We need to update our affordable housing math
Manhattan: A lot of New Yorkers looking at the affordable housing lotteries scratch their heads, wondering why most apartment units are destined for households earning $100,000 or more per year. The median household income in New York City is $70,000, and for those that do not own a home but are renters, it is $60,000.
The reason for this absurd situation is the area median income (AMI). Set by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to be used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the AMI has become completely disconnected from reality. How it is calculated is obscure — we do know that areas are drawn in a bizarre way (Westchester is included in NYC), and that construction prices are also taken into account. In the end, it is often double what it should be. Name a city and you find the discrepancy.
In 2022, Rep. Yvette Clarke and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sponsored a bill called the Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act, which was trying to encourage OMB/HUD to explain and possibly revise their calculation. It was co-sponsored by 42 Congress members, 11 of whom were from New York.
I think the AMI should be the median household income as calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau. Any trick aimed at making it larger should be viewed with suspicion. It would be hard to argue that HUD subsidies should be spent on housing that is affordable for households earning more than the median household income and already profitable without the subsidies (at $2,500 per month, an apartment unit does not need to be subsidized to be profitable). Laure Travers
Poor alternative
Hicksville, L.I.: Voicer T.S. Fallani, like a typical leftist, took my letter and totally twisted it. Laud Donald Trump? I don’t like Trump. I didn’t vote for him. As far as COVID goes, just as many people died from it under Joe Biden. Is he also a Hitler? And nowhere did I disparage immigrants — and yes, my ancestors came here in the 1880s, but got nothing for free. The point of my letter was to show why people are leaving your party, and they are. When you have a man like Trump possibly being reelected, your party is doing something wrong. John Gelormino
Preferred platform
Brookfield, Conn.: To Voicer Lynda Spurdis: MAGA mutts? So much for diversity, equity and inclusion! I am supporting Trump because he was able to dig us out of the rut that Barack Obama put us in, and after the mess Biden has made of everything, we need him again. Or do you like high prices, high crime and being overrun by illegal aliens? As for getting help, I prefer not to be brainwashed, thank you. Fred Schoeneborn
A sorry apology
Brooklyn: Kudos to Biden and assorted Democrats for apologizing to the man who allegedly savagely beat a 22-year-old nursing student to death. As incredible as it may seem, Biden called him an “illegal immigrant.” The president probably didn’t realize he could do irreparable harm to the man’s self-esteem. Frank Congiusta
Lineage of corruption
Oyster Bay, L.I.: Donald Trump is a threat to our precious democracy. He recently stated that he would only be a dictator for one day! His history in private business and public office is horrific. Trump and President Biden are both rather old, but I totally support Biden, who is known to be a caring person and has tried to do the right thing through the years. My ancestors and many others fought and died for our country, including the Mexican-American War in the 1840s. They also fought in the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, in WWI and WWII. We must learn from the past to not repeat mistakes! Maureen King Cassidy
One big con
Scarsdale, N.Y.: Do people understand the definition of the term con artist? It is a person of little conscience who fools other people by lying and cheating them. There appears to be no secret here, especially in New York, that Trump is a known con artist. He has succeeded once in conning America. So, good people, remember: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” Don’t get fooled again. Harvey Wielstein
Getting his due
North Brunswick, N.J.: To all the MAGA looney tunes: “The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.” Unfortunately, the grit from that grind seems to further you blind! Keep on sparing that rod and don’t freak out again, finding how much sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to coddle a petulant child. Newsflash: Big Baby wants the presidency and parents can’t keep him from crying! Ea A. Mingo
Fight on
Brooklyn: “Cancer schmancer.” That is what Gilda Radner said when she was diagnosed. As a cancer survivor, I feel for Princess Kate Middleton. It is a tough position to be in when you have young children. She stoically advised others who suffer from this horrific disease to never give up. May she survive this stressful time with the graceful spirit she has shown before. Princess Kate and her family will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless her! Sharon Cesario
Uncommitted ally
Carpinteria, Calif.: The Daily News doesn’t understand the true dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine war (“Russia’s two-face on terror,” editorial, March 23). It’s day 800 of Israel’s refusal to join sanctions against Russia. Oligarchs who fund Vladimir Putin’s mass murder in Ukraine enjoy safe haven in Israel. After 76 years as a nation, Israel remains Putin-dependent for its existence. There is no Israeli warrant out for Putin’s arrest. The emergence of Israel as a nation has substantial ties to Eastern Europe under Communist rule. What would The News recommend I use to determine if the world’s Jews even side with the free world? Don’t look now — the GOP frontrunner moved our embassy to Jerusalem for a country that won’t join sanctions against Russia, and has sold properties to oligarchs. Matt McLaughlin
Position of strength
Beechhurst: It’s quite evident from his response to my letter that Voicer John A. MacKinnon views the Israeli government’s war on Hamas as tantamount to genocide. But that over-the-top contention fails to take into consideration Hamas’s strategic use of Gazan civilians as human shields (a clear violation of the Geneva Convention, as is the taking of hostages), as well as the IDF’s dropping of leaflets and social media post warnings of forthcoming attacks on Hamas’ dug-in positions. Was Israel supposed to forgo ending Hamas’ calamitous occupation of Gaza (which culminated in its barbaric Oct. 7 bloodletting) because Hamas deliberately puts civilians in harm’s way? And with respect to MacKinnon’s advice for “the Zionists” to “quit while ahead” — well, that’s questionable advice to give to the most persecuted people in world history who know when they’re facing an existential threat. The difference today is that, after two millennia, Jews have a state. James Hyland
Hard to read
Saddle Brook, N.J.: Did anyone have trouble reading “WuMo” on March 5? This was one of the worst comics I have ever seen. Why is black print used on dark backgrounds? Between this and the tiny print used in your articles, The News has really gone downhill. I have been a reader for more than 60 years and am really disappointed in what this paper has become. M.J. Crandall
Flouted flag
Morristown, N.J.: A useless Alphabet City politician made a complaint to the FDNY about a fire company proudly displaying an American flag with a red line on their truck to honor members murdered on 9/11. FDNY leadership caved to this woke, lefty lib and had a deputy chief tell the members to remove the flag. As a retired member whose brother was killed on 9/11, I am flabbergasted, to put it mildly. There was a time when the department would have pushed back on such drivel, but with a spineless, left-lib commissioner, that didn’t happen. NYC is in shambles, yet this poor excuse for a politician has time for something like this. NYC and America are being overrun by these woke nuts. We are in big trouble. Frank J. Perry
