Comptroller Stringer: Fair Fares Rollout Becoming an Indefinite Delay for Hard Working New Yorkers

Friday’s announcement still leaves out the majority of the estimated 800,000 residents living below the poverty line who were originally promised half-price MetroCards

  Following Frday’s announcement regarding the next steps in launching the Fair Fares program, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released data that spotlights the estimated 800,000 New Yorkers who were originally promised half-price MetroCards beginning on January 1, 2019. However, the City has significantly scaled back initial eligibility to just a small subset of Cash Assistance and SNAP recipients, leaving out hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers living below the poverty line who will continue to face a significant financial burden to purchase a MetroCard.

“The good news is that Fair Fares is finally leaving the station. The bad news is that after today’s announcement, the price of a MetroCard will remain an obstacle for the vast majority of the 800,000 New Yorkers who were originally promised relief. That’s hundreds of thousands of families who will still struggle to get to work or a job interview because they can’t afford a full fare. For their sake, we need to make sure this delay doesn’t become a derailment,” said Comptroller Stringer.

When the $106 million program was originally announced as part of the Fiscal Year 2019 City budget, Fair Fares was intended to provide half-priced MetroCards to 800,000 adult New Yorkers living below the poverty line – $25,100 for a family of four.

Comptroller Stringer’s office took a look at those families and found the following:

• Nearly 300,000 potentially eligible New Yorkers live in just 12 community districts, with over 50% residing in Brooklyn or the Bronx;
• 60% are either unemployed or struggling to find a job;
• 79% are people of color;
• 58% are women;
• 77% do not have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree;
• 52% were born abroad; and
• 44% are parents living with children in their home.

Below is a complete breakdown of the data:

Community District                                         Population

Belmont, Crotona Park East & East Tremont			30898
Washington Heights, Inwood & Marble Hill			30763
Hunts Point, Longwood & Melrose			29537
Morris Heights, Fordham South & Mount Hope			26885
Flushing, Murray Hill & Whitestone			24834
Concourse, Highbridge & Mount Eden			21784
Castle Hill, Clason Point & Parkchester			21732
Sunset Park & Windsor Terrace			21470
Borough Park, Kensington & Ocean Parkway			20173
Bedford Park, Fordham North & Norwood			19576
East Harlem			19464
East New York & Starrett City			18846

By Borough                           Population       %

Bronx	186348	23.00%
Brooklyn	268679	33.00%
Manhattan	147936	18.00%
Queens	174423	22.00%
Staten Island	28511	4.00%

Empyolment Status                               Number

Employed	319626
Unemployed	110203
Not in labor force	376068

Ethnicity/Race              Number                    %

Hispanic	312635	39.00%
White	165568	21.00%
Black/African American	180799	22.00%
Asian	131602	16.00%
Other	15293	2.00%

Education                               Number                 %

No High School Degree	207258	26.00%
Only HS Degree	297847	37.00%
HS Degree + Some College	114364	14.00%
Associates Degree	45254	6.00%
College Degree	141174	18.00%

Gender                                     Number              %

Male	336977	42.00%
Female	468920	58.00%

Origin                                          Number             %

Foreign Born	417574	52.00%
Born in the United States	388323	48.00%

Citizenship                                  Number             %

American Born	388323	48.00%
Born abroad of American parents	7681	1.00%
Naturalized citizen	145667	18.00%
Not a citizen	264226	33.00%

Language Skills                                Number             %

Does not speak English	60347	7.00%
Yes, speaks only English	312061	39.00%
Yes, speaks very well	210312	26.00%
Yes, speaks well	101821	13.00%
Yes, but not well	121356	15.00%

Children                                       Number             %

Live with own Children in the Home	353974	44.00%
No Children in the Home	451923	56.00%

Comptroller Stringer Calls on City to Provide Tax Relief to CityLights Residents as its New Neighbor Amazon Receives $3 Billion in Subsidies

Seniors and working New Yorkers in Queens affordable co-op hit with $5.2M tax bill

Some residents face as much as a 60 percent increase in monthly carrying charges over the next five years

  New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and residents of CityLights – an affordable co-op in Long Island City – gathered in Gantry Park to demand relief for the building’s over-taxed middle-class residents following the expiration of a Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) agreement and a new assessment by the Department of Finance (DOF) that nearly doubled the building’s assessment from $51.7 million to $101.6 million in fiscal year (FY) 2019. This series of events could raise the monthly carrying charges for CityLights residents by nearly 60 percent over the next five years.

