MSCC, Sharon Jasprizza, Event Date: April 6, 2026, Posted Date: June 15, 2026

NOTE ABOUT THIS RECAP: This meeting recap, based on summaries generated by AI, has been revised for clarity and reformatted to adhere to the established style of MSCC, including edits and additional information that AI did not comprehend.  

SUMMARY 

• View Alex Yong’s short video of Khadija Hussain speaking about the eviction machine in New York City at https://youtu.be/x42W8Z3JwII by Alex Yong
• Khadija Hussain is the campaign organizer for the Right to Counsel Coalition which is based in New York: The broader scope of the housing crisis involves more than 160,000 people experiencing homelessness in New York and disproportionately impacts children, with 1 in 7 children in New York City recorded as homeless in the past year, a figure that includes 150,000 students in temporary housing. The New York City’s child poverty rate is the highest in the nation, a statistic that extends beyond the city. The goal of the S9650 BILL is to enact systemic change across the entire state’s judicial system to ensure courts are empowered and obligated to hold landlords accountable in a way they currently are not.
• David Burney: A fellow of the American Institute of Architects (2008), and a Visiting Professor of the Graduate Center for Planning of Pratt Institute School of Architecture. Advocates are working to build a coalition to fight against the “dark money” from Wall Street and the need to change the narrative and combat misinformation, such as the false claim that reinstating the proposed Stock Transfer Tax would cause financial firms to leave New York City.

MINUTES: Sharon Jasprizza

APRIL HIGHLIGHTS

• A press conference with NYCHA residents who oppose demolition of their homes was held in late March to announce the Major Victory in Court for Chelsea NYCHA Residents Extending Temporary Restraining Order to Prevent Demolition of Their Homes. A five-judge panel in the Appellate Division extended a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against NYCHA. This means that until the court makes its final decision on the appeal, NYCHA is prohibited from “taking any action in furtherance of its plan to convert, dispose of, demolish, and redevelop the Chelsea Developments public housing.” Residents of Chelsea’s Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea Houses say NYCHA’s plan to raze more than 20 public housing buildings and displace more than 3,000 tenants is a greedy land grab designed to benefit wealthy developers. The hearing on the appeal will be held on May 19th, and the decision will come down anywhere from six weeks to a year after the hearing.
• Our highlights from March to November are ready to be planted now. Help us sustain Midtown’s Lifeline Urban Farm this summer by donating at https://gofund.me/44d4164f1. In the heart of Manhattan, the Midtown South Community Council’s (MSCC) Urban Farm is a revolutionary 501(c)(3) turning a courthouse courtyard into a lifeline on 53rd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. MSCC grows and delivers hundreds of pounds (in 2025 we delivered 3,775 pounds) of fresh, organic food directly to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, addressing not just hunger, but dignity, health, and community. Our mission is to dismantle the root causes of homelessness by building social infrastructure and driving equity through seven core programs. With homelessness at record highs, our work is more critical than ever. We need your support to fund our yearly planting, maintain our sustainable micro-ecosystem, and expand our reach to establish more farms and bring fresh food and hope to every corner of Midtown. Email john.mudd@usa.net for further details and if you have time, to provide your volunteer availability to support the summer season in Midtown.

SPECIAL INTRODUCTION(S) AND OR UPDATES:

Caitlin Cahill, MSCC 

• Stated that NYCHA and Essence are proposing the demolition of the Elliott, Chelsea, and Fulton campuses over a 15-year period.
• Detailed the plan to consolidate tenants from 22 buildings into just 6 towers on two campuses, resulting in 2,056 units.
• Outlined the addition of 2,500 market-rate (luxury) units and 1,000 “unaffordable” affordable units, which she defined as 80% of AMI (accessible to those earning $90,000).
• Highlighted a major environmental concern: the sites are former brownfields, and demolition would cause airborne soil contamination.
• Characterized the proposal as a “displacement proposal” designed to gentrify the community.
• It is said the numbers were falsified to justify demolition over the originally promised 2021 modernization.
• Criticized a recent New York Times article from the previous Saturday, calling it a “rehash, regurgitated version” that was “very biased and slanted” and lacked accurate information.

Alex Yong, MSCC and End Apartment Warehousing Coalition. 

