Many resident leaders from New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments endorsed Brad Lander for mayor Saturday, and stood with him as he released a plan to address NYCHA’s challenges.
Lander, speaking at the NYCHA Smith Houses in lower Manhattan, said his plan, dubbed "Fix NYCHA, For NYCHA," would improve day-to-day property management, as the housing authority faces a $78 billion capital backlog.
“NYCHA represents one of our city’s most precious public assets, providing our most deeply affordable stock of housing, and homes to many of our city’s toughest and hardest-working people," Lander said. "I’ve dedicated my entire career to protecting our tenants from governmental neglect – and finally granting them the voice, power, and decent living conditions they deserve. Our NYCHA leaders know that when I’m mayor, New York City’s half-a-million NYCHA residents will be neglected and overlooked no longer."
NYCHA tenant leaders from Breukelen Houses in Canarsie, Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens in Boerum Hill all gave their suport to Lander.
“Brad not only shepherded through the largest housing redevelopment in modern history in Gowanus, but did so with NYCHA residents alongside him during the entire process,” said Theresa Davis, former Tenants Association President at Gowanus Houses .
Lander's plan includes tripling city capital funding for housing over the next decade, while prioritizing billions in investment to rehabilitate NYCHA developments; create new pathways to affordable homeownership for NYCHA residents; and invest $1 billion annually to create a revolving loan fund, allowing NYCHA to acquire underused sites and develop new permanently affordable housing.
“Brad’s made us a priority, and why we’re returning the favor by making him the priority in the race for New York City mayor. No one is more deserving or will represent the interests of NYCHA residents more,” said Monica Underwood, a resident and advocate from NYCHA’s Wyckoff Gardens.
