Community Voices Heard

City's Poor Look Different Through New Assessment

Submitted by sondra on Mon, 2008-07-21 00:00. Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs unveiled a new poverty measure created by New York City's Center for Economic Opportunity in an effort to evaluate poverty more accurately than the measure created 40 years ago that is currently used. The new measure which better incorporates rising housing costs as well as the impact of government supports, moved the City's official poverty rate from 18.9 percent of the city's population to 23 percent. Even more startling, the share of the population living below 150 percent of poverty leaps from 27.8 percent to 44.3 percent.

CVH Stands Out at Event Celebrating State Funds Coming to Support Waterfront Development

Submitted by jenny on Mon, 2008-06-30 22:50.

On Monday, June 30th, the City of Newburgh held a small, exclusive press event announcing $1.25 million in state funds coming to support the proposed waterfront development. State Senator Bill Larkin and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez were the invited guests, and Congressman Maurice Hinchey made a surprise appearance. Although the event was announced only days before, and was held under a tent set up to accommodate about 25 people, 5 CVH members made our way there.

CVH Testifies at the first oversight hearing of the New York City Council’s Committee on Community Development

Submitted by mike on Tue, 2008-06-24 13:30.

4 Community Voices Heard Members gave testimony at the first oversight hearing of the New York City Council’s Committee on Community Development. Members testified on the problem of poverty in NYC, gave recommendations on waht the Committee should focus on in the next year and a half in order to effectively address the City's poverty problem. We were covered in the black start news. Below are copies of the 4 testimonies as well as the press coverage. The original article can be found here.

CVH is Organizing a Housing Forum in Yonkers

Submitted by mike on Tue, 2008-06-24 11:11.

CVH is organizing a housing forum to demand that the city council commit to preserving and creating more low-income housing and jobs for low-income Yonkers residents in the plans for re-development.

Where? Yonkers Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center, 2nd Floor Community Room Community

When? On Thursday, June 26, 2008, at 6:30 PM

The flyer is attached below as well as an article in the Yonkers tribune about the upcoming action. If you would like more information about this action call Sarah at 914-751-2641

CVH Goes to Miami for the US Conference of Mayor's

Submitted by mike on Fri, 2008-06-20 13:27.

Community Voices Heard joined up with other community organizations who are a part of Right to the City (RTTC) to go to Miami for the US Conference of Mayor's (USCM). Right to the City is a national alliance of organizations taking back our cities from the throws of gentrification. Led by community-based grassroots organizations, the alliance spans 7 cities and includes legal, media, and academic advocates from across the nation.

"Public Housing Residents Face Loss of Their Community Centers" - NY Times

Submitted by mike on Tue, 2008-06-17 13:01.

Here is a New York Times article about how the budget deficit of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is causing the closing of community centers that Senior Citizens and children use every day. CVH Board Member and Public Housing Resident, Agnes Rivera is quoted on the last page of the article.

The original article can be found on the New York Times website here

HRA Comissioner Robert Doar Meets with CVH

Submitted by mike on Mon, 2008-06-16 17:15.

CVH had their on going six month meeting with Commissioner Robert Doar of Human Resources Administration (HRA) on June 11th. CVH was please that the Comissioner actually listened and agreed to do something to push the expansion of the Job Training Program (JTP). CVH members asked one questions 5 times through chants loudly and clearly, "The Work Experience Program (WEP) exploits welfare recipients as unpaid workers. We believe this is unacceptable.

CVH Marches to City Hall and Disrupt Council Meeting Demanding Real Affordable Housing in Future Plans

Submitted by mike on Mon, 2008-06-16 13:58.

On June 16th, Community Voices Heard members marched to Newburgh's City Hall and into the Council meeting that was happening that night. Even getting caught in a thunderstorm didn't stop almost 50 members from marching from our office on Lander St. to City Hall, where we held a press conference outside. CVH leaders Maretta Melvin, Anne Dehaney, and Brenda McPhail spoke at the press conference, and were interviewed for Cable 6 news!

CVH Members Demand NYCHA Funding at City Council Hearing

Submitted by mike on Fri, 2008-05-30 16:23.

On Thursday May 29th Community Voices Heard Members and Leaders who are also public housing residents went to the city council hearing in order to demand funding to close the budget gap in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Today's New York Times Metro Section featured the article below on the front page. This article highlights how dire the situation in public housing in New York is right now. They will be closing down senior centers and community-based programs.

"To save the troubled system, recruit New York public housing 'alumni'" - Daily News

Submitted by mike on Mon, 2008-05-05 12:29.

Community Voices Heard participated in a large May 1st rally with the Teamsters Local 237 union, the union that represents maintenance workers in NYCHA buildings. CVH leader and public housing resident Agnes Rivera spoke at the rally sharing the stage with many elected officials, union members, and supporters of public housing. We were rallying to demand that funding be restored for public housing both to preserve jobs for the teamsters as well as preserve housing for the residents.