Letters to the Editor
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
‘Pretext for Lawsuits’
In response to “Pretext for Lawsuits” by Howard Husock, I would like to lend some critical facts to your characterization of the federal Section 8 program [Oped, “Pretext for Lawsuits.” May 1, 2007].
Section 8 was developed by the Nixon administration in response to concentrations of poverty found in public housing projects.
Those who studied the problem of intractable poverty believed that concentrations of poor people in large housing projects increased ghettoization and contributed to the cycle of poverty.
For generations Section 8 has created opportunity for low-income families to rent housing on the private market and live in diverse neighborhoods.
Section 8 is one of the few effective tools we have left for assisting low-income New Yorkers to remain in stable housing and avoid costly stays in shelters.
With the numbers of families in shelters increasing, and in an extremely tight rental market, we must break down existing barriers to the limited federal housing assistance that is available tin New York City.
The vast majority of Section 8 recipients are low-income families with children, elderly people, and people with disabilities.
Mr Husock’s characterization of these New Yorkers as inferior tenants, based on biased assumptions about income, background and class, speaks volumes about the need for the anti-discrimination bill Int. 61.
By enacting source of income protection, New York City would join the 13 states and 17 municipalities across the nation that have passed similar legislation to promote fair housing practices.
Int. 61 would help to ensure that low-income New Yorkers in need of housing are not denied an otherwise suitable and affordable housing because of their lawful source of income by providing them with an effective tool for fighting housing discrimination.
BILL de BLASIO
Councilmember
New York City Council
Chairman
General Welfare Committee
Brooklyn. N.Y.
Please address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, by facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007. Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.
