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Council Member Hudson questions Department of Finance on rent freeze programs and eligibility
5:34:01
ยท
138 sec
Council Member Crystal Hudson questions Commissioner Preston Niblack and other representatives from the Department of Finance about rent freeze programs, specifically Screedry and Shahi. The discussion covers eligibility data, outreach efforts, and potential advocacy for raising eligibility levels.
- The Department of Finance does not have specific data on individuals eligible for rent freeze programs but conducts extensive outreach.
- Consideration of advocating for raised eligibility levels in Albany was discussed, noting potential budgetary implications.
- The exchange highlighted the widespread need for rent freeze programs across different areas of New York City, including Brooklyn and Bay Ridge.
Crystal Hudson
5:34:01
Thank you.
5:34:02
And those folks aren't only in Southeast Queens.
5:34:04
They're in Brooklyn too.
5:34:06
Just wanna share that for the for the record.
5:34:10
The Department of Finance Bay
Preston Niblack
5:34:11
too, I believe.
Crystal Hudson
5:34:12
What was that?
Preston Niblack
5:34:12
Bay Ridge too, hear.
5:34:13
Yeah,
Crystal Hudson
5:34:14
Brooklyn.
5:34:15
Yeah, yeah.
5:34:17
Does the Department of Finance have data indicating who is eligible for Screedry and Shahi?
5:34:22
And does it conduct active outreach to get these individuals enrolled?
Preston Niblack
5:34:27
So the first part of that question is no, we don't.
5:34:30
We don't really know characteristics of renters in particular units.
5:34:35
So we don't have information that says, Preston Niblak who rents in this building and is 67 years old and makes x thousand dollars a year, he's eligible, great, he should apply.
5:34:48
We don't have the ability to target that specifically.
5:34:51
We do a lot of outreach every year to try and make people as aware as we can of the benefits that are available including the rent freeze program.
5:35:03
Our outreach team led by Kieran Mahoney hosts lots of events every year, works with council members.
5:35:12
Think Councilmember Hudson, I'm sure we've worked with you I think relatively recently on some events in your district.
5:35:18
But we will go anywhere, anytime to help bring awareness to people of the rent freeze program.
5:35:25
First Deputy Commissioner, if you want to add anything or if my answer was brilliant and sufficient as it was.
5:35:32
Okay.
Jeffrey Shear
5:35:32
Great.
5:35:33
As always.
Crystal Hudson
5:35:34
And that was on the record too.
5:35:36
Have you considered any advocacy in Albany for raising the eligibility levels for any of those programs?
Preston Niblack
5:35:47
There's a budgetary element to that that I think I should not speak to without consulting with my colleague, the budget director.
5:35:57
But it's true that it has not been changed in a while, and there's probably additional people who would certainly benefit if we were to be able to raise the level.
Crystal Hudson
5:36:09
Okay, thank you.
5:36:10
Thanks, chair.
Justin Brannan
5:36:13
Okay.
5:36:13
Thank you, DOF.
5:36:14
Appreciate you.
Preston Niblack
5:36:15
Thank you.
Justin Brannan
5:36:19
Okay.
5:36:19
We'll take a, like, three second break, and we're gonna start hearing testimony from the public.