What are people saying?
But what do Bronx residents think of the borough's housing market? Social activist George Havrenek spoke about this. He previously opposed the Throggs Neck project (21) and ran for City Council as a Republican and Conservative Party in 2023 for the 13th District. (23) This is what he said in the interview.
Do Bronx residents need better living conditions ?
An overwhelming number of Bronx county residents need better living conditions. Lower socio-economic areas of Bronx County have higher rates of childhood illnesses including asthma, higher infant mortality rates, more homelessness & drug use, inadequate health and human services, over-crowded, inadequately funded schools, higher crime rates, negative resident perceptions re: public safety and overall quality of life standards.
Do you think the governments' actions in the rental housing market are effective?
Simply, let's ask, What has government at any level accomplished to help lower housing costs on rental and sales marketplaces? There has been plenty of lip service from state and city officials in this arena but little implemented action. Pandemic related hardships, budgetary and otherwise, were default excuses; however, time has elapsed. It's now put up or shut up time.
Do you think authorities will make radical decisions to improve the situation in the Bronx rental housing market?
No. Especially with City of Yes plans Politicians and affiliated agencies (CPC HPD) will remain on a steady course to increase population without proper housing. This dynamic allows the powerful developers and political power brokers to make money while too many remain under a wage threshold that fosters total independence from government subsidies.
Construction of tens of thousands of public rental apartments in Bronx. Under what conditions is this good? --bad?
Large numbers of rental construction does little to solve housing shortages when you permit the entry of thousands more. Community instability is a key effect of the current "never get ahead" dynamic of past and present administrations. The only way it can be deemed positive is if this mass construction lowers the number of people in need of proper housing without overwhelming infrastructure, essential services etc...or sacrificing quality of life standards.
How are residents of the area ready to help the authorities improve their living conditions?
Area residents are unaware of policies and the lanes in which they travel and therefore unprepared to aid, fight etc.. Community boards are under the auspice of their respective Borough Presidents. This dynamic creates an environment where opposition against political wishes are done with minimum code requirements. For example a no vote cast by cb10 against the City of Yes proposal #2 should be followed up with a unification effort among other community boards. The Borough president and mayor's support for this project are extreme roadblocks Outreach by community boards is sub-standard and often very in effective.
As we see it, dialogue with the residents of the Bronx is possible. George Havrenek, knows the area well. He believes that the government's actions are not effective, and residents are not able to defend their rights. To correct this, a lot of social and political work is needed. Mr Havrenek thinks building affordable public rental housing could be helpful. But this can only happen with proper construction.
But pollsters warn that only some groups of voters care about affordable housing. And "average voter" not interested in this. This is happening all over the country. This is what the chief pollster, The Trafalgar Group, Robert Cahaly, answered the question: Is the public interested in affordable public rental housing?
He said: "It depends on what segment of the public you mean. If you mean the average voter, likely not, they are more concerned with what affects them family and their lives immediately, especially in this election cycle."
That is, poor Bronx residents must rely only on themselves to fight for affordable housing. And this requires more effort than if all voters wanted to achieve what they wanted.
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