Contact
NYC Office
115 E 106 St., 3rd Fl.
New York, NY 10029
Phone: (212) 860-6001
Fax: (212) 996-9481
115 E 106 St., 3rd Fl.
New York, NY 10029
Phone: (212) 860-6001
Fax: (212) 996-9481
Yonkers Office
164 Asburton Ave.
Yonkers, NY 10701
Phone: (914) 751-2641
Fax: (914) 751-2642
Mid-Hudson Valley Office
18 Lander St.
Newburgh, NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-2020
Fax: (845) 562-2030
Online Presence
Translation
Community Voices Heard
Press Coverage
Below are a series of summaries of articles that have been published about Community Voices Heard and the work that we do. Some are accounts of our actions, some are regarding issues we organize around, while others are simply articles that our members have been quoted in. You can download the full articles by clicking on the PDF files that are attached to the bottom of the summaries. Coverage is posted in reverse chronological order. For earlier press coverage check out our Press Coverage From Earlier Years.
CVH, DC 37 Join Campaign to Organize Parks Workers
Submitted by talia on Thu, 2008-12-11 17:33. AFSCME District Council 37 has been a long-standing ally of CVH. The two organizations are a part of Friends of NYC Park Workers Organizing Committee, which is working to build public support for an organizing drive of parks workers. DC 37 recently chronicled the efforts of the organizing committee, which is currently chaired by CVH Executive Director Sondra Youdelman.| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.11 Community Allies Help Organizing Drive - DC 37 Press.pdf | 281.23 KB |
Beyond Statistics: CVH Members call on Newburgh City Officials to Address Poverty Head-On
Submitted by jenny on Tue, 2008-12-09 18:55.On Tuesday, December 9th, the Census Bureau released statistics from the American Communities Survey that were compiled for areas with less than 65,000 residents.
CVH members held a holiday-themed press conference to announce the poverty statistics and call on City Officials to stop ignoring the widespread poverty that they and their families live through every day. Their message was: you can't ignore poverty anymore!
CVH member Susan Smith announced that poverty had risen since the 2000 Census - now more than 28% of Newburgh residents live in poverty. She also pointed out that the median rent had grown from $614 to $926 in only 5 years! More than 61% of Newburgh residents now spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Susan explained that as a disabled widow, the government assistance she receives is barely enough to cover her rent, let alone utility and food costs.
Leader Yusuf Belford, who is currently homeless, talked about the hypocrisy of Social Services spending $1500 per month to house him in a motel but only giving him $300 towards rent.
Leader Maretta Melvin, a 50 year Newburgh resident who lived through Urban Renewal, spoke about the importance of saving low-income housing. "We pay taxes, we vote, and we deserve a voice in the future of our city too!" she exclaimed. You can read the members' testimonies below.
Our ally Jim McElhinney from the Newburgh Ministry spoke about the dramatic increase in families needing a free Thanksgiving meal this year. As the director of a resource center for homeless and low-income people, he added, "We all have a right to affordable housing."
CVH members draw attention to City's practice of spending money meant for low-income residents in ways that fail to benefit our communities. Singing carols like "Where's the Dough?" to the tune of "Let it Snow" and "Deck the Halls with Grant Money," members entertained people passing by and Councilwoman Angelo who also stopped by. Check out the CVH Holiday Carols below!
Brenda McPhail, who MC'd the event, invited City, County, and State officials to "walk a day in our shoes."
The Times Herald Record, the Mid-Hudson News, the Sentinel, Hudson Valley Press, and Cable 6 News covered the event.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Susan Testimony.doc | 26.5 KB |
| Yusuf Testimony.doc | 24.5 KB |
| Maretta Testimony.doc | 25 KB |
| CVH Holiday Carols.doc | 90 KB |
CVH Gets Press Coverage About "Missing the Mark" Report Release
Submitted by talia on Fri, 2008-11-14 17:39. Community Voices Heard's new report, Missing the Mark, about NYC's failing Back to Work welfare-to-work job readiness and job search program got quite a bit of press coverage. The Daily News mentioned the report in an article on problematic city employment programs. Radio pieces were done by WNYC, WBAI, WFUV and WWRL. The Gotham Gazette listed the report in their Eye-Opener. And, we're expecting more coverage to come. Attached is some of the coverage for those interested in reading it.Impact Unknown: The CEO's Poverty Fighting Efforts
Submitted by sondra on Wed, 2008-11-05 17:15. After a recent individual meeting with the Director of Mayor Bloomberg's Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO), Veronica White, CVH members went to attend and participate in a City Council sponsored oversight hearing on the CEO. CVH members have often been the only community group working to keep the Mayor's anti-poverty initiative hub accountable to low-income New Yorkers. While all are happy that the city is trying to address some of the critical issues of poverty in NYC, little in terms of concrete results and evaluation have yet to be reported about their attempts and whether or not pilot initiatives can ever be moved to scale down the road remains a question. Also of concern is the fact that many low-income people, including welfare recipients and the long-term unemployed, are left out of the initiatives. CVH members testified at the hearing and the attached article by City Limits mentions our presence.| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008-11-3 City Limits - Impact Unknown - The CEO's Poverty Fighting Efforts.pdf | 131.93 KB |
The Term Limits Hearings
Submitted by sondra on Sat, 2008-10-18 12:26. Community Voices Heard members Agnes Rivera and Dolores Quintero stuck around the New York City term limits hearing for hours in order to represent the organization's "let the people vote" stance. Their testimony was mentioned in the New York Times' City Room online coverage. Attached here are the pieces of the coverage that mentioned their perspective.| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.10.16 NY Times City Room The Term Limits Hearings.doc | 77 KB |
What the Other Half Thinks
Submitted by sondra on Wed, 2008-10-15 19:34. CVH Board Member Yvonne Shields is quoted in this article about what some low-income people, organizations and advocates in New York City feel about Mayor Michael Bloomberg's recent push to serve another term. "The things that affect me most have not been a high priority on his list," said Ms. Shields. CVH members will make individual choices about whether or not to vote for Michael Bloomberg should he run again, but membership feel that whether or not he should even be able to run again should be a collective public decision - let the people vote!| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008-10-06 CityLimits What the Other Half Thinks.pdf | 101.93 KB |
