NEW YORK: “New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering declaring a state of emergency at the New York City Housing Authority over what his counsel called ‘intolerable’ conditions in public housing.
The measure would come after more than 320,000 people have been left without heat or hot water this winter and following months of revelations that the housing authority had failed to conduct inspections for lead paint as required by federal rules and city law for four years… He said a state declaration of emergency could help expedite contractor repairs to fix the housing authority’s aging boilers, which have been failing in recent months. Some of the boiler systems are nearly 70 years old, city officials said. About 400,000 New Yorkers live in the city’s public housing, which is run by the city with a mix of federal, city and state funds. An agency spokeswoman referred requests for comment to City Hall.
A spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio said declaring a state of emergency isn’t necessary. ‘The only *state intervention* NYCHA needs is more funding for critical systems like boilers, roofs and elevators,’ said spokeswoman Olivia Lapeyrolerie.
The statement from the Cuomo administration came hours after Robert Cornegy, a Brooklyn city councilman, called on the governor to declare a state of emergency, saying living conditions in public housing had reached a point of crisis.”
-Mara Gay, “Gov. Cuomo Considers Declaring State of Emergency in New York City Public Housing,” The Wall Street Journal online, Feb. 15, 2018 04:21pm