Welcome to the Town of Greenburgh
News & Information  
  Select News to View

Please select the year.
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Back to Article List

PROPOSAL THAT WILL HELP GREENBURGH ACCESS CDBG FUNDS
Release Date: August 12, 2013

PROPOSAL: NEW YORK STATE SHOULD TAKE OVER CDBG AND LEAD ABATEMENT FUNDS FROM COUNTY—
INNOCENT COMMUNITIES LIKE GREENBURGH THAT HAVE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS SHOULD NOT BE HURT BY HUD/COUNTY DISPUTE

The battle between the county, HUD over the affordable housing exclusionary zoning lawsuit is hurting communities like Greenburgh that are in compliance with affordable housing. The Town of Greenburgh and other municipalities in Westchester, are not able to access CDBG and LEAD abatement funds that would be earmarked to low and moderate income communities and households. Among initiatives that the town of Greenburgh has not been able to pursue: a Manhattan Ave improvement initiative and a safety issue on 9A – programs that are needed to help adjacent low and moderate income areas. The town is losing close to $1.5 million in grant assistance because the federal government is holding up funding of the CDBG program to the county – to punish the county for not being in compliance.

I believe that the there is a solution that could help alleviate the impact on innocent bystanders. HUD should transfer the funding of CDBG and LEAD abatement funds to the state of New York to be used to administer permitted activities in Westchester for communities that have met the affordable housing goals. This would in no way dilute the ability of HUD and the Monitor to take whatever steps they deem to be needed to bring the County in compliance with the settlement agreements and would in no way weaken the ability of the County Executive to argue that there is no valid basis for the assertions of HUD and the monitor.

The county government acts as an administrator of the CDBG program. The grants are largely a pass thru for programs carried out by the municipal members of the consortium. Why should innocent local governments be hurt by issues that we have no control over?

I would like to set up a meeting with the United States Secretary of HUD, Shawn Donovan and with fellow municipal, county, state and federal officials who will become part of a coalition that can lobby for this solution. I will be forming a county coalition to push for a state takeover of CDBG programs in Westchester.
The bottom line is that poor people are in the middle of a political dispute and are getting hurt. The above proposal is urgently needed to address this matter. I would welcome the opportunity to meet to discuss.

PAUL FEINER
 
****************************************************
Visit our web site at www.greenburghny.com and view archived Supervisors Reports.
****************************************************
To unsubscribe to list send an e-mail to:
imailsrv@cit-e.net
Please put the following in the body of the e-mail:
Unsubscribe gblist



Print this page Print this page Print this page Email this page Email this page





Contact Information | Home | Town Supervisor | Town Council | Town Clerk's Office | Tax Department | Departments | Documents & Forms | Town Code | GIS Maps, Tax and Assessment Information | Agendas & Minutes | Watch Live Board Meetings | Public Access TV On Demand | Links | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Employment Opportunities | Town Updates by E-Mail | Pay Parking Tickets Online | Pay Water Bill Online | On-Line Tax Payments
Use Mobile Site

Copyright © 2014 Town of Greenburgh, NY. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by Cit-e-Net