Council also votes to require reporting on Sickle Cell Disease or Trait among NYC public school students and create or preserve over 750 units of affordable housing
City Hall – Today, the New York City Council voted to increase transparency of the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT)’s impact on New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents by requiring the Mayor’s Administration to provide an annual report to the Council on the program’s implementation. Currently, there is a lack of information available to residents, the Council, and the public about the PACT program’s impact. The reporting required by this bill seeks to increase transparency of PACT by providing information about the private management companies selected to be the development partner for each PACT development, and the impacts of conversion on the affected residents.
The Council also passed legislation to require reporting on Sickle Cell Disease or Sickle Cell Trait among New York City public school students and voted to create or preserve over 750 units of affordable housing.
“Our city’s public housing residents deserve to know the full impact of programs like PACT on their daily living conditions,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council is advancing transparency through today’s legislation, and it remains critical that private companies that manage NYCHA buildings under PACT are held accountable for needed repairs and improvements. I’m also proud the Council is passing legislation to track how many public school students have Sickle Cell Disease so that our city is better prepared to support their health and well-being. I thank my Council colleagues for their leadership and support of these important bills.”
Increasing Transparency of the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together Program
Introduction 110-A, sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés, would require the Mayor, or an agency designated by the Mayor, to provide an annual report to the Council on the implementation of the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. Under PACT, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) shifts its developments from traditional public housing funding, known as Section 9 funding, to project-based Section 8 funding. This allows NYCHA and their development partners to access debt to finance building repairs and renovations. Under PACT, NYCHA is required to transfer daily management of buildings to private management companies. After conversion, tenants deal with the private management company on a day-to-day basis as their landlord, while NYCHA assumes an oversight role.
“As former Chair of the Committee on Public Housing, I am glad to finally bring to light some fundamental details around the now seven-year old program called the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together, or PACT program,” said Council Member Alexa Aviles. “Intro. 110-A will help us understand whether the program is delivering on its dual goals to both improve NYCHA’s bottom line as well as improve living conditions for our public housing residents. While the administration continues to pour funding into this privatization program, we ought to understand its effectiveness. I’m grateful Speaker Adams and Chair Banks see the importance of this measure and have lent their support to its passage today. I couldn’t be more proud to have advanced this legislation, and hope its enactment brings greater transparency to a very opaque authority.”
Requiring Reporting on Sickle Cell Disease or Trait among DOE Students
Introduction 341-A, sponsored by Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, would amend the student health report, annually submitted to the Council by the Department of Education (DOE), to include reporting on the number of students with sickle cell disease or trait. Such reporting is particularly significant for DOE schools, as nearly 65% of DOE students are Black or Latino, and sickle cell disease and trait is most prevalent in people of African ancestry.
“As a former triage ER nurse, I know that you first must gather information prior to treating an issue,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse. “This principle guides my approach as a Council Member, especially in the crafting of Intro. 341. The passage of this bill represents a significant step forward in ensuring that our schools are equipped to support every student’s health needs effectively. By mandating comprehensive reports on the prevalence of sickle cell disease, we can use this information to make informed decisions that can lead to better health outcomes for our students.”
Calling on the Governor to pass legislation protecting children online
Resolution 15, sponsored by Council Member Julie Menin, would call on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, the New York Child Data Privacy and Protection Act and the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act. The New York Child Data Privacy and Protection Act would ban social media platforms from showing children targeted advertisements without parental consent and prohibit platforms from collecting, selling, retaining, and possessing children’s data absent a compelling reason. The SAFE For Kids Act would prohibit social media platforms from delivering addictive feeds to children under 18 years old and require platforms to obtain parental consent before sending notifications to children at certain hours.
“Social media can be incredibly addictive and has had the potential to affect the well-being of our youths,” said Council Member Julie Menin. “We must force social media companies to design and operate safer online environments for our children. Thank you to Speaker Adrienne Adams for advancing my resolution which calls upon the state to pass the New York Child Data Privacy and Protection Act and the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation, or SAFE for Kids Act. New York State must send a clear message that our youths cannot be targeted by these companies any longer.”