Shenia Rudolf on The Brian Leher Show
Submitted by dominique on Wed, 2008-10-15 15:47. As part of Brian Lehrer's 30 issues in 30 days. CVH leader Shenia Rudolf appeared on the Brian Lehrer show to discuss issues facing low-income Americans and how a lot of these issues are ignored in mainstream politics. Click here to listen to Shenia's appearance.City Limits Article: Comptroller Releases Audit on WeCARE Program and CVH Continues to Fight for Monitoring of HRA's Contracts
Submitted by alexa on Wed, 2008-09-10 13:33.An audit released recently by the office of NYC Comptroller, William Thompson, supports the findings of Community Voices Heard's 2007 report "Failure to Comply: The Disconnect between Design and Implementation in HRA's WeCARE program." Similar CVH's research findings, the Comptroller's audit found that the WeCARE program is not being adequately monitored, public money is not being effectively spent and disabled clients are not getting the services that they need.
Since "Failure to Comply" was released in March, 2007, Community Voices Heard members have been fighting to improve the oversight and transparency of HRA's programs, including WeCARE. Specifically, CVH members testified at a City Council General Welfare Committee hearing and met with the Comptroller's office to provide information and insight into the program. As outlined in this City Limits article, CVH members continue to fight to improve the WeCARE program as well as to improve accountability in all HRA programs and services.
CVH is currently finishing a report on the HRA Back to Work program, HRA's other large welfare to work program. The report is due to be released in late October.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008-09-09 City Limits WeCARE Comptrollers Audit.pdf | 36.04 KB |
CVH's Wins Against Giuliani Recalled
Submitted by michelle on Tue, 2008-09-09 15:58.CVH ally John Raskin, Director of Organizing for Housing Conservation Coordinators, recently called into WNYC Radio's Brian Lehrer Show, to discuss the remarks made by former NYC Mayor Giuliani (as well as Sarah Palin) at the Republican National Convention that belittled community organizing. Raskin, in responding to Giuliani's mocking of community organizing, cited the work of Community Voices Heard's members in going against Giuliani's policy of unpaid workfare and winning paid Transitional Jobs for people transitioning off of public assistance. Listen to the show, with Raskin's comments starting at approximately six minutes into the broadcast, below.
Public Housing Residents Accuse NYCHA and 3 Levels of Government of Neglect of Public Housing
Submitted by sondra on Fri, 2008-08-29 12:24. CVH's lunchtime vigil in memory of Jacob Neuman called upon the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the three levels of government (city, state, and federal) to be held accountable for their neglect. A number of different news outlets (NY Daily News, WNYC, Epoch Times, and NY1) covered the vigil. Attached is some of the coverage.CVH Members Speak out on Poverty Statistics
Submitted by dominique on Wed, 2008-08-27 19:16. As the poverty statistics were released on the morning of Tuesday August 26th CVH members gathered in our offices to speak with members of the media about the poverty statistics as well as living in poverty in America. While the overall statistics showed that there was last poverty in America and in the State of New York then there was the year before, the statistics also showed that The Bronx and Brooklyn still had alarmingly high percentages of people living below the poverty line. The statistics also showed that there was a huge gap between rich and poor in New York.| Attachment | Size |
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| Poverty Stat Article Eldiaro 082708.pdf | 161.23 KB |
| 27-08-2008 Hoy Cover Story Poverty Stats.pdf | 411.93 KB |
Tragic Death in NYC Public Housing Highlights Impact of Underfunding
Submitted by sondra on Fri, 2008-08-22 17:09. A five-year old public housing resident in Bushwick fell to his death on Tuesday, August 19th after trying to get out of a a NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) elevator that got stuck. Years of poor upkeep and unmet maintenance calls led to this tragedy, coupled by disinvestment of all levels of government funding for public housing. Ray Rivera of the New York Times wrote an excellent piece that connected this tragedy to the priorities of our campaign demanding full funding for public housing. How many more lives will need to be lost before public housing residents are valued? The article refers to initial findings from a survey that Community Voices Heard is conducting in public housing sites across the city as well as quotes one of our Board Members and public housing resident leaders.| Attachment | Size |
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| 8.20.2008 NY Times Public Housing Elevators.pdf | 261.93 KB |
Town Hall Meetings Hear Poverty-Fighting Demands
Submitted by sondra on Tue, 2008-08-05 15:34.CVH Leaders Brenda Beal, William Cerf, and Randolph Robinson had their issues aired once more in this article in the City Limits Weekly on the last of the state Economic Security Cabinet hearings held in Harlem. Brenda Beal spoke about the inhumanity of people having to live in poverty in such a rich state; William Cref spoke about the need for REAL job training and job search assistance rather than simply a hand-off of a list of websites for people to search under; and Randolph Robinson spoke of the challenges of finding work as a former felon. CVH members were some of the only low-income individuals to testify directly. They now eagerly await word of the Security Cabinet's next steps and whether or not their own priorities will be included in the plans to come.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008-08-04 Town Hall Meetings Hear Poverty-Fighting Demands - City Limits Weekly.pdf | 111.93 KB |
CVH Supports Partner Group in Brooklyn Fighting Developer
Submitted by sondra on Tue, 2008-08-05 15:22.CVH Sustainable Communities Project sent 5 members to Brooklyn to support partner group Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE) in their battle against John Catsimatidis, a developer who demolished grocery store and hasn't been quick enough to put new stores in their place. Read the attached article to find out more about the demonstration. See CVH members Keith Gamble and Larry Gadson standing behind Council Woman Leticia James. CVH Sustainable Communities Project members want to learn from other groups around the city working against displacement and for community involvement in community evolution.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008-07-24 No Gristedes for Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn - Brooklyn Downtown Star.pdf | 361.93 KB |
CVH Puts Pressure on Newburgh City Officials to Address Low Income Housing Crisis in Upcoming Development Plans
Submitted by jenny on Tue, 2008-07-29 15:22.
