The NHA has unveiled two new complexes. Of course, they always forget to mention that they are yet to explain how they will follow state law A500 and replace every unit that is being demolished. Even worse, their celebration of these units is a blow to residents conscious of the systematic displacement of residents to places outside of Newark coupled with an influx of affluent people, aka GENTRIFICATION.
The Link:
Newark unveils second phase of $21M affordable housing project - by David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger
The Quote:
While politicians and housing officials said they were heartened by the new approach to public housing, some expressed frustration that more housing was not available to Newark's poor.
"I think that it's nice that these units are being provided, but we're still losing over a thousand units," said Victor Monterrosa Jr., an organizer for the Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition. "The townhouses look great, they really do, but it doesn't replace hard public housing units.''
Monterrosa said there should be more focus on preserving and upgrading current public housing units such as the Baxter Terrace and John W. Hyatt Court.
"If you look at the structure, you can gut it and redevelop and you can have long-standing structures that are modern," Monterrosa said.
Personally, I think the format in the paper is better. There is a big picture of Cory Booker and Frank Lautenberg in the units.Unfortunately - along the lines of thought espoused by the woman quoted at the end - it is rumored that tenants moving into these units will not be allowed to make any modifications to the units, such as hanging items on the wall or painting walls. A community activist refers to this as prison, which sadly is only half true since in NJ prisoners can no longer hang up items on walls but in many prisons across the country prisoners do.
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