Office of the New York State Comptroller DiNapoli - Boosting Homeownership in New York: Progress and Persistent Gaps

Boosting Homeownership in New York: Progress and Persistent Gaps

The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) is a New York State public benefit corporation created in 1970 to make home ownership more affordable for New Yorkers. It offers low-interest mortgage programs, down payment assistance loans, loans and grants for home repairs, and mortgage insurance. And according to a report by State Comptroller DiNapoli, SONYMA has boosted lending and programs for minority households and economically disadvantaged communities, increasing its share of loans provided to low-income and minority borrowers over the last 10 years.

"Homeownership can be a powerful tool for building generational wealth, but many New Yorkers face barriers to buying a home,” DiNapoli said. “New York offers several programs to help overcome these hurdles, but improvements to data and reporting are needed so policymakers have better information to evaluate outcomes and consider whether additional actions are needed, given rising housing costs and limited housing stock across the state.”

To continue boosting homeownership and remedying racial and ethnic homeownership gaps, Comptroller DiNapoli emphasized the need for:

• Wider awareness of homeownership assistance programs.
  
  
• Expanded monitoring and enforcement against discriminatory practices in housing.
  
  
• Improved data and reporting on homeowner assistance programs to better understand who benefits from these programs and to identify underserved populations. 

SONYMA programs can help make homeownership more attainable, and with continued focus on data-driven improvements, progress can be made towards a more equitable housing landscape for all New Yorkers.

Read More

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES 100,000 FREE TICKETS FOR NEW YORKERS TO WATCH MACY’S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS®

 

Lighting Up Iconic New York City Skyline, 49th Edition of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Will Fire from Barges From Lower Section of East River and Near Iconic Brooklyn Bridge 

 

10 Times More Free Tickets Being Offered Than Last Year Provides More New Yorkers Miles of Prime Viewing for Show 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that 100,000 free tickets will be available to the public for viewing the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on Friday. The tickets will be available for designated viewing areas in Brooklyn Bridge Park or designated sections of Pier 16 and Pier 17 at The Seaport. Tickets will be available beginning at 8:30 AM tomorrow, Tuesday, July 1, and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis online. Each person may request up to four tickets for Brooklyn Bridge Park or up to two tickets for The Seaport viewing area in Manhattan.  

 

New Yorkers looking to secure their spots early for the Brooklyn Bridge Park location only can text “FIREWORKS” directly to Mayor Adams at 917-909-2288 right now as he will be giving the first 2,500 texters four free tickets each before the general release to the public.  

 

“Every New Yorker deserves a chance to celebrate under the sparkle of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, and this year, 100,000 lucky residents will have front-row access to one of the city’s most iconic events as our city celebrates its 400th anniversary this year and we get ready to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary next year,” said Mayor Adams. “Whether you're watching from Brooklyn Bridge Park or the piers at The Seaport in Manhattan, our administration is making sure this celebration is for everyone. I can’t wait to join hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors as we light up the night and honor America’s birthday right here in the greatest city in the world.” 

 

Macy’s Public Viewing Maps of Brooklyn Bridge Park (L) & FDR Drive (R) Courtesy: New York City Mayor’s Office 

Please note: All of Brooklyn Bridge Park will be a fully ticketed area, and guests must present a ticket for entry. The fireworks show will be visible along the FDR Drive for those who do not receive a ticket. Entry points for the general public are: 

 

•    Montgomery Street and Madison Street 

•    Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place and Brooklyn Bridge On/Off Ramp 

•    Broad Street and Water Street 

 

The ADA accessible viewing location will be located on the Manhattan side at Murry Bergtraum Field. Guests should enter at Pike Street and Cherry Street for this location 

 

The Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show will light up the New York City skyline with a stunning display launched from barges along the East River, near the Brooklyn Bridge. The 49th edition of the nation’s largest Independence Day celebration will fire more than 80,000 shells that will include 30 vibrant colors and awe-inspiring effects, including state-of-the-art projection mapping on the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Governor Hochul Participates in New York City Pride March

Governor Hochul: “Especially now more than ever, when a community that we cherish is under siege from Washington, Republicans in Washington who are trying to strip away their rights and their dignity and their ability to serve – in harm's way in our military. My God, just like they fought during the Stonewall riots in 1969, they fought back and they won. We will always fight back and defend this community. We're in this together, let's continue fighting together and we'll be victorious.”

Hochul: “We are contributing $15 million, the largest fund of its kind in the nation to the Lorena Borjas Transgender and Non-Binary Wellness and Equity Fund, because we're putting our money where our mouth is to make sure people have access to the care they need and deserve, number one.”

 Wow, Happy Pride New York!

There's a famous football coach from the other side of the state, if you don't know the team look it up. But his favorite thing to say was, where would you rather be than right here, right now? This is the place to be, the birthplace of the LGBTQ+ movement is in our city, our state, and this is a huge point of pride for us.

Especially now more than ever, when a community that we cherish is under siege from Washington, Republicans in Washington who are trying to strip away their rights and their dignity and their ability to serve – in harm's way in our military. My God, just like they fought during the Stonewall riots in 1969, they fought back and they won. We will always fight back and defend this community. We're in this together, let's continue fighting together and we'll be victorious.

And of course there's money to be announced. We are contributing $15 million–the largest fund of its kind in the nation–to the Lorena Borjas Transgender and Non-Binary Wellness and Equity Fund, because we're putting our money where our mouth is to make sure people have access to the care they need and deserve, number one.

A new million dollar source of funding for the LGBTQ Center here in New York City and almost a million dollars in workforce development grants to help trans members of our community get jobs. So there you have it ladies and gentleman, let's march.