City decries proposed federal block-grant cuts

Crain's New York Business ^ | March 1, 2011 | Daniel Massey and Amanda Fung

[Oratam]

Proposed massive cuts by House Republicans to the federal housing budget would cripple the city's ability to prevent its affordable housing stock from falling into disrepair, housing officials and advocates warned Tuesday.

At a time when 100,000 units of affordable housing are overleveraged and at risk of deteriorating, Republicans in the House of Representatives have proposed eliminating funding of Community Development Block Grants, the stream of money that pays for the inspectors and other personnel who administer the city's aggressive code enforcement program.

[Oratam]

“The Community Development Block Grant is the unsung hero of the federal housing program, and it is the lifeblood of HPD's core essential services,” said housing preservation Commissioner Rafael Cestero. He said the city would lose 700 positions if a full cut of the program takes effect, as proposed by the Republicans.

CDBG is another wonderful Carter-era legacy.

[Thane_Banquo]

He said the city would lose 700 positions if a full cut of the program takes effect, as proposed by the Republicans.

I'm still not seeing the downside here...

[ArmstedFragg]

Damn, I’m getting old. I remember when a city’s affordable housing stock was paid for by the people living in the city’s affordable housing.

[Paladin2]

Maybe NYC should get rid of rent control.

[kittymyrib]

Should have saved all the billions the Dems spent in the 60s on those fabulous high rise roach heavens they built for the puuur and that are being imploded into well-deserved oblivion today.

[marstegreg]

Here in Cleveland public housing needs to be rebuilt every 5-10 years. It always starts out looking beautiful then after 5 years or so it looks like a dump. There is no pride of ownership. How about the people in public housing take care of it not for us but for themselves.

[upchuck]

Hey New York: the country is broke. You want “affordable housing?” YOU figure out a way to pay for it.

Sorry, but that’s the way it is.