Bronx, NY, May 3, 2007-Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión was joined by the Mitchell-Lama Residents Coalition,  tenants, neighbors and fellow elected officials to launch the Bronx Mitchell-Lama Task Force (BXMLTF) that will teach middle income tenants how to aggressively protect their homes. 

Thirty years ago, The Bronx had over 56,000 units of Mitchell-Lama housing; now there are under 35,000 left.  Last year alone, The Bronx lost over 2,000 units in 9 Mitchell-Lama developments. BXMLTF will turn talk into action, by holding workshops and panel discussions to expose residents to critical issues and viable solutions.  Residents will be taught how they can work with their landlords and government agencies to come to solution that does not displace them.  Residents will be given the tools to lobby for fair legislation.  We will expose renters to opportunities that will allow them achieve the American Dream of owning their own home. 

Carrion said, “The solution is an empowered and educated constituency that works together towards a common goal. We are hiring a Housing Services Coordinator that will work with tenants, elected officials and advocacy organizations to collaboratively address these issues, as well as issues with other affordable housing developments, such as Project-Based Section 8 and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit buildings.”

The Mitchell-Lama program is the most successful housing program in the history of New York State, and yet it has been rapidly disappearing for the past decade. Landlords are opting out of the program and imposing dramatic rent increases, driving out longtime tenants.

Senator Jose Serrano said, "Preserving affordability in our city should be of the highest priority.  Unfortunately, with the sunset of many Mitchell-Lama housing programs throughout the Bronx and the rest of our city, we are in jeopardy of becoming a town in which only the very wealthy can afford to live.  I applaud Borough President Carrion's creation of the Mitchell-Lama Task Force, and I look forward to working with him to keep as many buildings as possible affordable for the people of our community."

 Assemblywoman Aurelia  Greene said, “We here in the Bronx are facing a huge loss  of Mitchell Lama housing as rents are increasing and our low and middle income residents are being priced out of their apartments. In my district alone, we have lost three vital developments and are facing the loss of another development in Harlem. This must end. We must do all we can to protect the homes in our community. I ask you today to speak to your neighbors and friends, and have them join us in this quest to fight for the preservation of Mitchell Lama housing and join us on the Bronx Mitchell Lama task force.”

"It's a disgrace that affordable housing has become a privilege rather than a right. The Mitchell-Lama laws have for decades been the backbone of New York City housing, in which generations of middle income New Yorkers have risen and prospered  State Senator Klein added. Working people built this city and if they can not live in the very homes they constructed then society has failed indeed. That's why the Bronx needs an organization like the Mitchell-Lama task force, to keep New York a viable option for everyone.”

BXMLTF will also work with other Mitchell-Lama movements in other boroughs and State-wide campaigns.

“How can the City achieve its goal of 165,000 affordable housing units, when we purge thousands of Mitchell-Lama units each year? Losing affordable housing is not only a Mitchell-Lama problem, it is not only a Bronx problem, but a City and Statewide problem, we must be proactive and vigilant in our efforts  in addressing this problem,” added Carrion.

Other elected officials represented or in attendance included Congressman Jose Serrano,State Senator Jeff Klein, Councilman James Vacca, Councilman Joel Rivera, Assemblyman José Rivera, Assemblyman Michael Benjamin and Assemblywoman Naomi Rivera.

851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
E-mail: webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov Tel: (718) 590-3500