HUD Secretary Ben Carson reached an agreement with New York City on Thursday to address the serious health and safety hazards at NYCHA properties. Howard Husock responds:
The new commitment of funds is certainly welcome, in light of the extensive repair and renovation backlog at NYCHA. It’s necessary but not sufficient, however. NYCHA will need to undertake a wide variety of new initiatives in order to improve the lives of its tenants. These should include new building construction on NYCHA-owned land, which would generate revenue for the Authority; an expansion of participation in the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration program, which will bring private investment and management skills to bear in the system; and the introduction of commercial development such as supermarkets and drug stores through the system.
At the same time, it’s a good idea to maintain local control of the system. Federal receivership would have reduced the accountability of the Mayor and City Council for conditions at NYCHA—an accountability which should be maintained. The last thing New York needs is an unclear line of responsibility for public housing, similarity to the opacity that characterizes its mass transit system.
Related materials:
- How Low Turnover Fuels New York City’s Affordable Housing Crisis, CityLab, 12-18-18
- How to Save New York’s Public Housing from Itself, New York Post, 7-25-18
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Howard Husock is vice president for policy research and publications at the Manhattan Institute.