April 29, 2014

Subject: Real Affordability for All

Dear Mayor de Blasio:

As you finalize your affordable housing plan for May 1, we urge you to prioritize the needs of low-income and moderate-income households who are struggling to pay their rent every month.

Your plan to build and preserve 200,000 affordable housing units is a critical opportunity to increase the real affordability of housing for New Yorkers who are being priced out of their neighborhoods.

A recent study by Real Affordability for All showed that more than 700,000 low-income households (those earning $44,000 per year and less) were shut out of the previous Administration’s housing boom. City government can and must ensure that these New Yorkers are not left further behind.

Unfortunately the 80/20 model favored by many developers – 80% market-rate housing and 20% affordable –isn’t creating enough real affordable housing for New Yorkers who need it the most.

We believe it’s time for a better model. The city should use up-zoning, tax abatements, subsidies, and other tools to strive for real affordability in every new housing development.

Replacing the ineffective 80/20 model with one that maintains a higher percentage of affordable units, like the 50/50 model, would create and sustain a much greater quantity of real affordable housing for low-income and moderate-income households. It’s a smart, progressive reform that will give city taxpayers a better return on their investment in affordable housing while still enabling developers to reap profits and trade unions to access good jobs.

Your administration has taken bold action on universal Pre-K, Vision Zero, paid sick leave, the municipal ID card, and other policies designed to strengthen the most vulnerable New Yorkers. Shifting from 80/20 to a model that maximizes the creation of affordable housing is another area where you can show tremendous leadership, achieve lasting results, and help make our city a fairer and more equitable place.

Sincerely,

Council Member Jumaane D. WilliamChair, Committee on Housing and Buildings Council Member Ritchie Torres

Council Member Jumaane D. WilliamsChair, Committee on Housing and Buildings

Council Member Ritchie TorresChair, Committee on Public Housing

Chair, Committee on Public Housing

Council Member Inez Barron

Council Member Margaret S. Chin

Council Member Elizabeth Crowley

Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo

Council Member Daniel Dromm

Council Member Rafael Espinal

Council Member Dan Garodnick

Council Member Vincent Gentile

Council Member Vanessa Gibson

Council Member Ben Kallos

Council Member Andy King

Council Member Rory Lancman

Council Member Stephen Levin

Council Member Mark Levine

Council Member Carlos Menchaca

Council Member Anabel Palma

Council Member Donovan Richards

Council Member Antonio Reynoso

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez

Council Member Debi Rose

Council Member Helen Rosenthal