All articles tagged with #public housing
Originally Published 3 months ago — by The Guardian
A part of a 20-story public housing building in the Bronx, NYC, partially collapsed following a reported gas explosion, with no immediate injuries reported. Emergency services responded quickly, and authorities advised residents to avoid the area as they assess the situation.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by The New York Times
A 20-story public housing building in the Bronx's Mitchel Houses partially collapsed following an explosion, with a large section of the building's corner damaged; no injuries were reported, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Originally Published 5 months ago — by PBS
A study from NYU warns that the Trump administration's proposal to impose a two-year time limit on rental assistance could displace over 1 million low-income families, including many working families and children, potentially causing significant disruption and administrative challenges, with little evidence of successful implementation from pilot programs.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Guardian US
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders have introduced a sweeping legislative proposal, the Green New Deal for Public Housing, aiming to decarbonize and expand the nation's public housing units with an investment of $162bn to $234bn over the next decade. The bill seeks to transform public housing into affordable, environmentally friendly, and safe communities, while creating jobs and public health benefits. It also aims to repeal the Faircloth Amendment to allow for the construction of new public housing units. Despite unlikely passage, the proposal has garnered support from environmental groups, housing justice organizations, and labor unions, signaling growing momentum for the vision of expanding and improving public housing.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by New York Post
70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) were charged in a bribery scheme, with superintendents and administrators pocketing a collective $2 million over 10 years in bribes to secure work contracts at their properties. The charges represent the largest number of federal bribery raps brought in a single day in Department of Justice history. The defendants allegedly received more than $2 million in bribes between 2013 and 2023, with typical kickbacks ranging from $500 to $2,000. The scandal involved a range of employees, including those who were once praised as "heroes" and even one who was suspended for appearing naked in bed with a woman during a work-related video call.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by CNN
Federal prosecutors in New York have charged 70 current and former employees of the nation’s largest public housing authority with bribery and extortion, alleging they pocketed over $2 million in cash payments for no-bid repair contracts. The scheme involved nearly a third of New York City’s public housing developments, and the defendants allegedly demanded a percentage of the contract value, ranging from $500 to $2,000. The New York City Housing Authority CEO condemned the actions, and the city housing authority has agreed to significant reforms in its contracting process as a result of the case.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC New York
Over 70 people, including 55 current NYCHA employees, were arrested in connection with alleged corruption and kickback schemes involving construction and maintenance contracts at New York City Housing Authority facilities. The schemes, which occurred between 2013 and 2023, involved demanding over $2 million in bribes from contractors in exchange for more than $13 million worth of work. The arrests were part of one of the largest public corruption roundups in Justice Department history, with investigations spanning over a year and arrests made in six states and all five boroughs. The scandal has prompted calls for significant reforms to NYCHA's contracting process and raised concerns about the impact on residents and the misuse of public funds.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC New York
More than 70 people, including NYCHA workers and contractors, have been arrested in connection with alleged corruption and kickback schemes at New York City public housing buildings. The schemes involved demanding bribes from contractors in exchange for awarding work contracts, resulting in over $13 million worth of work. The investigation spanned over a year and uncovered widespread corruption at nearly 100 NYCHA developments. The arrests mark one of the largest public corruption roundups in Justice Department history, prompting calls for significant reforms to the public housing authority's contracting process.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The New York Times
More than 60 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority have been charged with bribery and extortion by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, marking a record single-day number of bribery charges for the Department of Justice. The employees are accused of accepting cash payments from contractors in exchange for awarding NYCHA contracts. The housing agency, which provides affordable homes for over 300,000 New Yorkers, has been plagued by complaints about aging buildings and a lack of affordable housing in one of the world's priciest cities.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Department of Justice
70 current and former employees of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) have been charged with bribery and extortion offenses, with 66 of them arrested in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and North Carolina. The defendants are accused of demanding kickbacks and bribes for access to no-bid contracts, resulting in over $2 million in corrupt payments from contractors in exchange for awarding over $13 million worth of no-bid contracts. The charges are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation and are being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by WSB Atlanta
The City of Atlanta is suing the owner of a dilapidated public housing complex, Forest Cove Apartments, after spending millions of dollars to relocate the tenants. The city claims that the property owner, Ohio-based Millennia, failed to maintain the complex, leading to unsafe and deplorable living conditions. Former residents describe collapsed walls, rat infestations, mold, and constant crime threats. The lawsuit seeks to recover the relocation costs and hold Millennia accountable for neglecting their low-income housing properties. Millennia has filed its own lawsuit against the city.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by ProPublica
Massachusetts housing officials are launching a "90-day push" to fill vacant state-funded apartments after an investigation revealed that nearly 2,300 out of 41,500 units were empty, despite a severe housing shortage. The state's plan includes providing financial assistance to local housing authorities, monitoring high vacancy rates, and offering technical assistance. The initiative aims to address issues such as flawed tenant selection systems and underfunding for maintenance and staff. The state also plans to centralize the screening process for the waitlist and increase funding for public housing repairs.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by New York Post
Prince William acknowledges that some people may not see the point of the British royal family, but emphasizes the amount of causes and interests they support. He hopes to introduce his children to public housing and homelessness issues at the right stage in their lives. William is patron of homelessness charities Centrepoint and the Passage, and plans to establish public housing on his Duchy of Cornwall estate.