CVH Leader Brenda McPhail Speaking to Mayor, City Manager, and Director of DevelopmentOn 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.
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.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Maretta Melvin Testimony.doc | 27 KB |
| Linda Ballinger Testimony.doc | 25.5 KB |
CVH Voter Project Coordinator Henry Serrano Talks about CVH Voter Power Project on GRITtv
Submitted by sondra on Sat, 2008-07-26 20:19.GRITtv with Laura Flanders did a piece this week called "Election Roundtable: Getting out the Vote in '08". Henry Serrano, Senior Organizer and Coordinator of the Voter Engagement Project at Community Voices Heard, Brian Lee of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Steven Carbo, Senior Program Director of the Democracy Project Demos, and Susan Lerner Executive Director of Common Cause were all part of the roundtable. Serrano spoke about the high voter registration numbers and low voter turnout in low-income communities that CVH targets and how CVH's Voter Engagement Project focuses on inspiring people to get to the polls through a repetitive contact approach that connects voting to critical issues being faced in the community. Click on the link below to be directed to the GRITtv website and see the piece.
http://lauraflanders.firedoglake.com/2008/07/23/election-roundtable-gett...
Town Hall Meeting Hears Poverty-Fighting Demands
Submitted by jenny on Thu, 2008-07-24 17:31.On July 24th in Newburgh, CVH members from three different chapters came together to tell OTDA Commissioner David Hansell and other State Officials what they need for economic security. Governor Paterson's Economic Security Cabinet held a series of Town Hall meetings around the state to hear poverty-fighting recommendations. CVH members Korrenthea Catts from Poughkeepsie, Johannsis Peralta from Beacon (Dutchess County), and Alya Russell from Yonkers testified about their experiences with Social Services and gave recommendations to the Cabinet members present.
Korrenthea Catts spoke about the need for sanction reform, after her 12 year old daughter's public assistance was cut off for forgetting a form. Johannsis Peralta testified about being a public assistance recipient who can't get access to good training programs or job opportunities, and spoke about the need for statewide transitional jobs and Career Pathways program. Alya Russell, a young mother who was told she would be cut off from public assistance if she attends school full-time, spoke about the need for better access to education.
Korrenthea, Johannsis, and Alya were all mentioned or quoted in the local papers' coverage, which you can read here:
Korrenthea Catts and Alya Russell in the Mid Hudson News article
Johannsis Peralta in the Poughkeepsie Journal article
The CVH members were among the only low income residents to speak at the meeting. Now they are just waiting to hear which of their recommendations make it into the Governor's plans for New York State!
City's Poor Look Different Through New Assessment
Submitted by sondra on Mon, 2008-07-21 00:00.Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs unveiled a new poverty measure created by New York City's Center for Economic Opportunity in an effort to evaluate poverty more accurately than the measure created 40 years ago that is currently used. The new measure which better incorporates rising housing costs as well as the impact of government supports, moved the City's official poverty rate from 18.9 percent of the city's population to 23 percent. Even more startling, the share of the population living below 150 percent of poverty leaps from 27.8 percent to 44.3 percent. CVH Board Member and Welfare/ Workforce Campaign Leader Ketny Jean-Francois is quoted in the following City Limits article on the topic, "It's great that the CEO invested in creating a new poverty measure; now let's see them invest in some REAL programs to combat the poverty!" Click on the attachments to learn more about the measure and hear more about what Ketny and others have to say about the new measure.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008-07-21 City's Poor Look Different Through New Assessment - City Limits Weekly.pdf | 131.93 KB |
| ceo_poverty_measure.pdf | 153.64 KB |
CVH Stands Out at Event Celebrating State Funds Coming to Support Waterfront Development
Submitted by jenny on Mon, 2008-06-30 22:50.
