CARVIN: NITA LOWEY ZERO HELP TO WESTCHESTER IN
HUD HOUSING SETTLEMENT
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Will Cost Westchester Taxpayers Up to $100 Million, Reputation
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"We needed her on this one, and she took a walk."
Westchester-Rockland--Sept. 24 ...Twenty-four year Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-WFP) has doing nothing -- zero -- to defend Westchester County families from charges of racism and housing discrimination by the Obama Administration, which is trying to force Westchester County to sue its own municipalities to break up long-held zoning laws and place government housing on some of Westchester's most beautiful blocks, the campaign of Rye Town Supervisor and congressional candidate Joe Carvin (R-NY-17)today charged.
The Obama Administration's ongoing attack on Westchester -- the fourth most diverse county in New York State -- may end up costing taxpayers more than $100 million in extra property taxes. Westchester taxpayers already pay the highest property taxes in America, and the U.S. Census reported last week that Westchester is now the first county in American history to have median annual property taxes in excess of $10,000 -- that coming at a time when the average home has lost 15% of its value and when the average household income has dropped.
"Our elected representatives in Washington are supposed to defend us from baseless charges and from unfair federal financial levies, but Ms. Lowey has been nowhere to be found since this situation began," Mr. Carvin said. "Westchester County is not racist, it's expensive, but Nita Lowey has done nothing to defend the integrity of this county and its residents. We needed her on this one, and she took a walk."
Mr. Carvin is married to an African-American woman.
Westchester County is ahead of schedule in meeting the goals of 2009 settlement with the U.S. Department and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build 750-units of government housing in some Westchester communities, but the Obama Administration is suing the County to go "beyond the four corners of the settlement", calling Westchester its "grand experiment" for suburban communities across America. The Obama Administration is charging that race, not income, is the reason why more minorities don't live in some affluent Westchester neighborhoods.
You make it sound like the government will own the housing - "govt housing." That's new to me. Do you remember the origin of the suit. Wasn't it about the county not using federal housing funds as intended? You are on the wrong side of this issue as Romney and Ryan are on the wrong side of virtually all issues. Gay marriage, freedom of choice, gays in the military, global warming, universal healthcare, claiming that 14% federal tax rate for carried interest is "fair" etc. Yes, there is a debt issue. We know that. Yes, it's serious. There is also higher ground moral issues that don't fit on spread sheets.
It is sad to see this boiling down to a discussion about race. This is about Westchester County getting caught with its hand in the cookiy jar, taking money under false pretenses. I don't know how anybody can agrue that they shouldn't be held accountable for that and that part of it should be punitive. I actually was considering voting for Carvin, I like what he has done in Rye but this is bad, and putting in that he is married to African-American shows that he knew it sounded racist. I am reconsidering even though I can't stand Lowey.
It might be good if the Patch better label something like this as opinion as opposed to an article so people aren;t confused.
Deeply offensive for government to interfere in housing and dubious social engineering Strong County leadership is required to oppose this Federal over-reach