Blaz a ‘liar’ on senior housing – protesters
Angrily denouncing Mayor de Blasio over what they call a broken $500 million promise, tenants and church leaders marched in the South Bronx on Saturday to demand more public housing for seniors.
The crowd of about 150, including many in wheelchairs, gathered to push City Hall and the New York City Housing Authority to move ahead with plans to build a senior apartment building on the site of an empty city-owned lot on E. 152nd St.
“The basic theme is: ‘Where is the money?’ ” said the Rev. Francis Skelly of Immaculate Conception Church, who grew up in the neighborhood. “[De Blasio] said $500 million. We’re basically calling him out as a liar.”
The mayor promised the money at a City Hall rally last spring with tenant leaders and other elected officials. Yet he left the money out of the budget, and so far just a handful of projects appear to be moving forward.
NYCHA referred calls for comment to the mayor’s office, which didn’t immediately respond.
The protesters sang as they marched to the beat of drums from the church two blocks from the spot where they hope to see a new NYCHA project for seniors.
Carmen Santiago lives in a two-bedroom apartment with her parents, ages 77 and 78, and three kids. She pleaded with de Blasio to keep his word and ease her family’s overcrowded conditions.
“We are in a crisis and our mayor needs to act like a mayor,” Santiago said.
Mayra Compres said she has been waiting for more than a decade to get a NYCHA apartment.
“I don’t want to wait another 14 years … because in 14 years I will [also] be a senior citizen,” she said.
Michael Stanley, an organizer with Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, said senior citizens are on the front lines of New York City’s growing affordable housing crisis.
City Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-South Bronx) slammed de Blasio for failing to live up to his progressive rhetoric. “The mayor promised the fairest big city in America,” he said. “Apparently his perception of fairest doesn’t include senior citizens.”