* § 66. Powers of authority. An authority shall constitute a body both
corporate and politic. It shall have the following powers in addition to
others herein granted.

To investigate into living and housing conditions in the county, city
or village and into the means and methods of improving such conditions;
to determine where unsanitary or substandard housing conditions exist;
to study and make recommendations concerning the municipal plan in
relation to the problems of clearing, replanning and reconstruction of
areas and the providing of housing accommodations for persons of low
income, and to cooperate with any municipal or regional planning agency;
to prepare, carry out and operate projects; to construct, reconstruct,
improve, alter or repair or to provide for the construction,
reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any project or any
part thereof; to take over any project undertaken by any government; to
act as agent for the federal government in connection with a project; to
arrange with the county, city or village or with a government for the
furnishing, planning, replanning, opening, grading or closing of
streets, roads, roadways, alleys or other places or facilities or for
the acquisition by the municipality or by a government of property,
options or property rights or for the furnishing of property or services
in connection with a project; to lease or rent any of the housing or
other accommodations or any of the lands, buildings, structures or
facilities embraced in any project and to establish and revise the rents
or charges therefor; to enter upon any building or property in order to
conduct investigations or to make surveys or soundings necessary to
carry out the purposes of the authority; to purchase, lease, obtain
options upon, acquire by eminent domain or otherwise, sell, exchange,
transfer, assign or mortgage any property real or personal or any
interest therein; to acquire any property real or personal or any
interest therein from any person, firm, corporation or government by
gift, grant, bequest or devise; to own, hold, clear and improve
property; to insure or provide for the insurance of the property or
operations of the authority against such risks as the authority may deem
advisable; to borrow money upon its bonds, notes, debentures or other
evidences of indebtedness and to secure the same by mortgages upon
property held or to be held by it or by pledge of its revenues, or in
any other manner; to limit by contract, the exercise of any powers of
the authority granted in this article; to invest any funds held in
reserves or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate
disbursement in property or securities in which savings banks may
legally invest funds subject to their control; to sue and be sued; to
have a seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have perpetual
succession; to make and execute contracts and other instruments
necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the authority;
to make and from time to time amend and repeal by-laws, rules and
regulations not inconsistent with this article to carry into effect the
powers and purposes of the authority; to conduct examinations and
investigations and to hear testimony and take proof under oath at public
or private hearings on any matter material for its information; to issue
subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses or the production of
books and papers and to issue commissions for the examination of
witnesses who are out of the state or unable to attend before the
authority, or excused from attendance; and to do all things necessary or
convenient to carry out the powers given in this article. Any of the
investigations or examinations provided for in this article may be
conducted by the authority or by a committee appointed by it, consisting
of one or more members thereof, or by counsel, or by an officer or
employee specially authorized by the authority to conduct it. Any member
of the authority, its counsel, or any person designated by it to conduct
an investigation or examination shall have power to administer oaths,
take affidavits and issue subpoenas or commissions.

* NB The text of Article 5 of the former State Housing Law (cited
herein as the "Municipal Housing Authorities Law"), as such article
existed immediately prior to its repeal pursuant to section 227 of
Chapter 808 of the Laws of 1939, is provided here for ease of reference
and historical purposes as such text continues to be applicable for the
New York City Housing Authority pursuant to the provisions of section
401 of the current Public Housing Law.