Land Use
Timbale Terrace Empire State Development Corporation Grant Application – a Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) request for Council support for the City’s application requesting $4 million in capital funding from the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) under the Restore New York Communities Initiative for the reconstruction and redevelopment of the Timbale Terrace project, in Council Member Yusef Salaam’s district.
97-22 Cresskill Place Disposition – an application for the disposition of a city-owned property from DSNY to DCAS to provide the City with flexibility and authority to sell or lease the property at a public auction in the future, in Council Member Nantasha Williams’ district. The Council will be modifying this application to limit the disposition to residential use.
817 Avenue H Rezoning – an application that will facilitate a new 9-story, mixed-use building with 42 housing units, 11 affordable units under MIH Option 1, community facility space, and 20 accessory off-street parking spaces in Council Member Farah Louis’ district. The Council is modifying this application to require a transition in height from the development site to the neighboring homes, and to strike MIH Option 2 and add the Deep Affordability Option.
281-311 Marcus Garvey Boulevard – an application to facilitate two new 9-story, 100% affordable mixed-use buildings with 155 housing units, community, and commercial spaces, in Council Member Chi Ossé’s district.
1289 Atlantic Avenue Rezoning – a 100% affordable, 14-story mixed-use building with 112 housing units, ground floor community and commercial spaces, and 39 accessory off-street parking spaces in Council Member Chi Ossé’s district. The Council is modifying this application to strike MIH Option 2 and add the Deep Affordability Option.
Finance
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, authorizing a full 30-year Article XI tax exemption for the preservation of 12 buildings in Council Member Crystal Hudson, Alexa Aviles, and Shahana Hanif’s districts. The buildings collectively contain 102 units – 10 studios, 21 one bedrooms, 54 two-bedrooms, 15 three-bedrooms, and 2 superintendent units. As part of the application, the buildings will undergo moderate and substantial rehabilitation, including window, boiler, and heating system replacement, installation of heat pumps and broadband, and façade work. Units will be restricted to the following AMI bands: 50 units at 50% AMI, 25 units at 60% AMI, and 25 units at 80% AMI.
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Brannan, renewing a partial Article V tax exemption for the preservation of one building in Council Member Yusef Salaam’s district. The building contains 118 units – 14 studios, 46 one-bedrooms, 37 two-bedrooms
including one superintendent unit, and 21 three-bedrooms. As part of the application, the
building will set aside 35 units for formerly homeless households and complete capital repair
work, along with installation of improvements under the HPD Aging-in-Place initiative. All
units will be capped at 50% AMI.
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Brannan, authorizing a full 40-year Article VI tax exemption for the preservation of seven buildings in Council Member Rafael Salamanca’s district. The buildings collectively contain 148 units – 3 studios, 34 one bedrooms, 98 two-bedrooms, 11 three-bedrooms, and two units for a superintendent and a
porter. The buildings will enter into a regulatory agreement restricting rents, and will include a
15% unit set-aside for formerly homeless residents. Units will be restricted to the following AMI bands: 30 units at 50% AMI, 81 units at 60% AMI, and 35 units at 80% AMI.
A preconsidered resolution, sponsored by Council Member Brannan, authorizing a partial 40-year Article VI tax exemption for the preservation of two buildings in Council Member Althea Stevens’ district. The buildings contain 114 units – 62 one-bedrooms, 40 two-bedrooms including one superintendent unit, and 12 three-bedrooms. As part of the exemption, the buildings will enter into a regulatory agreement that scopes rehabilitation work, including repairs to window leaks, roof, and façade, and will include a 10% unit set-aside for formerly homeless residents, Units will be restricted to the following AMI bands: 24 units at 45% AMI, 27 units at 60% AMI, 33 units at 70% AMI, 17 units at 80% AMI, and 12 units at 90% AMI.
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