ASSEMBLY BUDGET UPDATE: YESTERDAY I 

TOOK A STAND ON THE FLOOR

ASSEMBLYWOMAN DIANA C. RICHARDSON 

SPEAKS ON ISSUES OF HOUSING, RAISE THE AGE, AND EDUCATION, IN REGARDS TO THE

 PENDING FISCAL BUDGET

         

Budget Extender

New York  - Yesterday, I took a stand on the floor, speaking out against a budget extender, in order to emphasize the various issues looming in our community. Thankfully, under the strong leadership of Speaker Carl Heastie, we the New York State Assembly continue to fight hard, to ensure that our community receives a fair share in the 2017-2018 fiscal budget. Participation in this process requires the skillful art of negotiation, without loosing sight of one's core. During this process, I as a public servant, refuse to dilute the needs of the community for temporary relief. Essentially, what is being offered is crumbs, when our community needs at least a slice. Without true solutions I am unable to support a budget that does not offer REAL aid for our housing crisis, Raise the Age, as well as education. 

HOUSING

Housing is a huge issue in New York, specifically in the 43rd Assembly District, where thousands of residents continue to be displaced, due to fact that they are unable to keep up with increased rent, often driven up as a result of 421 A. This initiative was initially introduced in 1971 to encourage more construction in New York, at a time when residential construction was dropping. This program has since morphed into a way for developers to gain billions of dollars, while expanding luxury buildings and units, subsequently, increasing displacement among working families. 

Unfortunately, this program continues to serve as a threat to our community, and as a representative of the 43rd Assembly District, I am unable in good conscience to support any type of 421 A legislation that does not exemplify REAL affordability for the community. A crucial component of 421 A is the Area Median Income (AMI) which is calculated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The 421 A program encourages increased construction with some affordable units, but "affordability" is based on income levels that surpass what many community members can afford.  This is an issue that has been brought to the forefront, and has yet to be dealt with. 

In addition, n early 10,000 residents from the 43rd Assembly District have gone to housing court in the past two years. The Propublica, Brooklyn Eviction Data map below, clearly shows just how displaced our community is becoming due to gentrification. 

In order to implement real change, we need real leadership from  Governor Cuomo in this regard. I applaud him for introducing his plans for Central Brooklyn through the proposed program Vital Brooklyn, but this same Vital Brooklyn which will profoundly impact the 43rd Assembly District, will not be as productive if the residents of the community do not have the simple foundational necessity of shelter. Individuals 

with no home, in addition to those who are on the verge of loosing their living space, are unable to reap the benefits that Vital Brooklyn claims to offer, like healthcare, education, and environmental upgrades, when they are merely struggling survive. 

In addition, there is no verbiage that supports Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) with 421 A. 

RAISE THE AGE

The status of this contentious budget issue will put the community at risk, and Raise the Age is an important component that must not be overlooked.  New York State is one of the two states that continues to prosecute 16 and 17 year old's as adults. Thousands of under age youth continue to be confined to adult prisons, facing issues of sexual assault, rape, physical attacks and are often held in solitary confinement. The negative long term affects of adult charges are irreprehensible, and the story of the late Kalief Browder is a clear example of the failures of the New York criminal justice program. Browder was accused of theft with no evidence and prosecuted as an adult. He endured beatings and was forced to succumb to solitary confinement, for this low level infraction. As a growing young man, he never mentally recovered from the contemptible conditions he had to endure, and later took his own life. Currently, New York and North Carolina, are the only two states that adhere to the criminalization of youth. Conservative states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee have passed better legislation in regards to this issue. Unfortunately, what the Governor and the New York State Senate have offered us in the Assembly, is an extremely watered down bill that does not assist the population we have targeted to help.

In addition, the District Attorney Association is doing what it can to block the progression of this issue in the budget. 

EDUCATION

One of the few things the community has when we consider the future is the sustainability of education. With my understanding of this, I created the 43rd Assembly District Education Council.  Many schools in the Tri-state Area, specifically in the 43rd Assembly District, receive funds that are significantly lower than what is effectively needed for them to operate. The New York State Assembly's proposal in the budget include a four-year phase of incorporating money owed to our school districts under the school funding lawsuit known as the 2006 Campaign for Fiscal Equity ruling, which stated that the New York public schools were cheated out of billions of dollars. With the funding we are to be allocated this year, it is hard to break even.  Now, our youth are already being short changed and constantly being forced to do more with less, but reduced funding for this is alarming. 

Although many of my constituents are not able to have "face time" with me often, I ask you as members of the 43rd Assembly District to recognize that I have not forgotten you. The issues and concerns communicated to me when I met you gave me the ignition to to carry on the work you need. For this reason, I continue to keep your issues at the forefront. It is time to take a stand. It is time for us to stand up together to push the pressing issues, that would otherwise be overlooked. Residents come into my office everyday, fully aware of the unfair housing injustices they must succumb to. People come in, enraged, in tears and sometimes looking to my office to give them hope, if nothing else. When I think about the families I represent, I realize I cannot support something that would be detrimental to their very existence. In lieu of this, I ask that you please understand, that I am standing firm for you. 

Stand with me, as I stand with you. 

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