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State Senator introduces new legislation for disabled public housing tenants

February 12, 2015 Meaghan McGoldrick

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State Senator Jesse Hamilton announced on Friday, February 6 new legislation that will give mobility-impaired tenants first dibs on vacant apartments on lower floors of buildings.

“Every New York City Housing Authority resident deserves fair treatment,” said Hamilton, joined at a press conference by Assemblymember Latrice Walker, Howard Houses near-eviction victim Carmen Martias, community advocates, and neighborhood residents. “The near eviction of Ms. Martias demonstrates that the New York City Housing Authority [NYCHA] needs to make tenant well-being a top priority”

The “First Offer for the Vulnerable” legislation, he said, stems from safety concerns and the difficulties mobility-impaired tenants have faced getting to and from upper floor apartments.

The press conference was held at 260 Mother Gaston Boulevard, the lobby of the Howard Houses, where a wheelchair-bound resident was killed in a fire in 2007. The victim, a 56-year-old woman, lived on the third floor at the time of the blaze.