Elected Officials Call for Changes to NYCHA Parking Rate Hike

NEW YORK – State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), along with 11 elected officials from across Manhattan, today called for changes to the New York City Housing Authority’s proposed plan to hike parking rates at NYCHA residences.

In a letter to NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye, the elected officials expressed concern that the plan, part of NYCHA’s NextGeneration (NextGen) initiative to close its operating budget deficit, could cost affordable housing residents up to $150 per month for parking spaces by 2017 – hitting elderly, disabled and very low-income tenants hardest. As an alternative, the elected officials urged the housing authority to explore implementing a formula for a sliding scale parking fee that takes into account household income, disability status, age and employment location. 

The letter was signed by Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velázquez; Public Advocate Letitia James; Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer; State Senator Brad Hoylman; Assembly Members Deborah Glick, Richard Gottfried and Linda Rosenthal; and New York City Council Members Daniel Garodnick, Corey Johnson and Helen Rosenthal.

“While we all appreciate the considerable financial strain under which NYCHA operates, it must be careful not to solve this problem on the backs of its most vulnerable residents,” said State Senator Brad Hoylman. “Access to transportation is more than a convenience -- it has a tremendous effect on residents’ quality of life and access to job opportunities. And while I support efforts to place NYCHA on a fiscally sustainable path, it must do so in a way that honors its original mission to support low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. I look forward to working with Chair Olatoye and my colleagues to develop a feasible solution.”

“I am troubled by the idea that parking fees in public housing may become too high for residents of public housing to afford, which would defeat the purpose of having public parking at public housing projects,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12). “A sliding scale would increase revenue for NYCHA without putting parking out of reach of public housing residents who rely on their cars.”

“NYCHA serves some of the most vulnerable residents of our city, many of whom will not be able to pay the proposed price increases for parking,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “As the agency works towards financial stability it must do so without further burdening tenants by pricing them out of services they rely on.”

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), a Senior Member on the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity said: “For many NYCHA residents, access to affordable transportation is the difference between gainful employment and abject poverty. A sliding scale formula for parking fees is a fair and reasonable approach that will lift the burden from some of our most vulnerable residents while helping to place NYCHA on a fiscally sound path.”

“Raising the monthly parking rate on NYCHA residents in this way will hit too many who have the least ability to pay—and often, those who need their cars the most,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “NYCHA should reconfigure this rate hike in a way that accounts for age, income, disability, and employment status.”

Assembly Member Richard Gottfried said: “A sliding scale formula for NYCHA resident parking permit fees is the only fair way to increase the fees.  The proposed rate increases for current residents, from a range of $60/year to as much as $340/year, would represent a major burden on those residents who need their cars because of mobility challenges.  Acting fairly on this issue will help strengthen residents’ confidence in NYCHA.”

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December 4, 2015

Shola Olatoye

CEO and Chair

New York City Housing Authority

250 Broadway, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10007

Dear Chair Olatoye:

As elected officials representing Manhattan, we write to express our concerns about the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)’s plan to link parking charges to market rates and charge some NYCHA residents up to $150 per month for a parking space by 2017.

We understand that difficult choices will be necessary to close NYCHA’s budget deficit and address the Authority’s significant capital needs. In light of this, we commend NYCHA for taking necessary and forward-looking steps to safeguard the future of public housing in New York.

We are concerned, however, about the impact that such increases in parking rates will have on NYCHA’s most vulnerable residents – namely, elderly, disabled, or very low-income tenants. For some New Yorkers, cars are not a luxury. Disabled and aging residents may not have access to the mere 25% of New York City subway stations that meet standards of accessibility set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Other low-income residents rely on cars to reach jobs in “transit deserts,” which are difficult or impossible to reach via mass transit. Many of these residents would not be able to pay the proposed fee increases.

We understand that NYCHA is considering amending its proposed parking rate increases for seniors and disabled residents. In that vein, we ask that NYCHA explore a formula for a sliding scale parking fee that takes into account household income, disability status, age, and employment location(s). We also request a meeting with our offices to discuss these concerns and how we can work together moving forward on this issue.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Senator Hoylman or Sejal Singh in his office at 212-633-8052 or sejal@bradhoylman.com.

Sincerely,

Brad Hoylman

State Senator

Carolyn Maloney                      Jerrold Nadler                                Nydia Velázquez

Member of Congress                Member of Congress                      Member of Congress

Letitia James                         `    Gale Brewer                                  Deborah Glick

Public Advocate                        Manhattan Borough President       Assemblymember

Richard Gottfried                       Linda Rosenthal                              Corey Johnson

Assemblymember                      Assemblymember                           City Council Member

Daniel R. Garodnick                    Helen Rosenthal

City Council Member                  City Council Member