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Today's Lead: Stringer Calls for Housing Policies to Focus on Poorest


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Median rents in the city rose 75 percent from 2000 to 2012, while median real incomes declined by nearly 5 percent over the same period, according to a new report by City Comptroller Scott Stringer. Low income residents paid 41 percent of income on rent in '12 compared to 33 percent 12 years prior. In the report the comptroller argues for a focus on those poorest residents and for the stabilization of the public housing system. Simply adding new affordable units is a losing battle, he argues, it is the root causes that must be identified and addressed. But Stringer notes all of the housing woes in the city can't be blamed on gentrification, which the report finds to be growing much slower than perceived. Loopholes in rent regulation are a bigger problem, he says. Landlords seeking to pay off debt from over-leveraged buildings by raising rents is another cause for the housing crisis, according to a separate report released on Tuesday by Council Member Daniel Garodnick.

New this morning at Gotham Gazette
Cornegy on Lactation, Progressivism & Gentrification - Part 4 of a Video Interview with Gotham Gazette
Brooklyn Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr. discusses several key topics, including his district facing "the crunch of gentrification."

ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
Possible Primary Mess in The Bronx
David King reports on two potential primary battles with control of the State Senate on the line.

Cornegy on the Keys to Helping Small Business - Part 3 of a Video Interview
Watch Council Member Robert Cornegy discuss his plans as chair of the Council's small business committee.

Law & Order: Smoking in Parks Banned, But Few Tickets
Adam Wisnieski reports on the inconsistent enforcement of the city's ban on smoking in parks.

Other Stories We're Following

Lawmakers Demand Details on Federal Sandy Funding (WSJ)

Another Probe Into Delay in Fatal Fire Response (WSJ)

City's Public School Kids May Get Free Lunch (Daily News)

Rangel Used Campaign Funds for Law License Registration (NY Post)

Cuomo’s Plan to Undercut Working Families Party (Capital)

Mayor Announces Stregthening of Air Pollution Control Code (NY Observer)

Mayor's Horse Carriage Position Switched as Cash Rolled In (Daily News)

Council Wants to Add 1,000 Cops (NY Post)

NYPD's Twitter Outreach Backfires (Capital)

Construction Begins on Rockaway Boardwalk Rebuild (DNAinfo)

New York’s Case Against Airbnb Argued in Albany (NY Times)

Community Board Tug-of-War Over Barclays (NY Times)

Six Municipalities Certified as 'Climate Smart' (AP)

East River Floating Pool Moves Into Filtration Testing Phase (DNAinfo)

New Analysis Details Charter School Growth (ChalkBeat)

Today's Lead: Wait Lists for Kindergarten Shrink


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Nearly half as many New York City children were put on a kindergarten wait list for this upcoming school year compared to last year, according to education officials. The decline is due to a new streamlined application process that allows parents to apply online at up to 20 schools simultaneously. The total number of soon-to-be kindergarten students on a wait list dropped from 2,300 last year to 1,200 this year. About 71 percent of kids were offered placement at their first choice school; about 18 percent were offered seats at another of their selections; and about 11 percent were not offered one of their choices. Meanwhile, the deadline for families to sign up for pre-kindergarten for next year is Wednesday.

New this morning from Gotham Gazette
Possible Primary Mess in The Bronx
David King reports on two potential primary battles with control of the State Senate on the line.

 

Cornegy on the Keys to Helping Small Business - Part 3 of a Video Interview
Watch Council Member Robert Cornegy discuss his plans as chair of the Council's small business committee.

 

ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
The Week Ahead in New York Politics
Key events and issues to watch this week via the City and Albany.

Law & Order: Smoking in Parks Banned, But Few Tickets
Adam Wisnieski reports on the inconsistent enforcement of the city's ban on smoking in parks.

Other Stories We're Following

Area Officials Blast Potential Loss of Sandy Funds (WSJ)

Union to Get $6 Million in MTA Pact (WSJ)

Voters Disapprove of Cuomo’s Shutdown of Corruption Panel (NY Times)

Officials Probe Delay in Response to Fire that Killed Siblings (DNAinfo)

Comptroller: State in Good Shape (Times Union)

Panel Tells Port Authority to Lessen Governors’ Sway (NY Times)

De Blasio Heaps Praise on Klein (Capital)

City Won't Release Seized Bikes From Sandy-Damaged Building (NY Post)

De Blasio Forges Ahead on Municipal IDs (Capital)

Airbnb Weeding Out Multiple Apartment Listers (NY Post)

Today's Lead: US May Divert Over $1 Billion in Sandy Aid


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Federal officials are considering opening up over $1 billion of remaining Sandy aid to other recently hit disaster areas outside of New York, according to the Wall Street Journal. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) believes it is required by law to spread out the funds. HUD is proposing a competition that would reward resiliency against future disasters. The news comes just days after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his plans for reform of New York City's Sandy recovery process, which includes asking for an additional $1 billion from the federal government. New Jersey and New York State have also requested billions more. Of the $60 billion Congress set aside for Sandy aid, $3.6 billion is left.

New this morning from Gotham Gazette
The Week Ahead in New York Politics, April 20
A preview of this week's key events and issues to look for in New York City and Albany.

Law & Order: Smoking in Parks Banned, But Few Tickets
An investigation by Adam Wisnieski into enforcement of the city's ban on smoking in parks leads to some interesting findings.

Other Stories We're Following

Port Authority Debates Third World Trade Center Tower (WSJ)

MTA Denying Access-A-Ride to Double the Riders (NY Post)

State's Workforce Training Deeply Flawed: Study (Crain's)

The Living Wage Bill for Big Businesses (Crain's)

New Manager and Supplier Could Fix Citi Bike: Study (Capital)

New Mayor and Agenda, but Little Change in Ranks (NY Times)

Two-thirds of City’s Airbnb Rentals Are Illegal Sublets: State (NY Post)

Affordable Housing Group Says Airbnb Exacerbates Problem (Daily News)

Imagining a Streetcar Line Along Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront (NY Times)

Paterson's US Senate Pick, for the Ages (Capital)

Country’s First Multi-Family Affordable Passive Building (Daily News)

Mixed Views of Gentrification Threat in East New York (Brooklyn Bureau)



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