New Coalition of Gay Celebrities, Elected Officials, Labor Leaders, and Activists Urges Governor Cuomo to Protect Affordable Housing for New Yorkers Living With HIV/AIDS

  In a letter to Governor Cuomo A large coalition of more than 100 gay celebrities, labor leaders, elected officials, activists, and others is launching a new campaign today, organized by VOCAL-NY, to get Governor Cuomo to use this year’s state budget to close a loophole that denies affordable housing to homeless and low-income New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS.

  

 

January 15, 2014

The Honorable Andrew Cuomo

Governor of the State of New York

New York State Capitol

Albany, New York 12247

Dear Governor Cuomo:

We applaud your leadership promoting LGBT equality, tackling health disparities, and investing in affordable housing. We write to you with a concern that touches on all of these priority areas for your administration. Your leadership is needed now to change an anachronistic subsidy exclusion that discriminates against people living with HIV/AIDS.

As members and allies of the LGBT community, we are grateful for your tireless effort and tremendous success in passing same-sex marriage in New York. We are confident that you will also want to stand with us in putting a stop to the discrimination against people living with HIV/ AIDS in affordable housing – discrimination that disproportionately impacts low-income, LGBT people of color.

We ask you to implement the 30% rent cap for people living with HIV/AIDS, a cost-neutral affordable housing protection, through Article VII language in the 2014 - 2015 Executive Budget.

Background - People with AIDS Excluded from Affordable Housing Protection

The primary housing program for poor New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS is tenant-based rental assistance. As with other state housing programs for disabled people, residents with income from disability benefits are expected to contribute a portion of those benefits toward their rent. All state disability housing programs – and all federally funded housing assistance – cap the tenant’s rent contribution at 30% of income. Except one. The HIV/AIDS rental assistance program put in place in the 1980s excluded an affordable housing protection.

What this means today is that disabled New Yorkers with an AIDS diagnosis who receive rental assistance are required to pay upwards of 70% or more of their federal disability income (SSI, SSDI or Veterans’ benefits) towards their rent. This forces people to choose between paying their rent and other essential needs like food, transportation and co-pays for life-saving medical care. For those evicted, the risks are even greater. Without stable housing, it is difficult for people living with HIV/AIDS to remain connected to medical care, adhere to treatment and practice HIV prevention. The consequences include high rates of housing loss, homelessness, and premature death among a vulnerable population.

The Cost Savings

This policy will pay for itself by preventing unnecessary costs associated with housing loss and homelessness. An analysis by Shubert Botein Policy Associates (SBPA) estimates that annual reductions in crisis and emergency housing costs for the 10,000 people currently at risk of homelessness who are living with HIV/AIDS will more than offset the estimated cost of implementing this policy. These reductions in emergency housing costs make this affordable housing protection cost-neutral or even a cost savings for City and State agencies responsible for the rental assistance program. Moreover, by reducing avoidable crisis healthcare costs and the risk of ongoing HIV transmission, SBPA estimates the policy will result in significant additional Medicaid savings.

Legislative History

Legislation addressing this issue passed the Assembly and the Senate in 2010, with only one Senator voting against it. Former Senator Thomas K. Duane spoke passionately about it on the Senate floor, convincing his colleagues — Democrats and Republicans — to pass the bill in the final hours of session. When advocates met with then-Governor Paterson, the Governor indicated that he was likely going to sign it into law. Only after a conversation with Mayor Bloomberg did the Governor veto it. Governor Paterson included this powerful statement in his veto message: “This is my most difficult veto. I recognize, sadly, the history of the inadequacy of services government has brought to bear for those with HIV/AIDS.”

An affordable housing protection for homeless and at-risk people living with HIV/AIDS has strong bi-partisan support in the legislature. Senator Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez are the current sponsors of the legislation (S3022/A7782). New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also backs the legislation and pledged his support during his campaign to work with you on this common-sense fix to an existing housing subsidy.

Current Opportunity

HIV remains a severe crisis in both the LGBT community and communities of color. In NYC, a majority of new HIV diagnoses are among gay and bisexual men, with Black and Latino youth at highest risk. While HIV has touched every population and age group in New York, 79% of people living with HIV/AIDS in our state are people of color. Promoting stable and affordable housing is the foundation for effective HIV prevention, treatment and care — and is therefore essential to ending the epidemic and addressing these disparities.

We encourage you to seize this opportunity to end the unfair double standard that forces low-income and disabled people living with HIV/AIDS to pay more in New York’s housing assistance programs.