• The Westside Neighborhood Alliance’s (WSNA) mission is to mobilize West Side residents to take charge of community planning and advocate for a diverse, affordable, and livable neighborhood that preserves its mixed-income character.
• The WSNA is an independent, member-run organization sponsored by Housing Conservation Coordinators, formed in the aftermath of the successful fight against the proposed West Side Stadium. It serves the historic mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods of Chelsea, Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen, and the Upper West Side, continuing a long tradition of residents advocating for themselves.
• The organization uses education, lobbying, and public demonstrations to organize residents and communicate with public officials, the media, and the community to resolve concerns. Its goal is to ensure ongoing development serves community members of all races, incomes, and backgrounds, and to preserve the best qualities of the neighborhood for the future and to discourage warehousing of apartments.

Rob Robinson, Senior Advisor for Partners for Dignity and Rights

• Announced the passing of Frederick Schacht, former CEO of Urban Pathways, from a heart attack over the weekend, noting his recent retirement in February. Fred was a personal mentor who cared deeply about his work and had built significant housing, particularly in the Bronx.
• Invited people to an event on April 18th at Fordham University in the Bronx focused on food and housing, which will include a screening of the film “Emergent Cities” about Industry City. The filmmaker, Kelly Anderson, who created the documentary “My Brooklyn” about rezoning efforts, will be on a panel following the screening.
• Another event on April 22nd at NYU’s Furman Center is a panel discussion titled “Understanding How New York City’s City-Owned Land Could Be Used to Develop More Housing.” The Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning, Leila Bozid Bozerk, will be on the panel. 

Miriam Fisher, Advocate for Disability Services

• Raised concerns from the disability community’s perspective. The proposed change, which is being protested at a “No More 24” rally, threatens to eliminate essential 24-hour care services for people with disabilities who genuinely need them. Without this round-the-clock support, she fears individuals will be stranded, left without adequate services, and ultimately forced into nursing homes, losing their independence.
• The disability community is not simply opposing the change but is demanding that new regulations be put in place before any policy shift. These regulations must clearly define who qualifies for 24-hour care and establish a sustainable funding mechanism to cover it.
• The policy is moving forward without consulting the very people it will affect most—the disability groups. She cites examples of advocacy groups like Disabled in Action and the Brooklyn Center for Integration of the Disabled, who have already rallied at City Hall on April 1st.

Caitlin Cahill, MSCC

• Clarifies the Nature of No More 24 and that it is not about eliminating 24-hour care or healthcare services. The campaign is strictly about paying people for 24 hours of labor if their shifts are open-ended, lasting from 12 to 13+ hours. It is also focused on preventing the anti-displacement of home attendants, care workers, and caregivers. Corporate interests are profiting from harm and exploitation, and the current rally is a critical step in addressing this dynamic.

Sandy Rayburn, Community Member

• A firsthand account of her mother receiving care where her mother had 12-hour shifts but at times the aides were forced to work 24 hours due to a change in policy.
• Governor Cuomo increased the minimum wage, which inadvertently triggered the need for aides to work even more hours just to afford basic living expenses like their rent. Despite the wage increase the situation can be described as “slave labor,” where aides had to take on a second 24-hour job just to pay the bills.
• The “lobbyists, corporate interests, and the Public Health and Health Planning Council State DOT” are responsible for this exploitative system.

Dylan MacQuoid, Legislative Director for Assemblymember Phil Steck (co-sponsor of New York’s Stock Transfer Tax (STT)

• Senator James Sanders Jr. and Assemblymember Phil Steck co-hosted a press conference at the NYSE to demand the reinstatement of New York’s Stock Transfer Tax (STT).
• The legislation (S1237/A1494A) would place a 5-cent fee on stock sales over $20, a tax that was in place from 1905 to 1981. Full collection of the tax is estimated to generate $14–16 billion annually for the state. The revenue would be used to fund essential public services like the MTA, NYCHA, healthcare, and education.
• The tax is a minimal cost for high-volume traders but would be a “gamechanger” for public services. It is framed as a matter of fairness, holding Wall Street accountable to “give back” to the everyday New Yorkers who keep the city running. The tax is largely paid by people from outside New York who trade on the state’s exchange.
• https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/james-sanders-jr/lawmakers-rally-nyse-reinstate-stock-transfer-tax.

