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SOBRO Hosts A Bronx Leadership Forum with HPD

By: Howard Giske
he South Bronx Overall Economic Development Organization (SOBRO) hosted a Bronx Leadership Forum with Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Matthew Wambua. The leadership forum is sponsored by the companies Katin Muchin, Cohn Reznik, Benchmark Title Agency, and Mecca Construction. SOBRO President Phillip Morrow introduced Mr. Wambua, who spoke on topics such as the Mayor's plan for 145,000 new and restored units of housing, and recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy. According to Mr. Wambua, a large portion of South Bronx housing, about 20%, has been financed under the Mayor's plan. This works as a partnership of HPD- the housing agency, with the community of real estate developers, and everything involves partnership with the private sector. Over the last four years there has been a pivot toward rehabilitation and preservation of housing versus new housing. The real estate market downturn has been a big force in this. Bank liquidity is lower, but there is still a large demand for housing. Before 2008, only 20% of the financ-

ing for this Mayor's program housing was from HPD, but now it supplies 50%. The housing agency has a number of current priorities-the Hunter's Point development in Queens with 900 units, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music area with 600 units. The refinancing of Co-op City in the Bronx stands as an accomplishment, with a $650 million loan from the Federal Housing agency HUD and from NY State. This puts the affordable housing of Co-op City on a solid basis for the next 35 years, brings down the debt service, and includes money for renovations. For the future, a redevelopment site in the Bronx is the now closed Spofford Avenue Juvenile Detention Center. Big challenges for the agency are the huge budgetary cuts, mostly from the Federal government. Last year there was a cut of $90 million to the agency of an $800 million budget. Cuts in the Section 8 program due to the sequestration of the Federal budget mean less housing for the poor. The good news is the improving economy in the real estate, with continued low interest rates.

Construction prices are better now than at the height of the real estate boom. Hurricane Sandy affected New York City housing stock with approximately 61,000 units damaged or destroyed. The US Congress authorized incremental funds for reconstruction, of which about $720 million is going to New York City for housing reconstruction, with $120 million going to NYCHA (NYC Housing Authority). One question for Mr. Wambua was on programs for lowincome individuals. Much of the housing programs are for people at 40-50% income levels, but with cuts in Section 8, how do you help people in the 20%-40% demographic? A suggestion from Mr. Wambua is for HUD to make modification to the low-income tax credits program by passing legislation to balance apartments for people at the lowest income levels with those paying full price, so projects still average out to 50%-60% income levels. SOBRO's Phillip Morrow said that he would like to have John Rhea of NYCHA speak on low-income housing at a future forum.

Guardians of Rescue and Urban Animal Alliance to Visit PS 85 in the Bronx to Teach Compassion
uardians of Rescue and The Urban Animal Alliance, two organizations committed to helping animals, have teamed up to give the students at Public School 85 in the Bronx a presentation on compassion. The two groups will join teachers in carrying out the "Circle of Compassion" presentation, in an effort to help children learn more about having compassion for animals. The presentation will be held at the school on April 30, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. "We are excited to be teaming up with The Urban Animal Alliance and the teachers of P.S. 085," explains Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue, a rescue group that helps animals. "Reaching kids with a message of compassion is beneficial both to animals and to their fellow humans. The skills these students learn can be used anywhere." The school, which is located in the Bronx, is known as "The Great Expectations School." They teach over 1,100 children, mainly serving the immigrant and minority population. Three second-grade teachers at the school created the "Circle of Compassion Project," which will focus on building student awareness and sensitivity toward the needs and cares of animals and each other. The animal rescue groups will visit to take part in the presentation that will be given to three second-grade classes and eight fourth-grade classes, approximately 250 students in all. Some of the parents will also be invited to attend the presentation. Following the presentation, all of the students who attended will receive a book, on and about animals, that they can take home

with them. The books were purchased by The Fund for Public Schools for the project. The presentation will focus on building empathy and compassion for animals and others, as well as exploring ways that students can deal with conflict resolution in healthy ways. "The Circle of Compassion project has been an excellent way for me to help my students learn to show empathy and compassion," explains Patricia Spence, a second-grade teacher at P.S. 085. "Through this project, they are becoming more aware that animals, as well as humans, have feelings and need to be taken care of. I can always refer to the puppets and role-playing they experienced to remind them that saying 'sorry' and apologizing to each other are peaceful ways to resolve conflicts." "Congratulations to Guardians of Rescue and Urban Animal Alliance and P.S. 085 for mobilizing together to spread the message of compassion for all sentient beings," said Russell Simmons, entertainment mogul, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and animal advocate. Guardians of Rescue provides assistance to animals out on the streets, helping to rescue them, provide medical care, food and shelter, and find foster-home placement. To learn more, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, log onto www.guardiansofrescue.org. The Urban Animal Alliance is a non-profit organization that is committed to raising awareness of the plights of children and animals in urban America. To learn more, visit their site at www.urbananimalalliance.org.

Harlem News Group April 25, 2013

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