§ 970-b. Legislative findings and declaration. It is hereby found and
declared that there exists in many communities blighted areas which
threaten the economic and social well-being of the people of the state.
Blighted areas are characterized by one or more of the conditions set
forth in subdivision (a) of section nine hundred seventy-c of this
article.

It is further found and declared that such conditions of blight tend
to further obsolescence, deterioration and disuse and that remedying
such conditions is necessary to facilitate commercial and industrial
development, to maintain and expand the supply of low and
moderate-income housing and to maintain and expand employment
opportunities for jobless, underemployed and low income persons.

For these reasons it is declared to be the policy of the state to
protect and promote the sound development and redevelopment of blighted
areas and whenever the redevelopment of such areas cannot be
accomplished by private enterprise alone without public participation
and assistance in the acquisition of land, in planning and in the
financing of land assembly, in the work of clearance, and in the making
of improvements necessary therefor, it is in the public interest to
employ the power of eminent domain, to advance or expend public funds
for these purposes, and to provide a means by which blighted areas may
be redeveloped or rehabilitated.

It is further found and declared that sound development and
redevelopment of blighted areas increases public school enrollment by
providing affordable housing and employment opportunities and the need
for expanded public education facilities and services.