CLEAN HANDS BILL, EVICTION FREE RENT CAMPAIGN

Khadija Hussain is the campaign organizer for the Right to Counsel Coalition which is based in New York. Original sponsor of S9650 BILL was Brad Hoylman-Sigal. Liz Krueger is the new sponsor. If the bill becomes law, it doesn’t end the affordability doomsdays — the law would say landlords can’t lie about rent expirations.

• Presentation slide for Clean Hands Teach In
• The Right to Counsel Coalition began in New York City and expanded to become a statewide entity following the initial legislative victory. The organization won the country’s first-ever right to counsel law for tenants in New York in 2017. This legislative victory dismantled an eviction machine that had previously held landlords accountable and ensured tenants could exercise their rights.
• The current scope of the coalition is a statewide alliance of tenants, advocates, and legal service organizations.
• A State of Evictions fact sheet documents that over 175,000 households are currently facing eviction in the state.
• The broader scope of the housing crisis involves more than 160,000 people experiencing homelessness in New York and disproportionately impacts children, with 1 in 7 children in New York City recorded as homeless in the past year, a figure that includes 150,000 students in temporary housing. The New York City’s child poverty rate is the highest in the nation, a statistic that extends beyond the city.
• Eviction cases cause long-term harm, including instability, income loss, and job insecurity, and can discourage tenants from requesting repairs due to fear of retaliation. Eviction cases often move much faster than repair cases, making it nearly impossible for tenants to address maintenance issues before eviction.
• The “Housing Courts Must Change” campaign was formed as part of the legislative platform to address these systemic issues.
• More info at Sam Stein discusses the Sunset Clause and Actual legislation to fight back (click here)

DISCUSSION

• Marni Halasa raises an urgent and distressing issue regarding a friend living in Brooklyn who has been forced to vacate their apartment due to severe habitability violations. She details that the landlord, despite promising repairs, has failed to address a “warranty of habitability” breach, resulting in a living environment infested with rats and biting mites hidden within the walls. Marni describes the situation as “disgusting” and notes that the physical toll on her friend is so severe that he cannot even sleep in his bed due to being bitten. She expresses deep frustration that the tenant has been complaining about these conditions for years with absolutely no response from the landlord, leading her to cynically label the landlord’s behavior as a “business model” where tenant safety is disregarded. She further comments on the ineffectiveness of the law, stating that the warranty of habitability feels like it has been “thrown out the window” because no one wants to enforce it against such deplorable conditions. 
• Luana Green seeks clarification on the specific mechanisms of the bill being discussed such as are landlords “incentivized to comply,” questioning exactly what form that incentive takes and whether it is financial, legal, or another type of motivation.
• Khadidja Hussain identifies the primary incentive as the legal barrier to eviction. She explains that under the proposed legislation, courts would be unable to proceed with eviction cases if violations remain uncorrected, effectively locking landlords out of their main revenue tool of forcing tenants out. She elaborates that this creates a deterrent because landlords can no longer simply raise rent on organized or difficult tenants; instead, they are forced to resolve issues to regain the ability to operate their business model. She supports this with preliminary analysis of New York City eviction data, noting that over 50% of eviction cases overlap with serious housing violations. She argues that this overlap suggests a high number of “bogus” cases filed by landlords to suppress organizing, and that the new law would stop this practice by ensuring that serious violations prevent landlords from moving forward with evictions
• Elizabeth Mackey who is the Community Leader and Advocate for the Homeless at Vocal New York notes the current 311 complaint system as insufficient. While landlords are supposed to fix issues once a complaint is filed, the city bears equal responsibility for enforcing those fixes. Dangerous conditions like rats, roaches, lack of heat, and structural decay exists and questions why the city allows landlords to repeatedly fail without consequence. The city should have a mechanism to track every inspection and follow-up for any given building, rather than just taking a landlord’s word that repairs were made. The city is currently “in a rut” because it fails to follow up on these violations, and it’s this lack of accountability that is the primary reason why the city is losing so much money in lawsuits related to landlord negligence. 
• Khadija Hussain agrees and affirms that both the city and the state should bear responsibility for enforcing housing standards. She explains the strategic reasoning behind pursuing this as a state-level bill rather than a city-only one, noting that the problem is widespread, affecting cities like Albany, Syracuse, and Rochester, not just New York City. She further clarifies that the choice is also strategic because the court system, which is failing to hold landlords accountable, is fundamentally controlled at the state level, not the city level. Therefore, the goal of the bill is to enact systemic change across the entire state’s judicial system to ensure courts are empowered and obligated to hold landlords accountable in a way they currently are not.
• Rob Robinson strongly advises using email to contact 311 instead of calling because email provides a personal “audit trail” with a case number, giving the resident documented proof of their complaint that they don’t have to rely on the city to provide. Recent news report claims the city is closing cases from multiple complainants in the same building, treating one call as representative of everyone. So, calls are not as useful. Rob shared recently in Harlem he sent an email complaint to 311 prompted an immediate visit from HPD (Housing Preservation and Development), followed by his super making the required repair, likely out of fear of getting a violation. He dismisses calling 311 as ineffective, stating that phone complaints go into a “shit can” and carry no weight or proof.
• Meg Floss who is an advocate with Supportive Housing Organized and United Tenants, a tenant-led group working to hold supportive housing providers is personally experiencing the consequences of legal uncertainty between state and city laws following a March 5th ruling. As a Section 8 tenant, her landlord is refusing rent checks from HPD, making false charges, and taking her to court. The core problem is that the only penalty for a landlord violating the Section 8 HAP agreement is to be removed from the program. This “punishment” is not a deterrent, as it’s often the landlord’s desired outcome anyway. A “rogue judge” could rule in the landlord’s favor, setting a dangerous precedent that allows landlords to easily evade their obligations to Section 8 tenants without any real accountability. clarifies her role, stating she is not an attorney but has done her best to research the law and its nuances. The core structural concern is that the current legal landscape creates a massive loophole that allows “bad actors” (dishonest landlords) to exploit the system. There is danger in this new environment because the system can be manipulated against tenants.
• John Leyva highlights the immense personal struggle Meg has endured to secure housing and was forced to conduct a personal investigation to get her apartment. Recent changes in the law now make it legal for landlords to discriminate against people like Meg, even though she has all the documentation and has fought back personally. It’s not clear how the system will function now that these protections seem to have been weakened by the legal shift.
• John Mudd suggests Meg’s topic to be discussed further at the next meeting.
• Elizabeth Mackey relates to Meg’s story as a City FEPS voucher holder and confirms she is in a similar dispute with her landlord and HRA. The HRA currently owes her landlord approximately $10,000, which is a central point of conflict. Her landlord likely isn’t cashing the checks because he doesn’t want a voucher-holding tenant and believes her landlord may view her as a “big instigator” who “knows her rights,” which could be another reason for his reluctance to cooperate. She successfully caught her landlord in “big lies” and incorrect paperwork, forcing them to restart the eviction process against her.

