Letter to the Hon. Corey Johnson, Speaker of the New York City Council - Velázquez Calls for Continued Funding of the New York City Community Land Trust Initiative

Letter

Council Speaker Johnson:

I write to you today to advocate for the continued funding of the New York City Community Land Trust (CLT) Initiative for Fiscal Year 2021. While I recognize that this upcoming City budget will be one of the most difficult to finalize, because of the enormous budget shortfall the City is facing due to the fiscal crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are certain programs or services that should not be on the chopping block as they help to provide a safety net that is essential to tackling the disparities that the pandemic has highlighted. The CLT Initiative that was funded to the amount of $850,000.00 by last year's City budget is one of those essential programs.

CLT's allow for our communities to take ownership of land and the buildings found on them in order to create permanent affordable housing. In East New York, my office has seen a growing organized population interested in establishing a CLT in the area. Data shows that decades of discrimination in the New York real estate market have led to the displacement of people of color. Thanks to last year's CLT funding, this organized group has held various town halls and informative sessions to help educate and build their interim Steering Committee that is currently tasked with the creation of by-laws and the necessary infrastructure to establish the CLT.

Since the initial funding of this initiative, we have seen upwards of a dozen CLT's that engaged communities of color throughout our City. We have made monumental progress.

I graciously request that the CLT Initiative receive continued funding this year, at no less than which was given last year. Let's honor that engagement by further investing in the CLT Initiative.

Sincerely,

Nydia M. Velázquez

Member of Congress

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