CVH at Waterfront Development Press EventOn 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.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Brenda Grass.jpg | 27.56 KB |
| Yusuf Sign.jpg | 30.07 KB |
| Bill Larkin Lorraine Cortes.jpg | 27.49 KB |
CVH Testifies at the first oversight hearing of the New York City Council’s Committee on Community Development
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2008-06-24 13:30.4 Community Voices Heard Members gave testimony at the first oversight hearing of the New York City Council’s Committee on Community Development. Members testified on the problem of poverty in NYC, gave recommendations on waht the Committee should focus on in the next year and a half in order to effectively address the City's poverty problem. We were covered in the black start news. Below are copies of the 4 testimonies as well as the press coverage. The original article can be found here.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2008.06.27 Power To The Pockets - Black Star News.pdf | 66.05 KB |
| Anita Walton Testimony.doc | 29.5 KB |
| Karen Ayee Testimony.doc | 29 KB |
| Stephen Bradley Testimony.doc | 29 KB |
| Yvonne Shields Testimony.doc | 29.5 KB |
CVH is Organizing a Housing Forum in Yonkers
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2008-06-24 11:11.CVH is organizing a housing forum to demand that the city council commit to preserving and creating more low-income housing and jobs for low-income Yonkers residents in the plans for re-development.
Where? Yonkers Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center, 2nd Floor Community Room Community
When? On Thursday, June 26, 2008, at 6:30 PM
The flyer is attached below as well as an article in the Yonkers tribune about the upcoming action. If you would like more information about this action call Sarah at 914-751-2641
CVH Goes to Miami for the US Conference of Mayor's
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2008-06-20 13:27.Community Voices Heard joined up with other community organizations who are a part of Right to the City (RTTC) to go to Miami for the US Conference of Mayor's (USCM). Right to the City is a national alliance of organizations taking back our cities from the throws of gentrification. Led by community-based grassroots organizations, the alliance spans 7 cities and includes legal, media, and academic advocates from across the nation. USCM, is comprised of the mayors of some 1100 cities with populations greater than 30,000. CVH with RTTC are in Miami right now demanding mayors around the country fund public housing. The two articles below each have a quote from CVH Board Member and public housing resident Agnes Rivera, the original MOLI blog article can be found online here. The original Miami Herald article can be found online here. CVH Board Member and Leader Anne Washington was quoted in an article in the South Florida Times, the original article can be found here.
"Public Housing Residents Face Loss of Their Community Centers" - NY Times
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2008-06-17 13:01.Here is a New York Times article about how the budget deficit of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is causing the closing of community centers that Senior Citizens and children use every day. CVH Board Member and Public Housing Resident, Agnes Rivera is quoted on the last page of the article.
The original article can be found on the New York Times website here
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.06.17 Public Housing Residents Face Loss of Their Community Centers - NY Times.pdf | 58 KB |
HRA Comissioner Robert Doar Meets with CVH
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2008-06-16 17:15.CVH had their on going six month meeting with Commissioner Robert Doar of Human Resources Administration (HRA) on June 11th. CVH was please that the Comissioner actually listened and agreed to do something to push the expansion of the Job Training Program (JTP). CVH members asked one questions 5 times through chants loudly and clearly, "The Work Experience Program (WEP) exploits welfare recipients as unpaid workers. We believe this is unacceptable. Commisioner Doar, will you eliminate the over 13,000 WEP positions and replace them with JTP positions?" We felt our voices were heard by Commissioner Doar with the help of the District Council 37 representatives.
Below we have attached the testimonies of Anita Walton, Janine Douglas, Ketny Jean-Francois, and Melvinia Mcgill who are all CVH members with personal experience in HRA programs. We have also attached the statement read by Lillian Roberts, the Executive Director of District Council 37.
The New York Metro wrote an article about Robert Doar's meeting with CVH. The article quotes CVH board member Ketny Jean-Francois on her experience with the Work Experience Program (WEP). The original article is located on the Metro's website here.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.06.16 Work experience not much of one, thanks - NY Metro.pdf | 261.23 KB |
| Anita Walton.doc | 27 KB |
| Janine's Testimony on JTP.doc | 26.5 KB |
| Ketny's Testimony.doc | 28 KB |
| Melvinia Mcgill Testimony.doc | 27 KB |
| Statement of Lillian Roberts re Expansion of JTP Program.doc | 25 KB |
CVH Marches to City Hall and Disrupt Council Meeting Demanding Real Affordable Housing in Future Plans
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2008-06-16 13:58.
CVH Holds a Press Conference after Marching to City HallOn 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 Demand NYCHA Funding at City Council Hearing
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2008-05-30 16:23.On Thursday May 29th Community Voices Heard Members and Leaders who are also public housing residents went to the city council hearing in order to demand funding to close the budget gap in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Today's New York Times Metro Section featured the article below on the front page. This article highlights how dire the situation in public housing in New York is right now. They will be closing down senior centers and community-based programs. Tino Hernandez is quoted as saying, “As chairman of the New York City Housing Authority, I am here to tell you today that the future of public housing is at stake." This shows how important CVH's work in public housing is at this time. The dozens of residents mentioned in this article were mobilized by CVH and are CVH members. Board Member and Public Housing Resident Agnes Rivera is quoted in the El Diario article also posted below. There is also an article from the Brooklyn Eagle about this event. They did not mention CVH but there is a picture of the press conference.