PUBLIC LAND FOR PUBLIC GOOD

Layla Law-Gisiko, District 75 Assembly Leader

• People consistently oppose the demolition of public housing and the Dapolito Center and instead want to see preservation and the public good prioritized. The city has the capability to address these issues but lacks the political will, which she describes as an easy problem to fix. 
• The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center is a public recreational facility located in the heart of the West Village at 1 Clarkson Street. For more than a century, it has remained public property, providing accessible and affordable recreational services for generations of New Yorkers. The Center also boasts an outdoor pool adorned with a Keith Haring mural, a rare jewel of public art and point of pride downtown. But on July 10, 2024 the Eric Adams administration announced that it planned to demolish the center. The Coalition to Save the Public Recreation Center Downtown (“SPRCD” or “sparked”) was born out of the growing concern over the erosion of public spaces in our community, particularly those that provide vital services like the Tony Dap, as the Center is affectionately known. https://www.sprcd.org/

DISCUSSION

• Tito Delgado notes that El que hace la ley hace la trampa translates to those who write the laws often build in loopholes and traps, and while he supports court system reform, he believes the true solution is “community control of our housing.” Community Land Trusts (fideicomiso de la comunidad) achieve this community control and solve the housing problem.
• John Leyva agrees with Tito and defines the core concept of their movement, which is called “Public Land for Public,” as that all public land in New York City must serve a public good rather than private interests. He notes there is a scarcity of public land in the city and emphasizes that it should be viewed as a comprehensive resource for community needs like schools, parks, and infrastructure, not just as real estate to be exploited for profit by big developers. He mentions the movement is actively building a website to educate the public and influence how public land is allocated. The following website at https://www.publiclandpublicgood.com/ continues this work.

ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC NEEDS

David Burney: A fellow of the American Institute of Architects (2008), and a Visiting Professor of the Graduate Center for Planning of Pratt Institute School of Architecture. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_J._Burney

• The proposed Stock Transfer Tax as a “no-brainer”—a small tax on stock trades, mostly paid by non-residents, that was in effect until the early 1980s when it was suspended due to pressure from Wall Street.
• The tax that could be generated is estimated to be $40 to $60 billion annually. This could solve many equity issues, but it faces deep resistance in the state legislature.
• The primary obstacle seems to be Speaker Heastie’s refusal to bring the bill to a vote. This could be because Heastie is under the influence of Wall Street campaign contributions. https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Carl-E-Heastie/
• Advocates are working to build a coalition to fight against the “dark money” from Wall Street and the need to change the narrative and combat misinformation, such as the false claim that reinstating the tax would cause financial firms to leave New York City.
• The proposed legislation includes a specific list of purposes for the revenue generated, noting that 5% of the funds would be dedicated to public housing. This money could be used to generate bond financing to address the desperate rehabilitation needs of NYCHA.

DISCUSSION

• Leonard Polletta argues that while cost to the wealthy is often cited as an obstacle, the real barrier is power. He asserts that passing the tax would give the government financial independence from the ruling class, which is why the wealthy oppose it; they want the government to remain subservient to their interests in both the city and state.
• Tito Delgado notes that this dynamic of wealthy influence extends beyond just city and state governments, as it also affects the federal government.
• Alex Yong notes the bill was introduced by Council Member Linda Rosenthal, with Liz Kruger as the prime sponsor. It is acknowledged that the bill is confusing and deceptive nature, but we support it despite having issues with it. The bill is designed to exploit loopholes in the current system to target landlords who are not compliant with the law.  The following scenario explains the issue: in Manhattan where a tenant faces harassment or illegal eviction, and the landlord uses the “Stabilization” program (which provides 20 years of rent control) to pressure the tenant into leaving voluntarily. After the 20-year stabilization period expires, the rent can skyrocket to market rate, forcing the tenant out. This bill aims to prevent landlords from using the “Stabilization” program as a tool for displacement. It would allow the tenant to argue for a similar stabilization period but extend it from 20 years to 30 years, giving tenants more security and time to fight back. The bill is relevant to the current housing crisis, and we need to support it. 
• Patrick Timmins is a candidate for Congress in the 12th CD, he emphasizes the need to be specific about the definition of “affordability,” noting that while terms like “affordable” and “rent” are resonating, they are currently being used too broadly or ambiguously in political messaging. He shares a specific example from the Upper East Side where a tenant vote to block the demolition of the Stanley Isaac houses succeeded, but he notes the complexity of defining what constitutes “affordable” housing in that context, suggesting that the term “affordability” alone might be a powerful hook if tied strictly to housing issues rather than just general cost of living.
• Leonard Polletta notes the subjectivity of “affordability,” by pointing out that what is considered affordable for one group (e.g., $4,000-$5,000 rent) may be completely unaffordable for working-class people, thus underscoring the importance of defining terms precisely to avoid misleading the public.
• Meg Floss who is an advocate with Supportive Housing Organized and United Tenants, a tenant-led group working to hold supportive housing providers accountable adds that the lack of a clear, universally accepted definition of “affordability” creates a significant problem for advocates, as it allows politicians and developers to use the term loosely to sell projects that are not actually affordable to the people who need them most. She suggests that the movement needs to establish a concrete, data-driven definition (such as a percentage of income) to hold officials accountable and prevent “affordable” housing from becoming a euphemism for luxury market-rate units.
• Karen Ortiz is a Chelsea neighbor and a candidate for Congress in District 12 running as an Independent and is organizing a screening of the documentary *A Home Worth Fighting For* at SVA theater and is coordinating with tenant leaders like Natasha, Jack Schlossberg, and Nina Schwalbe to build a tenant-led movement. Her goal is to mobilize as many people as possible (“eyeballs”) to gain press coverage and support for the Chelsea neighbors facing displacement.
• Leonard Polletta confirms Meg has a key has raised a key issue, because it’s a question of accountability both in terms of the law and in terms of the public institution. 
• Ruth Conner notes the stock transfer tax is still in place. A supplemental law has limited it. It’s ideology alone that keeps that provision in place. The impoverishment of New York City coincides with that tax being lifted. It’s painless for the people who pay it, and it’s fundamental for the people who benefit from it. 
• Nilda Lino notes there is rally on Saturday 11.00 a.m. at 250, Broadway. Reverend McCall and Section 9 have organized the rally as partners for NYCHA residents and its 58 years since the Fair Housing Act was passed. 
• Marni Halasa notes that it is important to apply pressure to achieve success.
• Stacy Torres touts a protest in front of the New York Times so it’s not happening in darkness. 
• Other information: The Stock Transfer Tax Bill (a1494a/s1237)

