AARP: Misleading Ads Aside, NYC Needs Affordable Housing; Mayor’s Plan Would Provide It

Bojan Bokic

After the airing of a misleading advertisement criticizing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s affordable housing plan, Associate State Director of AARP for New York City Chris Widelo issued the following statement:

“A misleading ad featuring paid actors doesn’t change the fact that real people in New York City need more affordable housing.

“Mayor de Blasio’s historic, $41 billion plan to create 200,000 affordable housing units would go a long way toward ensuring that one of the world’s most expensive cities remains affordable for our aging adults who want to remain and retire in their own homes.

“AARP NY supports the Mayor’s plan because we know that affordable housing is a major concern for many of our nearly 800,000 members in New York City and for many more city residents.”

“It is the first plan to require that affordable housing be part of any new housing development.

“And it would help keep our aging adults and their invaluable economic, cultural, volunteer and family contributions right here in New York.

“More than 60% of New York City’s Gen X and Baby Boomer voters, including over 70% of Hispanics and African-Americans, are concerned about their ability to afford their monthly rent or mortgage payments in the coming years, according to 2015 AARP-commissioned city surveys.

“A staggering one in five aging New Yorkers live in poverty (below $11,170/year), with many struggling to survive on Social Security alone, and our challenges will only grow more daunting as New York’s 65+ population jumps to more than 1.4 million by 2040 – a 40% increase over 2010.

“It is critical that the city quickly address the issue of affordable housing.

“Preserving existing affordable units is part of the solution, and the Mayor took a significant step in 2015 when he delivered the first ever rent freeze for tenants in the city’s history.  Now, the city must move forward to create the additional affordable housing, which New Yorkers desperately need.

“Mayor de Blasio's affordable housing plan would create 10,000 units specifically for seniors – critical as our population ages - and more than four times as many affordable housing units for low-income families than over the previous 12 years.

“The Mayor’s affordable housing plan is the only plan that addresses the needs of our members and the city at large.

“AARP remains committed in its support of the Mayor’s plan, and on working to move it forward.  AARP is open to reasonable changes, but one thing is clear: ‘no’ is an unacceptable alternative. We need affordable housing now.”

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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin;  www.aarp.org ; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity of AARP that is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at  www.aarp.org .

 

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