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Contact:
Office of Council Member Pierina Sanchez
Media team: d14media@council.nyc.gov
(347)590-2874

COUNCIL MEMBER PIERINA SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON CITY FHEPS RULING

New York City, NY – Today, Council Member Pierina Sanchez issued the following statement regarding Judge Frank’s decision against a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of low-income New Yorkers to force implementation of a package of legislation expanding access to city-funded rental assistance vouchers:

“Today’s court decision is extremely disappointing. For residents in my district—where nearly 60 percent of households are rent-burdened—and New Yorkers everywhere who are moments away from eviction, this is yet another chapter in our city’s housing crisis. Our Mayor claims that this crisis is his top priority. But his actions—his veto, this lawsuit against expanding vouchers for New Yorkers most in need of housing—speak louder than words. Our communities need relief, and they need it now.

In my district, almost half of the constituents I speak to are seeking assistance to obtain affordable housing. Just today, the administration announced 200,000 New Yorkers will join the waitlist for Section 8 vouchers, less than half of the 400,000 who applied. And only a fraction of those will receive vouchers. These New Yorkers, our neighbors, will be forced to continue waiting. But they need relief today—not tomorrow, not years from now, not when leaders at the top decide to finally recognize their basic needs.

Today’s misguided ruling may have favored the administration’s arguments in court, but as the Council reviews our path forward under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, we will continue to fight for a more just and humane city, and I will continue to fight tirelessly for my neighbors in District 14.”

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