"To save the troubled system, recruit New York public housing 'alumni'" - Daily News
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2008-05-05 12:29.Community Voices Heard participated in a large May 1st rally with the Teamsters Local 237 union, the union that represents maintenance workers in NYCHA buildings. CVH leader and public housing resident Agnes Rivera spoke at the rally sharing the stage with many elected officials, union members, and supporters of public housing. We were rallying to demand that funding be restored for public housing both to preserve jobs for the teamsters as well as preserve housing for the residents. Attached to this post is a copy of an article written by Daily News Columnist Errol Louis that gives a good impression of the rally as well as an article in the Local 237 Newsline.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.05.04 To save the troubled system, recruit New York public housing alumni - Daily News.pdf | 21.54 KB |
| 2008.05.01 Raising the Roof for Public Housing - Local 237 Newsline.pdf | 451.93 KB |
"Speakers support, fear $1.6B Yonkers project - Unions say jobs are needed; others don't want to be displaced" - Journal News
Submitted by sarah on Fri, 2008-05-02 17:43.This is a story about the public hearing that CVH members testified at. The press conference CVH members held prior to the hearing is mentioned and CVH member Valerie Pearson is quoted.
| Attachment | Size |
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| april 30 2008 journal news coverage.pdf | 151.23 KB |
"Rally to call for including low-income in massive SFC development" - Journal News
Submitted by sarah on Fri, 2008-05-02 16:00.This was an online article posted April 29th, the day of our action at the public hearing on the SFC development.
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804290440
"Target of Opportunities" - City Limits Investigates
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2008-04-24 12:27.This is selected pages from the Spring issue of City Limits Investigates. The full issue can be purchased from City Limits here. City Limits is a non-profit magazine that focuses on policy. This issue is about poverty policies and Community Voices Heard and its members are quoted throughout the issue.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.04 City Limits INVESTIGATES.pdf | 1.11 MB |
"As the Economy Worsens: Helping People Find Jobs" - Gotham Gazette
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2008-04-22 10:33.This is an article that appeared into today's Gotham Gazette. The article is about how the economic slump has affected the workforce. The article speaks about welfare programs and whether or not they are effective at helping to move people into the workforce. Community Voices Heard board member and leader in the Welfare/Workforce Campaign Ketny Jean-Francois is quoted in this article. The article is attached below or can be found on the Gotham Gazette's website.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.04.22 Gotham Gazette_ As the Economy Worsens_ Helping People Find Jobs.pdf | 75.76 KB |
"Where the Other Half Lives: An Insider Works to Bolster the Projects" - New York Times
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2008-04-14 12:32.Here is an article that appeared on the front page of the New York Times Metro Section this Sunday. The article highlights Tino Hernandez, Chairman of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), as a former NYCHA resident. The article discusses the affects of disinvestment on public housing and mentions demolitions in other cities. Community Voices Heard Leader and Public Housing resident of Lincoln Houses Keith Massey is quoted in this article.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2008.04.13 Where the Other Half Lives An Insider Works to Bolster the Projects ~ New York Times.pdf | 952.63 KB |
Yonkers March to City Hall Covered by News 12
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2008-02-22 16:47."Yonkers Residents March to Demand Inclusion of Low-Income Housing and Jobs in Development" - Home News & Times
Submitted by sarah on Thu, 2008-02-21 17:35.This is an article about our recent march to City Hall in Yonkers published in the Home News & Times on Friday, February 22. CVH member and Yonkers resident Adrienne Knight is quoted in the article.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Home News and Times Feb 22 08 001.jpg | 200.76 KB |
"Yonkers Affordable Housing Advocates March on City Hall" - Westchester Guardian
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2008-02-21 12:44.This is an article about the recent march in Yonkers. We were the front page article in this issue of the Westchester Guardian. The article is split into two PDF files that you can see below, the first is the photo from the paper's cover and the second is the article.
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| 2008.02.21 Yonkers March Westchester Guardian Cover.pdf | 622.2 KB |
| 2008.02.21 Yonkers March Westchester Guardian Article.pdf | 471.94 KB |
"Housing group to march in downtown Yonkers tonight" - Journal News
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2008-02-14 18:39.This is an article that was put in the Journal News about the march that Community Voices Heard held in Yonkers, NY to demand that no more public housing is demolished, and that the city include housing and jobs for low-income families in the plans for development in Getty’s Square. The cold and the snow couldn't stop CVH members from coming out to have their voices heard! CVH member and Yonkers resident Shateema Sherrill is quoted in the article.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.02.12 Housing group to march in downtown Yonkers tonight - LoHUD Journal.pdf | 27.19 KB |
"Exit Stage Left" - New York Metro
Submitted by mike on Wed, 2008-01-30 12:16.This is an article in today's New York Metro about Republican Presidential Candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and how he lost the Florida primary last night. As a result of his loss in Florida, he will be most likely quitting the race for the White House. The article focuses on all of the negative things Giuliani did while he was Mayor of New York including a quote about the WEP program from Community Voices Heard Board Member, Yvonne Shields.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.01.30 Exit Stage Left - Metro.pdf | 661.23 KB |
"Help the poor, not only the pols" - Daily News
Submitted by mike on Sun, 2008-01-27 12:33.This article is an editorial by Errol Louis regarding New York State Governor Spitzer considering to raise the pay of the state Legislature, which is currently $79,500 a year. The article quotes CVH Members Ann Michelle Valdez, a Brooklyn Public Housing Resident, and Harold Gardner, a CVH member from our Poughkeepsie chapter. Our members helped to point out that those receiving public assistance have not seen an increase in the welfare cash grant since 1990 and if the Governor is considering giving an increase for the pols he should also consider giving an increase in benefits for the poor.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2008.01.27 Help the poor, not only the pols.pdf | 321.23 KB |
Community Voices Heard Press Coverage for 2007
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2008-01-10 18:53.Here is a packet of our press coverage for all of 2007. We took all of the articles from 2007 and digested it into two PDF files to make the downloads smaller.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| CVH Press Coverage 2007A.pdf | 2.2 MB |
| CVH Press Coverage 2007B.pdf | 1.84 MB |
Anita Graham on BBC News
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2008-01-10 17:42.Recently reporters from the BBC came to New York to find out about WEP and how it works here. They were interested in WEP because there is talks of instituting a similar system in Britain and they wanted to find out what people here thought about the program. They interviewed Anita Graham, the Welfare / Workforce Organizer at Community Voices Heard you can check out this link for the video.
