Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. I certainly support what she is trying to do. Last December it came to light that the New York City Housing Authority, NYCHA, has as recently as 2013 shut down boilers in public housing properties unless outside temperatures drop below 25 degrees. This forces residents to go without heat during the coldest months of the year. I grew up in affordable housing. I grew up in city housing. So I am particularly sensitive to everything that the New York City Housing Authority does. I was outraged by this revelation. More than 400,000 New Yorkers live in NYCHA buildings, and, what's more, more than half of these residents live below the poverty line. These New Yorkers, along with every American living in public housing, pay rent and, in return, depend on Housing Authority leadership to fulfill the very reasonable need, a safe and decent shelter. A practice that forces tenants to grapple with bitter temperatures just doesn't fail to meet that need, it is reckless and demeaning. Myself, Ms. Meng, and eight other members of the New York City delegation sent a letter to the New York City Housing Authority asking that they immediately issue guidance condemning this practice and make certain that none of their buildings continue to adhere to this outrageous policy.…”