Sincerely,

Elected Officials

New York State Senator Brad Holyman

 

New York State Assembly Member Daniel O'Donnell

 

New York State Assembly Member Robert Rodriquez

New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm

   
New York City Council Member Corey Johnson

New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca

New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres

Soundview Child Rapist Captured in New Orleans after Multi-State Manhunt

  Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo, member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Cities, released the following statement on the successful manhunt and capture of the Soundview child rapist.

“The terrible news that a child, once again, had been a victim of a horrendous crime stunned New York City when it was reported. The crime involved the rape of the seven-year old child in Soundview, Bronx.

The depraved perpetrator of this case of child sexual abuse fled from New York and a diligent manhunt by law enforcement agencies has led to his capture in New Orleans, Louisiana.  I commend the New York City Police Department and other law enforcement agencies involved in finding this child abuser and bringing him to justice.

It is my hope that our court system will use its full authority and sentence this derived individual to the maximum sentence allowed by law.

Unfortunately, cases of child abuse are too common in our nation, our State and our city.  According to groups working to prevent child abuse and neglect, from 1990 to 2010, substantiated cases of sexual abuse dropped from 23 per 10,000 children under 18 to 8.6 per 10,000 sexual abuses by an adult who was not a family member from 1992 to 2010. The majority of sexual abuse cases involve family members or acquaintances rather than strangers, studies have found.

I am thankful that to the hard work of our law enforcement agencies because their diligent work will send a clear message that if a crime against a child is committed, law enforcement will find you and bring you to justice.

Child abuse and neglect is an issue that needs more attention because the incidents of abuse show our children are being victimized in their own homes.

In New York State in 2010, 114 children died as a result of abuse or neglect, a fatality rate of 2.58 per 100,000 children, according to Child Maltreatment 2010. This is a 4.4 percent increase from 109 fatalities that occurred in 2009.

In 2010, child sexual abuse comprised 3.5% of the 79,668 cases of substantiated investigations into child abuse and neglect in New York State.

Child neglect continues to comprise the largest portion of cases of child maltreatment. According to the federal report Child Maltreatment 2010, figures for the country and for New York State are as follows:

	United States	New York State
Neglect	78.3%	66.6%
Physical Abuse	17.6%	11.4%
Sexual Abuse	9.2%	3.5%
Psychological Maltreatment	8.1%	.9%
Medical Neglect	2.4%	5.7%
Other	10.3%	32.0%

In 2010, according to the NYS Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (the Child Abuse Reporting Hotline) — 170,224 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, involving 223,340 children were received.”

 

 

State Senate Democrats May Have Ended Their Debt, But Who is in the Money

   State Senate Democrats may have ended their debt, but according to the latest campaign filing to the State Campaign Finance Board State Senate Co-Leader Republican State Senator Dean Skelos has $2.3 million cash on hand.

   Things are a lot better for the other Co-Leader State Senator Jeff Klein and his IDC.

Klein has $1.6 million while the four members of the IDC has $3.6 million in total.

  “From Buffalo to the Bronx, our members continue to receive overwhelming support from New Yorkers,” Klein, said in a statement. “Entering an important election cycle, we know our candidates will have the resources they need to get their message out to the voters. All of us look forward to not only maintaining, but to building upon our electoral successes in the State Senate.” 

   There has been talk of Senate Democrats putting up challengers to Klein and the IDC members, most notably former Councilman Oliver Koppell to Klein himself.

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ RE: Conviction of Assembly Member Eric Stevenson

 

“Today’s conviction of Assembly Member Eric Stevenson closes an unfortunate chapter in our borough’s history.

“As I have made crystal clear in the past, our borough and our city require and deserve honest, corruption free government. The public must have faith in its elected leaders, and the deplorable actions of Assembly Member Stevenson should not cast a bad light on all elected officials, most of whom work hard to deliver for their communities and solve the issues that face our neighborhoods. I will continue to work with my colleagues, the people of the 79^th Assembly District and the people of the Bronx to restore the public’s faith in government,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

 

 

Assemblyman Eric Stevenson Found Guilty

  79th Assemblyman Eric Stevenson has been found guilty of taking $22,000.00 from Senior Center Developers in cash bribes. The U.S. Attorney's office acted swiftly on this case, since it was the culmination of over 4 years of using former assemblyman Nelson Castro to try to root out corruption in the Bronx Democratic County organization. Nelson Castro was snared by the Bronx District Attorney on a charge of election fraud back in 2008, and agreed to wear a wire for the U.S. Attorney to catch Bronx elected or party officials in the act of corruption.

  Meanwhile Assemblyman Castro was allowed to run for re-election against a Bronx Democratic County backed opponent, winning re-election in 2010. This continued for the next election in 2012 as Assemblyman Castro again won re-election while wearing a wire for the U.S. Attorney. It was actually one of Assemblyman Castro's associates Sigfredo Gonzalez who actually gave the testimony that convicted Assemblyman Eric Stevenson. Stevenson never took the stand as it was reported that his attorney could never believe that the jury would find Gonzalez's testimony credible let alone believe it and convict Stevenson of corruption.

