
Two mid March trips to Albany advocated for the further support of state government in the areas of community preservation and public housing. The first trip brought community organizations Los Sures, St. Nicks Alliance, etc. an audience with their local representatives in the New York State Assembly and Senate for Legislative Action Day to affirm the need of continued funding for neighborhood revitalization, creation and preservation of affordable housing that is allocated through the division of Homes and Community Renewal.
Assemblyman Joe Lentol said, “I was glad to welcome St. Nicks Alliance to Albany and to my St. Joseph’s Day party. Affordable housing has always been one of my top priorities and it has become even more important in my district over the last decade. The work St. Nicks Alliance does in providing affordable housing for Brooklynites is priceless.”
For the second trip NYCHA residents and advocates trekked to Albany for the 2nd year in a row on March 16th. A bus to Albany picked up North Brooklyn ralliers in front of Council Member Antonio Reynoso’s office, which he’d organized with help from St. Nicks Alliance. After arriving at the capitol and wearing shirts that said: NYCHA Residents Pay Taxes and We Vote Too the travelers met with their state representatives.
Senator Squadron gave a warm reception to public housing residents, and he later said, “Public housing hasn’t gotten the support it needs — a big reason it often lets residents down. As a public housing advocate on the state level, I appreciate seeing so many community members come to Albany to remind legislators about the urgent need for public housing state funding.”