WASHINGTON, D.C. --Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), along with Reps. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Gregory W. Meeks, (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), released the following joint statement regarding an agreement reached between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the New York City Housing Authority:

“We are certainly relieved that NYCHA, the city’s largest landlord and home to 400,000 of our most vulnerable neighbors, will not fall under complete control of the Trump Administration’s HUD. As this Administration has repeatedly proposed slashing funding for the public housing operating and capital funds, we share our constituents’ concerns that the current Administration’s hostility to public housing makes it a bad fit to assume day-to-day oversight of NYCHA.

“All that being said, there must be additional accountability and transparency at NYCHA, so that the agency once again becomes responsive to tenants’ needs. We are hopeful that a federal monitor can help achieve that goal. We will certainly be watching that process closely and providing vigorous Congressional oversight.

“Of course, improving public housing in New York will require significant investment at all levels of government. We recognize the Mayor and the City have already dedicated substantial funding and are committing more under the terms of this deal. Following decades of shortchanging the agency, still more must be done. In Washington, we will be fighting for additional federal dollars in the years to come. Similarly, the Governor and the state government will need to step forward. This must be a priority at every level of government.

“It is our hope that someday NYCHA can resume its place as a model for other public housing agencies across the nation. While that will take time, we hope today is a step toward that goal and we will be keeping a close watch on how this plan is implemented.”

In December, Velázquez led Democratic Members of the New York City Congressional delegation in writing to HUD Secretary Carson, arguing against federal receivership for NYCHA.

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