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Q&A
Council Member Salaam questions OMB on Harlem housing and shelter plans
2:13:36
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177 sec
Council Member Yusef Salaam engages in a Q&A session with OMB Director Jacques Jiha and his team regarding housing and infrastructure needs in Harlem. Salaam inquires about funding for specific developments, NYCHA senior centers, and plans for a shelter facility in his district. The OMB team commits to following up on several specific issues raised by Salaam.
- Salaam raises concerns about the Espanar Gardens development and asks how OMB is accounting for Harlem's housing and infrastructure needs in the capital plan.
- Questions are posed about the allocation of funding for older adult services in NYCHA senior centers in Harlem.
- Salaam brings up community concerns regarding plans for a shelter facility at 2201 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard.
Yusef Salaam
2:13:36
Good afternoon and thank you director Jeehaw.
2:13:39
Great to see you and your team.
Jacques Jiha
2:13:40
Good see you, sir.
Yusef Salaam
2:13:41
Thank you chair.
2:13:44
So there's a Mishalama development in my district, Espanar Gardens, and significant need significant need of financial and structural attention, and the residents have been trying to address this since superstar sand superstorm Sandy.
2:14:01
I wanna know how is OMB accounting for Harlem's growing housing and infrastructure needs within the capital plan especially in light of historical low capital commitment rates in black and brown neighborhoods?
Jacques Jiha
2:14:17
I'm not aware of this one.
2:14:20
You aware of it?
2:14:22
The specific
Gale A. Brewer
2:14:23
We'll have
Tara Boirard
2:14:23
to work with HPD on the specific development, but as it pertains to how we're accounting for Harlem's growing needs, we largely defer to HP to come up with the program and work with them on the funding of the program, which takes into account equity issues as well as various housing needs throughout the boroughs.
Jacques Jiha
2:14:40
Why don't you give us the information?
2:14:42
We'll work with your office and get a better sense of that particular project.
Yusef Salaam
2:14:46
Sure.
2:14:47
Okay.
2:14:48
Given that Harlem has one of the highest concentrations of NYCHA units, what share of the 1.11 hundred and $4,500,000 in restored funding for older adults older adult services is being directed to NYCHA's senior centers or naturally occurring resident communities in Harlem.
2:15:06
And just for background on in on 2201 Adam Clayton Powell Junior Boulevard, in January 2024, the city announced plans to establish a sanctuary shelter for families at this particular location.
2:15:20
The facility was to include approximately 54 rooms operated by the Department of Homeless Services in partnership with the Children's Rescue Fund, a contract provider.
2:15:31
However, the community raised concerns, very very serious concerns about this plan and it was ultimately altered.
2:15:38
Currently, the administration has renewed their mission to house shelter families at this location.
2:15:45
I now find myself along with many of my colleagues in wondering why the administration has not communicated this with local communities on how they intend to provide for sheltering these families?
Jacques Jiha
2:15:58
Okay.
2:16:01
In this plan we added about 81,000,000 to deal with some cliffs that JFTA had.
2:16:11
But regarding the shelter of that particular one, you know anything about it?
2:16:16
Again, we'll come back to you on this specific one because this is not on our radar at all.
2:16:24
Okay.
2:16:24
We'll work with our office to get more information on this.
Justin Brannan
2:16:29
Well, thank you.
2:16:32
Council member Hudson.