Mayor Bloomberg says New York City's lack of affordable housing is a 'good sign' of a vibrant economy because 'more people want to live here'
Advocates slammed the mayor's comments as 'absurd' - and insensitive toward people being squeezed out of their homes by rising rents
Comments (28)By Mara Gay / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Friday, October 18, 2013, 3:58 PM
ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images
In his weekly radio appearance on WOR-AM, Bloomberg said housing is scarce because 'as fast as we build, more people want to live here.'
The city’s lack of affordable housing actually is a “good sign” of a vibrant economy, Mayor Bloomberg said Friday in remarks that touched off fresh criticism that he is out of touch.
In his weekly radio appearance on WOR-AM, Bloomberg said housing is scarce because “as fast as we build, more people want to live here.”
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He added that market forces — developers building housing to meet the demand — would help to address that need.
“Somebody said that there’s not enough housing. That’s a good sign,” Bloomberg said.
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“It doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem, but there are no vacancies. That will bring in investment, for people to build for all income levels, different kinds of housing,” he said.
“In cities, if you want to have lots of vacancies where everybody could easily find a place, you don’t have a good economy.”
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He added that all that demand is great for business, and it makes him popular with construction workers and developers. “When I march by in a parade, I get a lot of waves. Construction workers should be very happy. Developers should be very happy,” he said.
Housing advocates said Bloomberg is correct that a growing city is a good thing — but that the mayor largely was missing the point.
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“It is better to have the problem of a city that’s growing than a city that’s shrinking,” said Benjamin Dulchin, executive director of the Association of Neighborhood and Housing Developers in New York City.
But, he added, “The rezoning this administration has done to encourage development is largely market-rate housing. There’s a lot of building going on, but it is not necessarily what our population needs.”
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Craig Gurian, of the Anti-Discrimination Center in New York City, which lobbies for affordable housing, said median monthly gross rents in the city rose 8.5% from 2007 to 2011 while median household income fell 6.8%, making it harder for New Yorkers to stay in their homes.
“The affordable housing crisis has gotten worse on his watch. He’s literally out of touch. He doesn’t experience what most people in the city are experiencing, which is a much greater sense of insecurity than they felt 12 years ago,” Gurian said.
In his weekly radio appearance on WOR-AM, Bloomberg said housing is scarce because “as fast as we build, more people want to live here.”
PHOTOS: WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE
He added that market forces — developers building housing to meet the demand — would help to address that need.
“Somebody said that there’s not enough housing. That’s a good sign,” Bloomberg said.
PHOTOS: DAILY NEWS/MARIST POLL: CHARTING BLOOMBERG FATIGUE
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews
Bronxdale Houses, childhood home for Sonia Sotomayor, remains a low-income residential community in Bronx.
“In cities, if you want to have lots of vacancies where everybody could easily find a place, you don’t have a good economy.”
PHOTOS: NYC'S MOST ROMANTIC REAL ESTATE
Housing advocates said Bloomberg is correct that a growing city is a good thing — but that the mayor largely was missing the point.
PHOTOS: BEST OF BROOKLYN: QUIRKY, COOL REAL ESTATE
Peter Carroll/GETTY IMAGES
The lack of affordability reflects demand. Above, Trump International Hotel and Towers at Columbus Circle.
But, he added, “The rezoning this administration has done to encourage development is largely market-rate housing. There’s a lot of building going on, but it is not necessarily what our population needs.”
RELATED: BLOOMBERG ADMINISTRATION SIGNED OFF ON CITYTIME EXPENSES: LAWYERS
Craig Gurian, of the Anti-Discrimination Center in New York City, which lobbies for affordable housing, said median monthly gross rents in the city rose 8.5% from 2007 to 2011 while median household income fell 6.8%, making it harder for New Yorkers to stay in their homes.
“The affordable housing crisis has gotten worse on his watch. He’s literally out of touch. He doesn’t experience what most people in the city are experiencing, which is a much greater sense of insecurity than they felt 12 years ago,” Gurian said.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bloomberg-calls-housing-crisis-good-sign-vibrant-economy-article-1.1489903#ixzz2i80XztcA
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