BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins has issued the following press release:
WHITE PLAINS, NY — A letter received by Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers) today from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Maurice A. Jones clearly refutes several of the statements on Westchester’s housing settlement that County Executive is regularly communicating to residents and media professionals.
Today’s letter from HUD (which is attached to this press release) comes in response to several questions Jenkins asked in a letter delivered on May 21, 2013 regarding Astorino’s comments at town hall meetings, news conferences and media interviews that mischaracterize the County’s obligations under the Fair and Affordable Housing Settlement.
According to HUD, the Settlement does not require Westchester to fund construction of 10,768 new affordable units.
Nor is the County required to facilitate and fund construction of new affordable housing in all of Westchester, beyond the thirty-one (31) communities referenced in the Settlement.
Finally, HUD clarifies in its letter that it never suggested that the County “dismantle” zoning in any neighborhood or eliminate all zoning restrictions to meet its obligations under the settlement. HUD’s letter states, instead, “HUD has been consistent in its directive that the County must examine the impact of municipal zoning on housing development to determine whether zoning is responsible for creating or perpetuating patterns of segregation, examine whether existing zoning schemes properly take into account regional housing needs, and develop a clear strategy to overcome exclusionary zoning practices.”
“Westchester residents and business owners deserve straight talk and the honest truth about this important issue,” said Jenkins.