You can also read the article and see other videos the BBC made relating to what is going on in Britain on the BBC website. Click this link for the BBC website.
"Advocates fight for tenants, the elderly and low-income families in East Harlem" - Daily News
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2007-12-28 18:20.This is an article about a march that Community Voices Heard participated in. The march was organized by Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and a coalition of grassroots organizations in East Harlem. For more information about the march you can read the article on our website, "CVH Marches with the East Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force" and the Daily News Article below.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2007-12-28 Advocates fight for tenants, the elderly and low-income families in East Harlem - Daily News.pdf | 31.61 KB |
"Celebrating New York's Unsung Heroes" Agnes Rivera on WNYC
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2007-12-28 14:27.This is a segment from The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. This segment is based on the Errol Louis Daily News article from Thanksgiving Day, "Pass the Praise Please" in which Mr. Louis offers thanks and praise to activists he has met including CVH Leader Agnes Rivera. Agnes is featured on the segment and she speaks about Community Voices Heard as well as public housing issues.
CVH Joins Farm Workers to Protest Burger King in Miami
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2007-12-03 16:01.Two members, Ann Valdez and Agnes Rivera, and one Staff, Mike Selick, went to Miami Florida this weekend to join with students, unions, and other grassroots organizations to march in solidarity with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in a 9 mile march against Burger King. The CIW is demanding that Burger King pay their workers just 1 penny more for one pound of tomatoes. McDonald's and Taco Bell have already agreed to the workers demands but Burger King refuses to negotiate. These workers are working 16 hour days for often only $55. They are living in trailers with 15 to 20 people sleeping wherever they can. Check out the link below to read more about the march or read any of the articles that are attached to this post including an New York Times Editorial by Eric Scholsser, the author of "Fast Food Nation".
http://www.ciw-online.org/2007_BK_March/index.html
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-11-29 Penny Foolish - New York Times.pdf | 143.47 KB |
| 2007-12-1 Protesting the King - Miami Herald.pdf | 711.93 KB |
| 2007-12-2 Good cause gives activism new life - Miami Herald.pdf | 341.23 KB |
"Pass the praise, please" - Daily News
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2007-11-22 13:53.This is an article that was printed in the Thanksgiving issue of the Daily News. It is an editorial by Errol Louis that offers thanks and praise to activists he has met. He mentions Community Voices Heard as well as CVH Leader Agnes Rivera.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-11-22 Pass the praise, please - Daily News.pdf | 21.86 KB |
"NYC to Lead Country in Remaking Poverty Gauge" - City Limits
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2007-11-19 12:52.This article is from City Limits and is about the Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) changing the poverty line for NYC. New York is an expensive city and the poverty lines that make sense for other parts of the country may not make sense for people in our city. Community Voices Heard Leader Marilyn Bezear and Community Voices Heard Board Member Sandra Killet are both quoted in this article.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-11-19 NYC to Lead Country in Remaking Poverty Gauge - City Limits.pdf | 846.88 KB |
"Will NYC Save Public Housing, Sell it, Or Sell It To Save It?" The Daily Gotham
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2007-11-02 12:08.Here is an article from The Daily Gotham blog. This article comes on the heels of a posting a few days ago titled, "NYCHA's Phony Fiscal Crisis" where the author does a good job of breaking down the budgetary problems NYCHA is currently facing. This new story, "Will NYC Save Public Housing, Sell it, Or Sell It To Save It?", talks about Sean Moss' (the NY Regional Director of HUD) comments at the recent public housing forum at the New School where he advocated for the selling of NYCHA properties. The article mentions Community Voices Heard Leader and Public Housing Resident Agnes Rivera who spoke on the panel at the New School Forum. You can read the article using the attachment below or directly on the Daily Gotham blog by clicking the link.