As a result, Comptroller Stringer sent a letter to the Mayor’s office urging the City to implement a solution that will reduce the tax burden and prevent the displacement of hundreds of families from their homes – especially at a time when its new expected neighbor, Amazon’s HQ2, is about to receive nearly $3 billion in government subsidies.

“Across the City, the very New Yorkers who made their neighborhoods desirable for companies to move in are being priced out. Meanwhile as its new neighbor negotiated billions in subsidies, CityLights residents are stuck with more than $5 million in taxes because their city failed to act,” said Comptroller Stringer. “It’s time that we show the people who built this city that we value them just as much as a multinational corporation and give them the relief they deserve.”

The Comptroller’s letter points out that while the cost of CityLights units were low when they were initially sold in the beginning of 1997, residents are also responsible for repaying the property’s $86 million mortgage that was taken out by its private developer, as well as a $500,000 ground lease to Empire State Development (ESD) – paying more per square foot than Amazon and other commercial neighbors.

In addition to these charges, when the development’s PILOT agreement expired in July 2018, DOF first increased the building’s assessment from $51.7 million to $96.9 million in FY 2018, followed by a further increase to $101.6 million in FY 2019. By the end of the exemption phase-out in 2023, residents will face a $5.2 million property tax bill – or an additional average monthly cost of nearly $1,000 per unit – undermining the ability for the co-op to remain affordable for middle-class New Yorkers.

“When my family and I moved to Long Island City decades ago, there wasn’t even a supermarket, let alone a Duane Reade,” said Shelley Cohen, resident of CityLights. “Now, the City and the State are extending handouts to big companies, like Amazon, while my middle-class neighbors and I suffer. If the City and the State can work together to lure Amazon, they can find a way to relieve of us our ground lease.”

“Long Island City is my home,” said Joanna Rock, president of the CityLights co-op. “I moved to CityLights 20 years ago because I could afford it. The governor at the time called it ‘middle income housing.’ But with our current tax bill and ground rent more and more owners are finding it to be no longer affordable and are being forced out. We once again call on the City and the State to work together and keep their promise of middle income housing.”

To read the Comptroller’s letter, click here.

The Inauguration of Nathalia Fernandez as the New York State Assembly Member District 80

  Things don't exactly go as planned sometimes. Normally guest speakers will come a little late, but U.S. Senator Charles Schumer was early. While this was suppose to be about Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez Senator Schumer couldn't resist getting an 'Off the Wall' comment in about President Donald Trump during his remarks. Senator Schumer said that he was on a tight schedule and was off to Staten Island for another event. After Senator Schumer left there was a brief pause until New York State Attorney General Letitia James arrived.

  By then all of the scheduled speakers had arrived and were seated, so the program officially began. The Mistress of Ceremony was Community Board 7 District Manager Ischia Bravo, who did a spectacular job of keeping things moving, and not letting Assemblywoman Fernandez forget to thank each and every VIP who was in attendance at Jacobbi Hospitals Conference Center. 

  Those who spoke were led by Attorney General Letitia James who also left after she spoke for other events that were going on this busy day. MC Bravo then called up a surprised speaker Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, who while saying she had not prepared anything to say gave a spirited speech. The program returned to normal as scheduled Bronx elected officials were called upon to speak. Councilman Ritchie Torres, Councilman Mark Gjonaj, Deputy Borough President Marricka Scott-McFadden, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, and 83rd District Leader Kevin Riley representing New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. In the audience were Assembly members Michael Benedetto, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Victor Pichardo and a surprise guest from Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos who MC Bravo said had to take three trains and a bus to be here today. 

  Finally the time came for Judge Llinet Rosado to administer the oath of office to Assemblywoman Fernandez who called up her family to be on stage with her. Later during her Inaugural Address Assemblywoman Fernandez apologized that the National Anthem never was sung by Ms. Diane Arroya. She added that she was happy to see the very large crowd support her, and that she will represent her district at the best of her ability. 

Above - A photo of the Bronx elected officials who were on hand.

