Community Update

PROPOSAL: NEW YORK STATE SHOULD TAKE OVER CDBG AND LEAD
ABATEMENT FUNDS FROM COUNTY—
INNOCENT COMMUNITIES LIKE GREENBURGH THAT HAVE LOW AND
MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS SHOULD NOT BE HURT BY HUD/COUNTY DISPUTE
 
  The battle between the county, HUD over the affordable
housing exclusionary zoning lawsuit is hurting communities like Greenburgh that
are in compliance with affordable housing. The Town  of Greenburgh and other
municipalities in Westchester, are not able to access CDBG and LEAD abatement
funds that would be earmarked to  low and moderate income communities and
households. Among initiatives that the town of Greenburgh has not been able to
pursue: a Manhattan Ave improvement initiative and a safety issue on 9A –
programs that are needed to help adjacent low and moderate income areas.  The
town is losing close to $1.5 million in grant assistance because the federal
government is holding up funding of the CDBG program to the county – to punish
the county for not being in compliance.
 
  I believe that the there is a solution that could help
alleviate the impact on innocent bystanders. HUD should transfer the funding of
CDBG and LEAD abatement funds to the state of New York to be used to administer
permitted activities in Westchester for communities that have met the affordable
housing goals.  This would in no way dilute the ability of HUD and the Monitor
to take whatever steps they deem to be needed to bring the County in compliance
with the settlement agreements and would in no way weaken the ability of the
County Executive to argue that there is no valid basis for the assertions of HUD
and the monitor.
 
The county government acts as an administrator of the CDBG
program. The grants are largely a pass thru for programs carried out by the
municipal members of the consortium. Why should innocent local governments be
hurt by issues that we have no control over?
 
I would like to set up a meeting with the United States
Secretary of HUD, Shawn Donovan and with fellow municipal, county, state and
federal officials who will become part of a coalition that can lobby for this
solution.    I will be forming a county coalition to push for a state takeover
of CDBG programs in Westchester.
The bottom line is that poor people are in the middle of a
political dispute and are getting hurt. The above proposal is urgently needed to
address this matter. I would welcome the opportunity to meet to discuss.
 
PAUL FEINER