Lt Gov Delgado supports the stock transfer tax to reinvest in black communities

Ending NYS’ Stock Transfer Tax Rebate Would be ‘Audacious’—Why is Mayor Mamdani Ducking it?

Corporate Campaign’s Stock Transfer Tax 2024 Rally

See MSCC’s Homeless and Housing March 2026 Meeting

Stock Transfer Tax Explainer

Statement — Jim Henry

CHAT BOX

• Sandy Rayburn: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/nyregion/can-developers-help-save-public-housing.html This NYT article advances a distorted narrative by labeling these NYCHA buildings as “crumbling” to rationalize demolition, despite no clear public evidence that repair and rehabilitation are not viable alternatives. This framing aligns closely with the interests of Related Companies, while minimizing the risks of displacement and privatization facing current residents. Rather than presenting a balanced account, the piece omits key facts and context necessary for an informed public understanding. The result is a one-sided portrayal that echoes developer talking points more than objective journalism. Here are just some of the lies and omissions in the story: The unsupported claim that these NYCHA buildings are beyond repair, with no comprehensive structural analysis presented to justify demolition over reinvestment. The failure to disclose Related Companies’ prior use of the EB-5 program in Harlem to help finance projects like Hudson Yards, raising concerns about similar taxpayer-backed mechanisms here. The omission that so-called “affordable housing” tied to Related Companies projects lacks strong, enforceable long-term guarantees. The absence of scrutiny regarding environmental review, including the role of Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, which has prior ties to Related Companies projects. The broader failure to address how such redevelopment plans contribute to displacement and luxury upzoning trends.
• Miriam Fisher: Disability groups are opposed to no more 24 Rally today because concerned about losing needed 24 services and request regulations drafted for a plan, so they are protected and don’t wind up without care and wind up in nursing homes, while getting payment coverage for aides. Had Rally April 1 at City Hall
• Sandy Rayburn: Some of THIS AM event at City Hall has to do with the 24 hr. Slave Labor hours wrought on homecare health aides. The minute Cuomo raised the paltry min hr. wages-OVERTIME was cut and then the aides were forced to take on 24 hr. work
• Alex Yong: For those of you going to the 11:30 am sit-in, it’s near the City Hall gate it is also a kick-off even for a coalition named the NYC Anti-Displacement Coalition. (I don’t know who’s the point-person but I’m sure it’s someone we know & love)
• Stacy Torres: My sister lives in a Medicaid funded nursing home in the rockaways and the care workers there are amazing and deserve a decent living wage.
• Miriam Fisher: The disability groups who are advocating include concerns about wage theft and want regulations drafted to ensure those who need 25-hour coverage to continue getting it and full payment for workers. I sent John their email and statements from their rally April 1 at City Hall
• Khadija Hussain: Right to Counsel Coalition khadija@righttocounselnyc.org
• Dylan MacQuoid: macquoidd@nyassembly.gov
• Charlie Dibe: I had a friend who had to move because of these rat mites. And she was pregnant at the time.
• Elizabeth Mackey: Did he call 311 and or HPD
• Alex Yong: Call 311, it’s 311692 if I recall correctly
• Sandy Rayburn: Section 8 housing vouchers are facing significant threats in 2026, driven by proposed federal funding cuts, potential budget caps that could reduce vouchers by hundreds of thousands, and a New York court ruling declaring, that mandatory landlord participation is unconstitutional…Section 8 provides slum lording evictions IMHO!
• Charlie Dibe: So, their punishment is that they’re just freed from the responsibility?
• Sandy Rayburn: Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget includes a massive $33 billion (43%) cut to HUD, targeting a $26.7 billion reduction in rental assistance that could effectively end federal Section 8 voucher administration, shifting to state-controlled, time-capped block grants.
• Charlie Dibe: I was gonna say, I don’t think you can join as an individual, unfortunately. But RTC does great work. I’ve attended some of their teach-ins.
