Queens Housing Coalition Meets with State Senator Jose Peralta
Friday, April 26, 2013
Senator Peralta addresses the Coalition on Friday evening.
On Friday evening, the Queens Housing Coalition hosted New York State Senator Jose Peralta at its monthly meeting to discuss the importance of developing affordable housing at Willets Point.
Approximately 130 Queens residents met in the auditorium of Elmhurst Hospital to hear Senator Peralta’s views on the controversial plan for Willets Point (learn more here). Kenny Minaya, CMS staff attorney, and Constantino Tejeda, a Center for Neighborhood Leadership Fellow, provided legal advice to tenants experiencing housing issues. Corrylee Drozda, a CMS immigration counselor, answered attendees’ immigration questions and made referrals to CMS’ office in Sunnyside.
Ivan Contreras discusses the QHC’s Willets Point campaign
The meeting began with a presentation by Ivan Contreras, who updated the audience on the latest updates on the campaign. He highlighted a recent article (in which Contreras is quoted) by Joe Orovic of the Queens Chronicle, who revealed that the contract between the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Willets Point developers, Related and Sterling Equities, does not legally obligate either the City or the developers to build affordable housing as part of the larger redevelopment plan for Willets Point. Contreras warns that, if no action is taken to hold the City and the developers accountable for their promise to build affordable housing, the plan will simply be “a mall and hotel project,” with no benefits for the community. He described some of the QHC’s next steps in the campaign, including meeting with Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, who has the power to convene a hearing about the plan, and working with Council Member Julissa Ferreras, whose district includes Willets Point, on getting City Council involved.
Community members express their concerns about Willets Point to Senator Peralta
Following Contreras’ presentation, Senator Peralta addressed the community. He began by stating that, during their presentation to the Queens Housing Coalition in January (learn more here), the developers lied when they claimed that Senator Peralta supported their redevelopment plan. He explained that he was only in favor of the plan when affordable housing was part of the conversation. “I am not supporting this project unless it includes affordable housing,” Senator Peralta declared. “End of story.” He pledged to meet with the QHC and Council Member Ferreras in the near future to ensure that the redevelopment plan addresses community needs, as well as to attend the rally that the QHC plans to stage at Willets Point (date to be announced).
Several community members had the opportunity to express their concerns to Senator Peralta about the Willets Point redevelopment plan. When asked what could be done legally to make the contract between the EDC and the developers stronger with regard to affordable housing, Senator Peralta emphasized the importance of working with the City Council–not only with Council Member Ferreras, but with Council Speaker Christine Quinn as well as other candidates running for NYC mayor this year. When one of Senator Peralta’s Korean constiuents asked him if, should he be elected next Queens Borough President (Senator Peralta is in the running), he would promise to ensure that affordable housing is a priority in all development projects, Senator Peralta declared: “Whether I’m Borough President or not, we need affordable housing and I will continue to fight for it.”