Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled his long-awaited housing plan yesterday that will commit $8.2 billion in city funds to a 10-year affordability initiative. Developers in rezoned districts across the city will be required to include housing units for low and middle income tenants. The entire plan will draw federal, state and city funds to create 80,000 affordable housing units while maintaining 120,000 more and is expected to cost $41 billion. The crux of De Blasio’s plan is to allow developers to build taller buildings in exchange for including more affordable apartments but it isn’t clear how far the administration will go to ensure developers include the units. De Blasio touted the plan as the most ambitious affordable housing plan the country has seen and as a key piece of his quest to reduce inequality.
New from Gotham Gazette
The Resiliency of De Blasio's Affordable Housing Plan
A close look at what Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan includes on sustainability and the threat of future storms.
ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
Debate Over Historic Rent Freeze Heats Up
The rent guidelines board has sway over the rents of about one million New York City apartments that house about two million tenants. Find out who is on the board and how its process works.
This Week in New York Politics
Our guide of what to look for this week in New York City and in Albany.
Other Stories We're Following
Tivoli Towers Residents Resist Orders to Move to Smaller Apartments (DNAinfo)
Scuffle Over Scaffold Law Continues (Times Union)
Charter Critics Switch Focus to Transparency (Capital)
Who Could Replace Duffy As Lieutenant Governor? (Capital)
Majority of City Unions Vote to Support Health Care Proposal (WSJ)
Federal Prosecutors Subpoena Moreland Members' Communications (NY Times)
St. Luke's Preschool Set to Close (DNAinfo)
SUNY Ends Negotiations With Top LICH Bidder (Crain's)
Tenants Could See Rent Freeze After Vote (Daily News)
State Senate Democrats Push Ethics Package (Daily News)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority expects service to return to normal today after an F Train derailed in Queens on Friday. A break was found in a newly installed track around the 65th Street Station in Woodside, Queens. The derailment that occurred at 10:30 a.m. on Fridaywas the worst for the New York City subway system in more than two decades. The MTA has sent the track for metallurgical testing to determine if there was a flaw with the metal that caused the break or if there was a problem with the installation. The new track that broke is dated 2013. Ten people remain hospitalized since the accident - four of them have life-threatening injuries.
New From Gotham Gazette
The Week Ahead in New York Politics, May 4
See what is happening politically this week in New York City and Albany via our weekly preview of the week ahead. This week's highlights include two key announcements by the mayor, several important city council hearings, the Working Families Party gala and more!
Other Stories We're Following
Retail Union Set to Endorse Espaillat (Daily News)
Advocates Look to Reform Solitary Confinement (Times Union)
Koppell Expected to Announce Bid to Oust Klein (Crain's)
De Blasio Expected to Unveil Housing Plan (Staten Island Advance)
Cuomo Pledging to Run Against Senate Coalition If Agenda Not Accomplished (WSJ)
Queens Democrats Want John Liu to Challenge Tony Avella (Daily News)
Legislator Who Backs Dorm For Legislators Spends Big on Travel (NY Post)
Top State Judges Get Tax-Payer Funded Perks (Times Union)
Second Trial For Former Senate Majority Leader (Times Union)
Parking Lots Replaced by Residential Towers (Crain's)
Lilly Ledbetter to Join City Workers For Equal Pay Rally (Capital)
New from Gotham Gazette
Union Healthcare: A Missed Opportunity?
Kristen Meriwether explores the healthcare benefits element of the City's contract with the UFT and the question of having union members pay a portion of their premiums.
Tish James on Social Justice and Women in Politics: A Video Interview with Gotham Gazette
Watch Public Advocate James discuss her staff and budget, her approach to social issues, and her investment in encouraging other women to pursue paths in politics in the third and fourth segments of our video interview.
Philosophers or Bullies?
An op-ed by Alliance for Quality Education head Billy Easton criticizes Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the ed reform movement that he has seemingly embraced.