Rick Lazio: “The reality is; the reality is that we are asking for a sense of mutual obligation and responsibility just like we were…”

“The reality is; the reality is that we are asking for a sense of mutual obligation and responsibility just like we were talking about in terms of community service and community work; that yes, they will be helped; yes, they will receive an apartment; yes, they often will receive their utilities also paid for, but in return we ask for something. We are going to ask for community service. We are going to ask them, subject to their ability to pay and their ability to ask for a hardship exemption if they cannot pay, to pay at least a minimum rent of between $25 and $50. I wonder what kind of a statement that makes. If we say that people cannot pay that, that that is asking too much, what kind of a statement does that make to people that are equally poor, have an equally low income, and are not fortunate enough to be in public housing?”