Community Voices Heard

CVH Puts Pressure on Newburgh City Officials to Address Low Income Housing Crisis in Upcoming Development Plans

On Tuesday, July 29th, CVH members met face to face with 3 of the most powerful Newburgh City Officials. Mayor Nick Valentine, City Manager Jean-Ann McGrane, and Director of Planning and Development Bob McKenna came to the Forum to answer to CVH's concerns about housing policies in the Master Plan and the planned Waterfront Development. 6 CVH members gave testimony about their experiences with housing living as a low income resident of Newburgh, and then asked a specific question to each of the City Officials. Some of the questions were: Will you include housing that Newburgh residents can afford in the proposed development? Will you require everything new that is built to include some housing that we can afford? Will you hire and train Newburgh residents for all new jobs?

Despite all of the research and work CVH members had done to come up with these questions, the City Officials were hesitant to answer many of the questions directly. They also strongly fought the format of the meeting, but became more comfortable as it went on.

Some of the highlights: Director of Planning and Development Bob McKenna agreed to push for some housing units in the Development that will be affordable for households making 25-125% of the Newburgh Household Median Income. Mayor Nick Valentine committed to hiring Newburgh residents for 100% of the jobs created by the proposed Waterfront Development, as well as setting aside money for a training program. All three agreed to put rent stabilization back in the Master Plan. They also agreed to adjust the definitions of low income, moderate income, and workforce housing in the Master Plan to better reflect Newburgh's income levels rather than the Area's.

The meeting was covered in 4 local papers, on cable news, and on the local NPR affiliate.

Mid Hudson News Coverage

CVH Leader Brenda McPhail is interviewed for a segment on affordable housing on WAMC, the local NPR affiliate

Earlier that day, the City Manager held a meeting with Newburgh-based affordable housing providers and advocates, which she planned to replace CVH's meeting, although she eventually agreed to attend. CVH attended the "Housing Task Force" meeting, and it was decided that the meetings would continue monthly and that CVH would have a place at the table!

Below you can read two of the testimonies, by CVH members Maretta Melvin and Linda Ballinger.

CVH Stands Out at Event Celebrating State Funds Coming to Support Waterfront Development

On Monday, June 30th, the City of Newburgh held a small, exclusive press event announcing $1.25 million in state funds coming to support the proposed waterfront development. State Senator Bill Larkin and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez were the invited guests, and Congressman Maurice Hinchey made a surprise appearance. Although the event was announced only days before, and was held under a tent set up to accommodate about 25 people, 5 CVH members made our way there. While the politicians were speaking, a few members stood silently with signs that said, "Jobs and Housing for All," "Newburgh Residents First," and "Can I live here too?" Congressman Hinchey even mentioned they would be sure to address the issues our signs raised.

After the event, members got the chance to speak directly with and present letters to the State Senator, Secretary of State, and Congressman. The Times Herald Record covered the event, which you can read here. They also took pictures for an online photo gallery, which you can see below.

CVH Marches to City Hall and Disrupt Council Meeting Demanding Real Affordable Housing in Future Plans

On June 16th, Community Voices Heard members marched to Newburgh's City Hall and into the Council meeting that was happening that night. Even getting caught in a thunderstorm didn't stop almost 50 members from marching from our office on Lander St. to City Hall, where we held a press conference outside. CVH leaders Maretta Melvin, Anne Dehaney, and Brenda McPhail spoke at the press conference, and were interviewed for Cable 6 news!

City officials had originally hoped to vote on the Master Plan that night, but had postponed the vote. Even though it was not on the agenda, CVH leader Brenda McPhail spoke at the microphone and made it clear why CVH was there - explaining that our voices are being excluded from the planning for Newburgh's future and we want the Master Plan changed before it comes to a vote.

Brenda is quoted in the Times Herald-Record article below about how she feels that her community is being left out of the redevelopment plans. You can see the original article on the Record's website here. The Record also wrote another article about this event which can be seen here or by clicking the PDF of the article below. We were also covered in the Times Community Newspaper and Hudson Valley Press. The full articles are below or you can see the original here and here. Stories were also written in local papers the Sentinel and the online Mid-Hudson News. There is a video that was posted on YouTube that shows CVH inside the Council meeting.

CVH Members Meet with City Planner to Demand that Affordable Housing is Included in the Master Plan

On March 20, CVH members met with Newburgh's City Planner Ian MacDougall and Assistant Planner Garrett Duquesne. We invited him to meet with us so we could present our 6 recommendations for the City's Master Plan. The housing section of the Master Plan includes very little protections for low-income housing and very little direction to ensure affordable housing in the future. CVH members Jennifer Smith, Cleo McKinney, and Cleveland gave testimony about how their lives are impacted by the lack of good low-income housing and how the City could improve it with their Master Plan. After each testimony, we asked Mr. MacDougall if he would include that recommendation in the Master Plan, writing his "yes" or "no" answer on a scorecard. Our 6 demands included adding an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance to require new development to include housing affordable to Newburgh residents, using Newburgh's Median Income rather than the Area's, and developing programs to rehabilitate abandoned buildings for affordable housing. Of the 6, Mr. MacDougall agreed to only one, but he did agree to mandate the inclusion of low-income residents and residents of public and subsidized housing on any Housing Boards or Commissions the City creates!