Below - Assemblywoman Fernandez with Assemblyman Michael Blake who she is supporting for Public Advocate in the February special election.

Above - New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

Below - Good friend, and former boss whose assembly seat she now holds, City Councilman Mark Gjonaj. 

Above - Judge Llinet Rosado administers the Oath of Office to Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez.

Below - Assemblywoman Fernandez hugs her family members after taking the Oath of Office.

Above - Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez gives her Inaugural Address.

Below - Congratulations were in order.

Biaggi, Sepulveda, Reyes Three Kings Event

  It was billed as the Holy Family Church Three Kings Day Celebration beginning at 10 AM, running through 12 PM.. The event was being hosted by State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, State Senator Luis Sepulveda, and Assemblywoman Karines Reyes, but none of the three elected officials were on site as this reporter left at 11:15 AM to go to another event. As you will see by the photos below Where's the Elected officials?

Above - Only members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, members of the PBA, a few children, are in this photo.

Below - The toys which the Union members brought to give out. Two children Peter and Esayah already know which toys they want.

MAYOR DE BLASIO: TLC COMMISSIONER MEERA JOSHI STEPPING DOWN

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that Meera Joshi, CEO and Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, plans to step down from her role in March.  Commissioner Joshi’s tenure was marked by such progressive innovations as the protection and enhancement of driver earnings, citywide access to For-Hire services for persons with disabilities, a 50% reduction of fatalities in crashes involving taxis and For-Hire vehicles in the last year, significant advances in consumer protections, and a first-ever pathway to the effective management of congestion and environmental impact relating to TLC-licensed services — all of which was enabled by the collection of previously-unavailable data.

“In this unprecedented period of growth, Meera has brought about equally unprecedented and vital change that will serve as a model for cities throughout the nation and the world,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “Under her leadership New Yorkers who use wheelchairs can get service, passengers are assured that every driver and vehicle is safe, our city has detailed records of the one million daily trips and New York City is the only place where app drivers have pay protection.  She will leave an unparalleled legacy and has raised the bar for good government.  I am grateful for her service.”

“It has been an honor to serve New York City through the effective regulation of almost 200,000 drivers in over 130,000 vehicles moving over a million people each day,” said Commissioner Joshi. “Thanks to a skilled and principled TLC staff, a Commission dedicated to doing the right thing and engaged industry members and advocates, through public debate and data we increased accountability, safety, access, modernized taxi regulation, protected drivers and increased consumer protections. I am deeply grateful to the TLC community that made this possible.”

The Administration will announce a replacement for Commissioner Joshi in the coming months. Created in 1971 by Local Law No. 12, the Taxi and Limousine Commission is a Charter-mandated agency, the purpose of which is the continuance, further development and improvement of taxi and for-hire service in the City of New York.

Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. - Week in Review, January 4, 2019

IN THE NEWS: WEST FARMS PRESERVATION PROJECT KEEPS 343 APARTMENTS AFFORDABLE. Amidst the rapid development in the South Bronx, building and maintaining affordability for residents has been a top priority for Council Member Salamanca. This week, The Real Deal reported on Camber Property Group, Belveron Partners and the city’s Department of Housing Preservation's acquisition of 11 buildings in the West Farms neighborhood. The 11 buildings, comprised of 343 units will remain 100% affordable for 40 years, 2058."These buildings were going to lose their tax credits next year and therefore the previous owner had an option of an increasing rent at above market rate. They're making a $4 million capital investment, so there's boilers that need to be fixed, there's elevators that need to be redone, you have piping, the walls, roof so it needs to be done."

Michael Blake Secures Second Spot on Ballot in Race for Public Advocate

Blake campaign files petitions within 36 hours of Special Election announcement

On Friday afternoon, the Blake for New York campaign submitted their second volume of petition signatures. Having secured the second spot on the ballot for the February 26th Public Advocate Special Election on Thursday afternoon, the campaign has now filed over 5,500 signatures.

“Our #ForThePeople grassroots organization has proven how committed we are about this campaign by submitting our signatures with the Board of Elections on the second and third day of petitioning. To every New Yorker we have spoken with who signed our petitions, I say ‘Thank You.’  It is evident that our message of #JobsAndJustice is resonating with New Yorkers who are seeking leadership that will unite us, and we are just getting started” - Michael Blake