In a New York Observer article New York City Council Speaker Meeeeelisa Mark-Viverito (as State Senator Gustavo Rivera calls her) showed surprise that the Independent Democratic Conference is showing concern for public housing. In fact the Observer writes that she says that IDC stands for 'I Don't Care'.
The Observer says that the speaker dismissed the Klein report–which surveyed 49 buildings at five developments in each borough, as nothing new. The speaker then said that she and the mayor backed Senator Klein in 2014 for re-election, and that Klein helped secure the much needed state funding for the mayor's P-pre-K program.
Klein spokeswoman Candice Giove is quoted in the Observer article as saying Senator Klein had allocated 3.71 million to upgrade three public housing developments in his district, secured hundreds of thousands of dollars for other NYCHA Houses, and is well aware of the problems in public housing and wants to be a part of the solution.
Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres may be in the middle of this as one of the speakers allies, and a friend of Senator Klein. Torres (Chair of the councils Public Housing Committee) rushed to Klein's defense “He’s been my senator for the last decade and he is one of the best advocates for public housing I know,” Mr. Torres told the Observer.
The Speaker has since softened her comments to Senator Klein, and now is willing to work with Senator Klein and the IDC on improving public housing.
The next day the the Observer had this story "Diane Savino Calls Melissa Mark-Viverito an ‘Idiot’ After IDC Jab". State Senator Diane Savino is a member of the IDC, and also very close to Senator Jeff Klein.
Could it be that Speaker Mark-Viverito was mad about not being part of the press conference?
Could it be that Speaker Mark-Viverito was mad about not being part of the press conference?
.
