City Council Advances Controversial Housing Project
The city council has moved forward with a contentious housing initiative aimed at providing support for former Bronx residents, dismissing Mayor Eric Adams’ last-minute objections as inconsequential.
On Thursday, the council approved a lengthy 99-year sublease for a six-story building located on the Jacobi Hospital campus in Morris Park. This facility is intended for a supportive housing program called Just Home, which caters to individuals transitioning from incarceration.
Interestingly, just before the council’s vote, Adams, who had initially shown support for the project and even suggested the site, sent a letter through his top associate, Randy Mastro. The letter indicated that Adams was planning to find a different location for the Just Home initiative. Yet, the council chose to disregard his request.
Speaker Adrian Adams took the lead in promoting the vote, with the mayor and his associate being labeled as “not incompetent” by some council members. Adams, who is gearing up for reelection this November, seemed to be at odds with the council’s direction.
“It’s disheartening that they’re trying to block housing for New Yorkers,” the speaker remarked. “Fortunately, they won’t be linked to this project very soon,” she noted, hinting at political shifts in the near future.
When pressed for details, Speaker Adams suggested that Mayor Adams seemed to be hoping for a loss in the upcoming mayoral election. “There will definitely be a new administration. Everyone else will notice it in the polls,” she stated.
Mastro shared his frustration with the media, claiming the language used by the speaker was counterproductive. In response, Speaker Adams indicated that the administration was open to relocating the Just Home project to one of two proposed sites near Broadway Junction.
Meanwhile, Mastro pointed out opposition from local Bronx community members, including Republican Representative Christimarat, as a fundamental reason for the proposed relocation.
“If we truly advocate for respect, we need to consider all viewpoints,” Mastro expressed before the council’s decision. “Voting ‘yes’ today disregards the effort and the very values this body claims to uphold.”
The Chief Chair moved the vote forward, asserting that respect among members isn’t a matter of policy. Councillor Crystal Hudson criticized the mayor, suggesting he was merely seeking political leverage before the vote to support the initial Bronx site.
“(Mayor Adams) is looking for a way to gain favor ahead of his reelection,” Hudson commented. “That’s not authentic leadership.”
Ultimately, the council did vote—36 in favor, 9 against, and 3 abstentions to advance the measure.
Mastro pledged to continue advocating for a change in the Just Home location, asserting the Adams administration could significantly enhance its affordable housing efforts after Adams’ first term concludes. “In the upcoming months, we can expect three times the supportive and affordable housing than what this administration has provided in this hall,” he declared.
Mastro also mentioned that the speaker’s tenure would be concluding by the year’s end. He remarked that the mayor’s office had yet to submit the necessary paperwork to reevaluate the Just Home project’s location.
Despite this, Mastro is optimistic about submitting revised plans to the city. “We aspire for a more fruitful collaboration moving forward, both now and in the future,” he concluded.
In a separate note, Adams expressed concerns about the council’s actions while in Williamsburg. “We managed to devise a much better deal for ourselves, so it’s encouraging to see the project progressing,” he commented. “What the council is doing at this moment is simply grand,” he added with a hint of sarcasm.
