ALBANY – Gov. Cuomo is turning to Albany legislators to help decide how to spend $100 million in state funds for improvements at the beleaguered New York City Housing Authority.
The move was ripped as a return to pork barrel spending by critics and could amp up tensions with Mayor de Blasio, who wants the funds to go toward needed roof repairs at 123 NYCHA buildings.
De Blasio’s proposed city budget, unveiled Thursday, would match the state’s $100 million and fund roof projects at another 66 of NYCHA’s worst buildings. It would also add another $200 million in city funding over the next two years.
But Cuomo and legislators are set to go in a different direction.
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Cuomo met with several dozen Assembly Democrats Wednesday to ask for a list of NYCHA projects they want funded in their districts.
While legislators were not promised set amounts or guaranteed project funding, sources in the room said each district would see about $2 million that could go toward an array of smaller projects like the installation of lighting and security cameras.
A Cuomo aide said the governor will also seek input from state senators and city officials. Some money will go toward smaller “targeted repairs” while some will be for “larger, systemwide fixes,” the aide said.
Legislators argued they know what’s best for their districts and are glad to have input. The Cuomo administration will make the final decision on which projects get funded.
Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi denied lawmakers are getting pork funding. “Given (NYCHA’s) previous failures to identify and make needed repairs, we believe this additional perspective is necessary,” he said.
The $100 million for NYCHA — the first new state investment in years — was included in the recently adopted 2015-16 state budget.
Critics say the $100 million is supposed to go for major NYCHA capital improvements, not smaller ones hand-picked by lawmakers.
De Blasio officials said the city will move forward with its $300 million, three-year NYCHA funding plan whether the state matches it or not.
The 66 buildings the city would repair this year, they said, have higher numbers of maintenance repair requests, including leak, painting and mold work orders.
“Years of federal and state disinvestment have led to deteriorating buildings, depriving tenants of the level of housing they deserve,” de Blasio said. “By making these critical investments in our aging NYCHA buildings, we are both protecting our residents – many of whom are children – and saving money spent on repairing these buildings.”
The investment will preserve the buildings, cut down on mold, and reduce operating expenses by making the buildings more efficient, the mayor said.
Monique George, of the city chapter of Community Voices Heard, said she worries the money will go toward smaller projects that don’t address the major NYCHA problems.
“The bottom line is NYCHA residents need capital improvements,” George said. “Other things are important–landscaping, parks–but none of those will matter if the buildings don’t exist, if the bricks and mortar aren’t preserved.”
