‘We’ve noticed how recent rezoning efforts in low-income neighborhoods have failed to benefit long-term residents and community members. Those are disturbing trends the Bronx should make every effort to avoid, rather than repeat.’
City Limits’ Jarrett Murphy and Ben Max from Gotham Gazette interview Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., about borough jails, affordable housing and the 2021 mayoral race.
The de Blasio administration says it has started to deliver on promises of housing help, street improvements and business assistance. Tenant groups and business advocates, however, say their worries remain.
The number of outstanding questions reflects the size of the population involved, the magnitude of the construction projects the effort entails and the unique nature of building temporary housing for people who live there involuntarily.
Councilman Rafael Salamanca, who represents the area, says his biggest concern is the possible displacement of residents and small businesses.
While it seems almost certain the rent laws will be tightened it’s less sure that the geographic reach of the laws will be expanded.
Montefiore Medical Center appears to have fought off a threatened loss of federal funding after multiple suicide attempts, several successful, during a two-year period. But the hospital wouldn’t answer detailed questions about whether problems identified by federal inspectors have all been corrected.
The mayor in 2015 set a goal of rezoning up to 15 neighborhoods in a drive to create more density and more affordable housing. Five rezonings have passed and at least three are likely to move forward in 2019.
Citing a need to address the looming problem of preferential rents without harming landlords who operate as small businesses, the Bronx borough president backs a law to prevent sudden rent spikes in exchange for a discount on property taxes.
The ferry is a big hit in the Bronx neighborhood, though there are concerns about parking.