  Stevenson's former New York State Assembly page was taken down right after the conviction and replaced with a blank page for the 79th A.D. Stevenson now faces up to 50+ years in jail following the conviction.

Council Member Andy King to Host Open House For 12th District Constituents

  City Council Member Andy King will hold an open house and community  “meet and greet” at his 12th District offices at 940 East Gun Hill Road and 135 Einstein Loop, Room 44, in Co-Op City on Wednesday,  Jan. 15, from  11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Joining Council Member King will be his staff and representatives from city agencies, who will be available to answer community questions.

The open house also celebrates the observance of the birthday of the slain civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“It’s only fitting that on the day of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s actual birthday that we open up our house as Dr. King had opened up his heart and gave his life to improve the lives of others. That true commitment to service is what we strive for in the 12th District,” said Council Member King.

Council Member King, who was celebrated on Sunday with an inauguration and swearing-in ceremony at Evander Childs High School, Bronx, was re-elected in November 2013 to his first four-year term as the representative of the 12th District. In November 2012, he was elected in a landslide vote to fill the vacant seat.

So far, in his short time in office, he has spearheaded a number of community activities, including the 12th District Cleanup, weekly Bronx Youth Empowerment Program, Tax Lien and Foreclosure workshops, CUNY Now, weekly immigration assistance and Caribbean heritage celebrations.

In just one year after he was elected in office, Council Member King made his first contribution to the New York City Charter. Last month, then Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law a bill Council Member King’s bill to have public schools develop and distribute information on college saving programs to all students.

Andy King Inauguration

  It was postponed due to the big snow storm, It started late, but when it was all over Andy King's inauguration received a grade of "A+" from the filled auditorium at Evander Child High School. This was a well mixed event that was hosted by Mr. Michael Harmon of the United Federation of Teachers. Yes there were a few boring speeches by one or two elected officials, but there were performances in between the speeches that made you want to sing or dance along. 

  U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Public Advocate Letitia James, new City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senator Gustavo Rivera, several Bronx assembly members, several fellow city council members, and others who are important to the King family as you will see in the photos below.

  As they came up to speak every elected official who spoke praised Andy King for the hard work he had done on his way to becoming the councilman from the 12th council district. Many knew Andy from before he was elected, and were glad to see that the 12th council district is finally getting the representation that did not come from Andy's predecessor.

  The performances between speeches all received standing ovations from the audience, but the best was yet to come. After the swearing in ceremony Councilman King said that he had two surprises that he was going to announce. First Andy had two young boys bring out a mural that turned out to be a flag that he said was going to be the flag of the 12th Council District. The councilman described what each and every detail on the flag stood for, and the reason for the flag.

  Councilman King's second surprise involved his father Andy King Sr. Andy Jr. said that he was thrilled that his mother and father could be on stage to share this enjoyment with him, and he added that the day was his father's 77th birthday. If I left out the swearing in part just see the photos below.

Left - U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is between new City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Mr. Lenny Caro of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Right - Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, District Leader Lou Goldstein, Speaker Melissia Mark-Viverito, Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr.

Front row- U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, Bronx BP Ruben DiazJr., Congressman Charles Rangel, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. Second row Councilman Andrew Choen, Councilwoman Maria Del Carmen Arroyo, Mr. Lenny Caro, Ms. Slyvia Laisk (hidden), Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Left - Former City Comptroller John Liu is seated in front of Councilman Ritchie Torres and Rayblin Vargas of TWU Local 100.

Right - Councilman Andy King stood up to join in with the dancing.

 

Three generations of the King family  pose with Judge Armando Montano before the ceremony.

 

 Left - With his daughter Katie holding the bible Councilman Andy King is sworn into office by Judge Montano. 

Right - Andy hugs his wife Neva right after being sworn in.

 

Left - Councilman King displays the new 12th council district flag.

Right - Councilman King announces that the day of his inauguration is also his father Andy King Sr.'s 77th birthday.

Senator Klein, Assemblyman Sepulveda Host First Annual Three Kings Event

   State Senate Co-Leader Jeff  Klein and Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda hosted their first annual Three Kings event celebration at Melcher Hall at the Church of Holy Family on Saturday. For many who celebrate Christmas, Three Kings Day marks the official end of the Christmas season. The event featured a musical performance, nativity scene, sweet treats and gift giving. Over 70 children were on hand to help celebrate.

From left to right, District Leader Julia Rodriguez, two of the Three Kings, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, one of the Three Kings and State Senator Jeff Klein, pictured with children after the gift-giving portion of the event.