NEW YORK CITY—In his annual State of the Borough address last week, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. highlighted the economic and quality of life successes in the Bronx, but singled out the New York City Housing Authority, which he said is “facing a crisis of confidence.”

In his ninth annual State of the Borough address last Thursday at the Bronx High School of Science, Diaz said that since 2009 when he first took office, the Bronx has seen its employment cut by more than half down to 5.5% and approximately 110,000 more jobs for Bronx residents. In addition, a total of more than 21,000 new affordable housing units have been constructed in those nine years.

Diaz leveled some criticism on the recent travails at the New York City Housing Authority and said the agency has not done enough to ensure the safety and well being its 400,000 residents and that if no action is taken to address the issues facing the NYCHA, Gov. Andrew Cuomo should intervene.

“The New York City Housing Authority is also facing a crisis of confidence. Crime persists. Buildings are dirty. Repairs are late, if they are made at all. And, of course, residents are being left out in the cold. Just when you think it couldn't get worse, you find out the city has failed to properly inspect apartments for lead paint, putting children at serious risk,” Diaz said.

The borough president also called out the NYCHA for failing to move on an emergency basis to cut red tape in the procurement process and replace broken boilers at its properties faster.

“We are turning up the heat on NYCHA to act as a responsible landlord, and if they refuse to do so, I call on the governor to do it for them,” said Borough President Diaz.

The borough president shared that he was taken by surprise by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's jail reform announcement last week that included the possible construction of a new jail in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx.

He criticized the de Blasio administration for not seeking community input before announcing the plan. “Reform efforts to fix our city's jails are needed,” Diaz said. “However, any new site for a jail in this borough must be thoroughly vetted, and the people of The Bronx must have a meaningful say in the selection of any site.

Instant Insights /

Bronx Borough President Puts Heat on Troubled NYC Housing Authority

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