Democratic mayoral candidates shared their vision for the future of the city’s public housing at a mayoral forum hosted by Local 237 in collaboration with the Community Service Society. The debate, entitled “What’s at Stake for NYCHA Communities?” was dedicated exclusively to issues affecting the New York City Housing Authority and its workers and residents. It was held at the Salvation Army Centennial Memorial Temple onWest 14 Street in Manhattan on April 20.

Mayoral candidates take questions from the audience at the forum.

 “We want to know the commitment of these candidates to improving NYCHA because the next mayor will help to shape public housing for generations to come,” said President Gregory Floyd in his welcoming remarks.

Home to more than half a million New Yorkers, and a source of jobs for 8,000 Local 237 members, NYCHA has been plagued by persistent government funding shortfalls andmanagement inefficiencies.Moderator Michael Powell, a reporter for The New York Times, led the mayoral candidates in a spirited debate over how to preserve the nation’s best public-housing system, a vital resource for New York City’s working families.

New York Times Reporter Mireya Navarro interviews President Gregory Floyd after the forum.

New York Times Reporter and forum moderator Michael Powell

Participating candidates included former New York City ComptrollerWilliam Thompson; former City Councilman Sal Albanese; Public Advocate Bill de Blasio; City Comptroller John Liu; and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. The candidates addressed topics ranging from how to expedite repairs to strategies for boosting NYCHA funding. Local 237 members Carl Giles and Bernard Williams asked candidates how they would remedy two controversial issues: the flawed centralized computer repair system and the Infill Program, a plan to raise money by constructing luxury apartment buildings on public property. The debate also touched on creating jobs for residents, restructuring NYCHA’s board, and suspending NYCHA’s payments to the city for police and sanitation services.

Overall, the candidates agreed that the next mayor should aggressively pursue government funding for NYCHA; monitor spending by the agency; stop payments for police and sanitation services; restructure the board to include residents; stop warehousing apartments, cancel plans to sell property to developers; hire more local workers, including residents, and maintain mayoral control.

Local 237 officials listen to the candidates.

There Was Some Heat

Hostilities emerged, especially when mayoral race front-runner Quinn was jeered by some audience members, who viewed her as a supporter of Mayor Bloomberg’s policies on public housing. Quinn’s claim that she began her career as a tenant organizer was countered by de Blasio who quipped: “In 2013, you are real estate’s best friend.” Albanese set himself apart, saying, “I’m the only candidate with a record of independence,” while Liu and Thompson proposed separate financial strategies: to uncover billions of dollars more in wasteful administration, and generate revenue by building middle-income housing, respectively.

Elected officials in the audience included State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, State Assemblyman Keith Wright, and Councilwomen Rosie Méndez, Letitia  James, and Gail Brewer. Also in the audience were tenant association leaders, residents, and Local 237 members who are NYCHA employees. Also on hand were David Jones, president and CEO of Community Service Society, who opened the forum, and broadcast journalist Mark Riley, who recorded the forum, which aired on WWRL AM 1600.

View video highlights of the mayoral forum online at www.local237.org. Also view the video of President Floyd and CSS President Jones discussing public housing issues on New York 1’s “Road to City Hall."