Mayor Bill De Blasio released an aggressive and likely contentious plan to fund the New York Housing Authority, which is currently sitting on $16 billion in needed maintenance work.
"Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to announce on Tuesday an aggressive plan to shore up New York City’s deteriorating public housing, calling for significant new financial help from the city and for squeezing more revenue out of the housing projects and their residents," reports Mireya Navarro.
"The plan includes several measures that could prove contentious, starting with a modified version of a stalled proposal to lease unused land in housing projects for private residential development. The city would also transfer hundreds of New York City Housing Authority employees to other city agencies, charge residents more for parking and try to increase the rate of rent collection."
AT stake are 178,000 apartments that house more than 400,000 New Yorkers. The Housing Authority is beset by chronic budget shortfalls, including $98 million currently (the budget deficit was reported at $77 million in August 2014), and strong criticism. The article includes more details about the plan and its importance to the goals of the de Blasio Administration.
FULL STORY: Mayor de Blasio’s Public Housing Plan to Seek City Aid and More Money From Tenants

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service