Some of the more regressive possibilities of Mr. Spitzer’s governorship were made clear last week, when – at the behest of Mayor Bloomberg and some others – Mr. Spitzer vetoed a bill that would have directed Social Services agencies to train public assistance recipients for better than minimum wage jobs. Imagine, both houses of the NY State legislature agreed on how to focus job-training! But, shades of Pataki-past, the Governor vetoed the bill. (See, for example, this item from the Drum Major Institute’s Blog [1].) Well, this is all bitter water under the bridge, so why am I still hocking you about all this? Because it could happen again. UPDATE AFTER JUMP
Another bill would fund public housing authorities for assistance recipients at the same rate which goes to private landlords. In effect, it would increase the amount of cash going to NYCHA and other public housing entities. Vito Lopez, hated by some, is the prime sponsor. Veto of Vito’s bill is threatened. (Sorry, but the pun was just too tempting) Housing Authorities are underfunded and this bill, if enacted, would address, in part, that underfunding. (Errol Lewis, one of the very few MSM folk who seem to know that NYCHA and its funding crisis exist, has this great column here [1]. Those interested should then read Larry Littlefield's Room 8 Post [2]).
UPDATE: The Working Families Party called for Mr. Spitzer to sign the Bill here [3].
What are people who want public housing more properly funded to do? Send an email to the Governor? Write to Stephanie.Rumovicz@chamber.state.ny.us [4]. (Stephanie Rumovicz is an assistant in the Governor's secretary's office.)
A suggested email is below or write your own:
Governor Eliot Spitzer
Executive Chambers
Albany, New York 12224
Dear Governor Spitzer:I urge you to sign Assembly bill 7905, which would go a long way toward solving the serious funding problems that are forcing local public housing authorities to curtail repairs and services, and to lay off staff.
This bill would require that housing authorities receive the same shelter allowance for their tenants who receive public assistance as private landlords. Local housing authorities receive a far smaller shelter allowance than private landlords.
There can be no rational basis for continuing this disparity.
Housing authorities need this additional revenue, and the thousands of New Yorkers who live in public housing deserve the proper maintenance that this revenue will support.
Please do not turn your back on the thousands of residents of public housing.
Thanks to Sue Susman [5] and Mike McKee for the hedzup.
Just to be clearer, Mr. Spitzer's agencies (presumably at his direction) have taken significant action both to curb past abuses and protect ordinary citizens -- actions unthinkable when we lived in Pataki-land. For example in an underreported move, the state Economic Development Agency has noticed the ongoing scandal of corporations getting development money & tax breaks but producing no jobs (for an intro into the literature about this see the Accountable Development page of NY Jobs With Justice [6]) When Senator Bruno refused to bargain about legislation, the Governor's people acted: They've warned 3,000 Empire Zone businesses that they've not fulfilled their obligation to invest and produce jobs. This was reported some in the Times Union but the Syracuse Post-Standard [7] has the full story. Perhaps the sad story of money misuse and stagnation during twelve Pataki years is ending. I conclude that Mr. Spitzer's very short tenure (many agency jobs are still unfilled) has been a breathe of fresh air to state government -- but -- as do many electeds -- he needs to be alerted when he strays into the fields of the "misbegotten GOP".
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