| Attachment | Size |
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| 2007-11-01 Will NYC Save Public Housing, Sell it, Or Sell It To Save It .. Daily Gotham.pdf | 186.41 KB |
"Sell the Projects" Letter to the Editor of The Sun
Submitted by mike on Wed, 2007-10-31 16:59.This is a letter to the editor of The New York Sun that Community Voices Heard Leader and public housing resident Agnes Rivera wrote. The original article is below as well. The article advocates for NYCHA to sell some of their land to developers so that they can be turned into luxury condominiums. Agnes wrote about how public housing is an important part of our city and should be valued.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-31 Letter to the Editor The Sun.pdf | 131.23 KB |
| 2007-10-25 Sell the Projects The Sun.pdf | 38.6 KB |
"Welfare Groups Chided -- And Rehired by City" City Limits Weekly Article
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2007-10-30 11:13.This article appeared on http://www.citylimits.org. It is about the WeCARE program and talks about the report put out by Community Voices Heard. You can read the article by downloading the PDF below and you can read the CVH report on our website at this link.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-29 Welfare Groups Chided and Rehired by City City Limits.pdf | 30.93 KB |
"Criticism for Welfare Program" WNYC
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2007-10-23 17:15.Here is a report from WNYC New York Public Radio about the recent City Council Hearing about Welfare and the WeCARE program. They quoted Community Voices Heard member Tyletha Samuels talking about how the program failed to exempt her from work for long enough to recover from her knee surgery.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-23 Criticism for Welfare Program WNYC.pdf | 29.1 KB |
"Deficiencias en Programa de Ayuda Laboral" ~ El Diario
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2007-10-23 13:12.This is an article about the WeCARE hearings. They quote Community Voices Heard member Ann Valdez as well as discuss problems with the WeCARE program that we uncovered in our report, "Failure to Comply: The Disconnect Between Design and Implementation in HRA's WeCARE Program". The article is from El Diario and is in Spanish.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-23 Deficiencias en programa de ayuda laboral El Diario .pdf | 50.71 KB |
"Audit Blasts City Welfare Program for Most Needy" - Daily News Article About WeCARE
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2007-10-22 11:12.This article is about the WeCARE program and how it does not work. It mentions the report that we put out about the WeCARE program and they quote Ann Valdez, a Community Voices Heard leader, as well as Alexa Kasdan, the CVH Polilcy & Research Associate.
You can download the attached article as a PDF and you can view the report referenced in this article on our site at http://cvh.mayfirst.org/node/145
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-22 Audit blasts city welfare program for most needy Daily News.pdf | 251.23 KB |
Another City Wide Rally Article - City Limits
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2007-10-16 11:36.Here is an article from the City Limits website. It covers the recent City Wide Public Housing Rally as well as discusses the Section 8 Housing Voucher Reform Act of 2007 (SEVRA). CVH Leader Ann Valdez is quoted in this article.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-15 City Wide PH Rally City Limits.pdf | 34.03 KB |
City Wide Public Housing Rally Coverage
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2007-10-12 11:11.This is an article about the City Wide Public Housing Rally at City Hall Park last week. This article talks about how underfunding of Public Housing is leading to the loss of jobs in Maintenance and other areas essential to Public Housing. Those workers who have not been laid off have a more difficult job now that they have more work that needs to be done. Many of the NYCHA workers are public housing residents as well as workers.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-12 City Wide PH Rally The Chief.pdf | 291.23 KB |
Two Articles About City Wide Public Housing Rally
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2007-10-05 12:09.Here are two articles about the City Wide Public Housing Rally. This first article is from the online edition of the Columbia Spectator and they quote CVH leader Ann Valdez.
This article can be found at http://columbiaspectator.com/node/27251 or you can download the PDF below.
The second article is from the onNYturf blog. This article can be found at http://www.onnyturf.com/articles/read.php?article_id=636 or you can download the PDF below.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-05 Columbia Spectator City Hall Park Rally.pdf | 36.05 KB |
| 2007-10-05 onNYturf City Hall Park Rally.pdf | 141.79 KB |
"Public Housing in Jeopardy" Article by David R. Jones
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2007-10-04 14:59.This article discusses the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) budget deficit and how it is affecting NYCHA workers and residents. It also mentions the City Wide Public Housing Rally we are hosting as well as the Section 8 Housing Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA).
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-10-04 Amsterdam News Public Housing in Jeopardy.pdf | 281.93 KB |
"How Fair is the Fare?" Subway Fare Hike Article
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2007-09-27 11:41.This article is about the suggested new MTA fare hike. Once again the MTA is going to raise the price of the subway and buses, this time a single ride may go up to $2.25. This raised fare will effect all New Yorkers, but for low-income New Yorkers who are already struggling to make ends meet this raised fare will make a big difference in their lives. Community Voices Heard leader Ketny Jean-Francois is quoted in this article.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-09-27 Metro Subway Fare Hike.pdf | 391.23 KB |
Democracy Now - Public Housing Residents From Around the Country Take Over New Orleans Housing Authority
Submitted by mike on Wed, 2007-09-05 11:29.This is a video from Democracy Now, it is in real player format and you will need that player in order to watch the video. You can download this player for free at http://www.realplayer.com/ if you do not already have it on your computer. The video is coverage from the take over of the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) that Community Voices Heard took part in.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-09-04 Democracy Now - New Orleans Public Housing Residents Take Over HANO.ram | 101 bytes |
Can Rosie Save NYCHA?
