Political Quotes

“I stand here today to shed light and to put a face on an imperative issue, the imperative issue of affordable housing. I am here representing neighborhoods like Marble Hill, Inwood, Washington Heights, Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, Harlem and east Harlem, and the northwest Bronx. Public housing and public housing capital funding is imperative for many of my constituents. Just to shed some light on the magnitude of this problem, Mr. Speaker, in the 13th Congressional District, there are 62 housing developments--62 public housing developments. There are a total of 340 buildings, and, within those buildings, there are 34,609 apartments where families live; so 62 housing developments out of 326 for the entire city of New York, 340 buildings out of 2,462 buildings in the city of New York, and 34,609 apartments out of 176,692 apartments across the city of New York. In fact, Mr. Speaker, public housing houses over 400,000 residents. It is larger than many cities in many States across the Nation, and public housing capital funding is imperative and necessary for my constituents. Not only do these residents rely on stable, affordable housing to stay close to their families and be near their jobs and schools, but our city relies on these residents who are also teachers, home healthcare workers, caregivers, and taxi drivers. They run our city. In fact, they are an integral part of the economic engine of the city. They are part of our local economy.…”