior to construction.
Th e tax abatement will reduce the
tax owed at that time.
Th is tax exemption provides relief by
utilizing the assessed valuation (the property
tax rate is based on the assessed valuation)
prior to construction. Th e tax abatement
reduces the tax owed at that time.
“Th e J-51 program was designed to help
property owners improve their property.
It incentivizes property owners to amend
and modernize their buildings to eliminate
fi re and other hazards,” Stavisky said.
“Th ese incentives have helped ensure the
safety of New York City tenants and provide
needed building renovations. Th ey
have also helped provide aff ordable housing
while reducing blight within our communities.
I thank my colleagues in the
Senate and Assembly for passing this
extension.”
Following passage in the Senate and
Assembly, the J-51 bill is being delivered
to the governor’s offi ce. Photo via Getty Images
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