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2007-09-04 17:38.This article talks about the Shelter Allowance bill and how it is a good step in the right direction, but NYCHA needs more money in order to get out of debt. Council Person Rosie Mendez is quoted about the state of NYCHA.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-09-04 Can Rosie Save NYCHA Grand Street News.pdf | 81.93 KB |
2 Articles About New Orleans Housing Authority Take Over
Submitted by mike on Sun, 2007-09-02 17:37.Here are two articles from the Times Picayune, the paper in New Orleans. They deal with the take over of the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO). This was part of the GGJ Survivors Tribunal that Community Voices Heard participated in.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-08-31 Times Picayune Protestors Enter Housing Authority of New Orleans.pdf | 91.23 KB |
| 2007-09-01 Anger Hits Home For Housing Agency Times Picayune.pdf | 71.93 KB |
District Council 37 Reports on Shelter Allowance Bill
Submitted by mike on Sat, 2007-09-01 12:48.This article is from the District Council 37 (DC 37) newspaper. DC 37 is the union that represents Public Housing Workers, they have been working with Community Voices Heard in order to secure funding for Public Housing because they are at risk of losing their jobs because of lack of funding. This article talks about the recent victory with Governor Elliot Spitzer signing the Shelter Allowance Bill and the Public Housing Constituency Tour that CVH organized.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-09-01 Shelter Allowance Bill DC 37.pdf | 431.93 KB |
Pilot Program Fights Poverty With Cash Incentives
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2007-08-28 14:07.Sandra Killett, Co-Chair of CVH is in this WNYC radio piece. She was spoken to as a recipient of the Cash Incentives program, but while personally she is pleased to get additional resources into her household, politically and organizationally she challenges its very design and purpose. Below is the segment from WNYC with Sandra as well as the full text.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-08-27 WNYC Sandra Killet Talks About Conditional Cash Transfer.doc | 26.5 KB |
Listen to Agnes Rivera, CVH Leader, on WNYC Talking About Public Housing
Submitted by mike on Tue, 2007-08-21 12:19.This is a segment from The Brian Lehrer show on WNYC. Agnes Rivera, a Community Voices Heard Leader and long time resident of Public Housing is on a panel of people to talk about Public Housing and NYCHA. Errol Lewis of the Daily News is standing in for Brian Lehrer for this segment because Brian was on vacation.
Governer Spitzer Signs Shelter Allowance Bill! 6 Articles
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2007-08-16 12:15.Governor Elliot Spitzer signed the Shelter Allowance Bill. This is a huge victory for Community Voices Heard and Public Housing. This will provide $47 million in funding annually to NYCHA.
Two More Articles About Public Housing Tour
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2007-08-16 12:14.Here are two more articles that were printed about our Constituency Tour of Public Housing. The first one was printed in "The Chief" the DC 37 union paper and the second article was printed in the Amsterdam News and is written by Zita Allen.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-08-03 The Chief Constituency Tour.pdf | 191.23 KB |
| 2007-08-16 Amsterdam News Public Housing Media Tour.pdf | 231.93 KB |
The Politics of Public Housing, WNYC Discusses Our Constituency Tour
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2007-08-09 12:24.This is a segment from The Brian Lehrer show on WNYC. Rosie Mendez talks about Community Voices Heard and our constituency towards the end.
4 Articles about the Public Housing Constituency Tour
Submitted by mike on Fri, 2007-07-27 16:28.CVH members brought elected officials and the media on a tour of two housing developments in Harlem, Wagner and Drew Hamilton. The tour was to highlight the effects of government disinvestment in public housing. New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is facing a large deficit as a result of underfunding on the State and Federal levels. As a result of this they are raising rents, not doing vital maintenance, selling off property, and they may be laying off up to 2000 maintenance workers. There are 2 Articles, 1 radio piece from WNYC, and 1 Op Ed from Daily News writer Errol Lewis (check out this one, it's the best article written about this event).
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 7-27-07 Daily News PH Constituency Tour.pdf | 201.23 KB |
| 7-27-07 AM New York PH Constituency Tour.pdf | 351.23 KB |
| 7-29-07 Daily News Constituency Tour Editorial.pdf | 711.23 KB |
| 7-27-07 WNYC Constituency Tour.pdf | 31.23 KB |
"Yonkers' Housing Authority Crafting Security and Rehabilitiation Plan for Schlobohm, Calcagno Complexes" - LoHUD
Submitted by mike on Mon, 2007-07-16 11:35.This article discusses security in Public Housing in Yonkers. The article also discusses a tour of Yonkers public housing and other community sites that Community Voices Heard Organized for State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins. CVH Member Valerie Pearson is quoted in the article.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 7-16-07 Yonkers Public Housing.pdf | 81.93 KB |
CVH Member Quoted in ABQ Journal About US Social Forum
Submitted by mike on Thu, 2007-06-21 18:42.This is an article from the ABQ Journal. The article is about The People's Caravan to the US Social Forum organized by Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP). Community Voices Heard Member Agnes Rivera was quoted in the article. Here is a link to the article on the SWOP blog and attached is the original article from the journal.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2007-06-21 SWOP Caravan Article.pdf | 71.93 KB |
2 Articles About Stuy Town Rally with New York Is Our Home Coalition
Submitted by mike on Wed, 2007-05-23 16:36.CVH is a part of the New York Is Our Home Coalition, a coalition of organizations in NYC that is fighting to create and preserving affordable housing. Nearly 5,000 people surrounded the Stuy Town development, a housing development that was sold to developers who are planning on making units market rate. Housing groups from across the city held hands and made a full ring around Stuy Town and then marched down 14th Street to Union Square.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 5-23-07 Stuy Town Rally.pdf | 191.23 KB |
| 5-23-07 Metro Stuy Town Rally Color.pdf | 311.18 KB |
"Housing Authority Is Facing $225 Million Deficit in '07" - NY Times
Submitted by mike on Wed, 2007-04-11 17:13.The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is facing a huge deficit this year. As a result they are being forced to raise rents and cut services. This poses a large problem for low-income New Yorkers who live in public housing. Public housing represents one of the