• John Leyva: I will share a substack Meg recently wrote about organizing which I think is phenomenal. https://substack.com/@megfloss/note/c-239342035?r=3vtvi&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
• Robert Robinson: A report by Unlock NYC which documents problems within NYC HRA
• John Leyva: https://gothamist.com/news/new-york-judges-add-new-obstacle-for-low-income-tenants-with-housing-vouchers. Housing voucher discrimination is now legal, we need to talk about that
• Stacy Torres: https://www.laylaforny.com/
• Marni Halasa: Layla is the only candidate in the city council race, district 3, vs the demolition and privatization of public housing thx
• Layla Law-Gisiko: Community Land Trusts are an amazing solution.
• Robert Robinson: Housing voucher discrimination is “not legal”. You may want to reach out to the organization “Unlock NYC” https://weunlock.nyc/
• Meg Floss: Unlock has limited capacity as does CCHR. It’s a tool but cannot be relied on!
• Alex Yong: Lincoln Restler’s bill – Public Land for Public Good
• Sandy Rayburn: For those who believe the Restler Intro is a good thing…I’ve a TPT (Third Party Transfer) collusion w/baloney so-called non-profit ‘affordable housing’ org to sell them. A Trojan Horse GIVEAWAY IMHO. https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6509445&GUID=BD8610C0-DEDB-4685-B58C-69612D0B6FD1
• Elizabeth Mackey: Can̈ we reopen the bill. Since you indicated it has been suspended. What are the steps to have it reopen
• Alex Yong: Land NYCHA, through a general fund (1908-1981) (source: Dylan, after I asked) then we made a 4 pager on stock transfer
• Caitlin Cahill: John Leyva – this is a great short YouTube on the STT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQazud1-2rc
• John Leyva: If the Fulton Chelsea Elloitt demolition happens ALL public housing will be in developer’s crosshairs. There will be none left in 30 years.
• Alex Yong: “Save Section 9” has very granular financial literature
• Stacy Torres: Thanks for bringing up the Isaacs vote and their vote to keep section 9. Thank goodness folks are getting wise and learning from this debacle in Chelsea.
• Alex Yong: and a court that’s weaponized against us when it was supposedly created in the early 1970s FOR TENANTS, insert laughter
• John Leyva: Everyone needs to hear Meg’s story
• Charlie Dibe: So, the STT was suspended at the dawn of the Reagan admin. 46 years ago! And it never came back. It’s that age-old tactic of ostensibly “temporary” measures becoming permanent in practice.
• Elizabeth Mackey: Everyone affordability is different overall all. They need to change that word. they say affordable housing but it’s not. Housing affordability with these luxury apartments are nit affordable for people who can afford it and that the poor working class. Studio apartment goes for 4500. Income Discrimination
• Charisma White: All I know is that I have been dismissed and no one has done anything to hold people accountable to do their job
• Stacy Torres: Yeah, so-called affordable housing in the apartments put up on Penn South land went up to 4,500.
• Elizabeth Mackey: This is why so many people is still in shelter because these landlords don’t take them
• Stacy Torres: It is a beautiful film. https://www.natashaflorentino.com/ahwff
• Elizabeth Mackey: Karen Ortiz is running for Congress. congrats, email me:elizbethbizmackey@gmail.com
• Karen Ortiz: @Patrick Timmins my personal email is karunny@gmail.com. We’re looking at May 20 or 21 for event. Feel free to email me at my personal email at karunny@gmail.com
• Stacy Torres: Thanks, pix11. Hope you can dig deeper than the NYT and really speak to tenants on the ground being abused by nycha, essence, and related but standing strong and questioning.
• John Leyva: @PIX11 NEWS reach out to @Meg Floss she has an amazing story
• Elizabeth Mackey: This coming Saturday 250 Broadway at 11 am rally. April 11, 2026
• Stacy Torres: Protest in front of NYT
• Nilda Lino: Ramona has created a letter to Zohran regarding the stock transfer that he has not responded

NEXT Meeting Homeless and Housing Meeting: 9:30 AM Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Always the 1st Tuesday of every month. Contact hello@midtownsouthcc.org or john.mudd@usa.net for more information and Zoom invitations.