Hitting the roof over NYCHA bid
A GROWING number of elected officials are not happy with Gov. Cuomo’s move to steer $100 million away from critical NYCHA roof repairs to smaller pet projects for Assembly members.
NYCHA planned to spend the state funds on 123 of its “worst roofs,” but Cuomo last week declared the Housing Authority needs to fix its own roofs.
Cuomo instead is handing the money to city Assembly members for $2 million small-scale projects like light upgrades or landscaping.
Behind the scenes, however, Assemblyman Michael Blake (D-Bronx) put in for roof and boiler repairs and security upgrades anyway, while Assemblywoman Maritza Davila, (D-Brooklyn) put in for boiler repairs but wants money for roofs.
“To me it’s not an either-or. Yes, we need repairs to our roofs, but we equally need repairs to our locks,” Blake said. “Residents are tired of us bickering back and forth. They just want us to help them.”
Davila put in for boiler repairs at a development in her district, but said she’d have preferred the $11 million NYCHA planned to spend on roof repairs. “I welcome any amount of money that can be used to benefit the housing of NYCHA residents in my district,” she said.
On Monday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined the call to direct state money for NYCHA roofs by visiting the Borinquen Houses roof. “It is moving in the wrong direction, and we want that $100 million to move in the right direction — that is, for roof repairs,” he said.