Community Voices Heard

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

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.

"Where the Other Half Lives: An Insider Works to Bolster the Projects" - New York Times

Here is an article that appeared on the front page of the New York Times Metro Section this Sunday. The article highlights Tino Hernandez, Chairman of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), as a former NYCHA resident. The article discusses the affects of disinvestment on public housing and mentions demolitions in other cities. Community Voices Heard Leader and Public Housing resident of Lincoln Houses Keith Massey is quoted in this article.

CVH Members Testify at State Budget Hearing on Affordable Housing

On January 29, 2008 a group of CVH members and staff from all three chapters traveled to Albany for the State Legislature's budget hearing on affordable housing. Three CVH members from each of our chapter testified before a panel of State Senators and Assembly Members about how funding for public and low-income housing could impact their lives and their communities. Ann Valdez, a CVH member from Brooklyn, testified on the need for the state to fund public housing.

CVH Holds New Orleans Style Funeral March to Target Obama and Clinton

This afternoon, Community Voices Heard Members from Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Yonkers, and all 5 boroughs of New York City joined together for a New Orleans style funeral march to highlight the crisis facing low-income people that have been displaced from their homes in New Orleans and around the country. The group called on Senators Clinton and Obama, democratic candidates running for president, to discuss issues facing low-income people around the country—such as improving public housing and creating good jobs—in their debates and campaign speeches.

Low-Income New Yorkers Hold New Orleans Themed Funderal March To Mourn the Displacement of Poor People from Cities Nationwide

This Saturday, January 26th, Community Voices Heard is organizing an action in order to target Obama and Clinton to move forward timely legislation and promote a low-income agenda. January 26th is the international day of action as part of the World and US Social Forums. Organizations from around the world will be doing actions for social justice on this day and CVH is holding this action in order to be a part of this momentous day.

Spitzer Overlooks Public Housing in State of State Address

This afternoon New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer gave his State of the State Address. In his address, the governor committed to invest $400 million in a housing opportunity fund to build affordable housing for teachers, police officers, the elderly and disabled. While this represents a significant step towards addressing the affordable housing crisis in New York, some low-income New Yorkers are disappointed that Governor’s did not mention the critical need to invest in the existing affordable housing stock in New York, such as public housing.

"Advocates fight for tenants, the elderly and low-income families in East Harlem" - Daily News

This is an article about a march that Community Voices Heard participated in. The march was organized by Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and a coalition of grassroots organizations in East Harlem. For more information about the march you can read the article on our website, "CVH Marches with the East Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force" and the Daily News Article below.

"Celebrating New York's Unsung Heroes" Agnes Rivera on WNYC

This is a segment from The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. This segment is based on the Errol Louis Daily News article from Thanksgiving Day, "Pass the Praise Please" in which Mr. Louis offers thanks and praise to activists he has met including CVH Leader Agnes Rivera. Agnes is featured on the segment and she speaks about Community Voices Heard as well as public housing issues.

CVH Marches with the East Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force

Yesterday evening Community Voices Heard members joined forces with Picture The Homeless, NYCHA Residents Associations of Clinton & Johnson Houses, HOPE Community Inc., the Almighty Latin King & Queen Nation, and Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito to demand more affordable housing. As a part of the El Barrio-East Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force CVH is working to highlight issues facing public housing residents in our community. We marched from 96th Street and 3rd Avenue up to 106th Street and 3rd Avenue where the the East Harlem Tree Lighting Ceremony was scheduled to take place.

"Will NYC Save Public Housing, Sell it, Or Sell It To Save It?" The Daily Gotham

Here is an article from The Daily Gotham blog. This article comes on the heels of a posting a few days ago titled, "NYCHA's Phony Fiscal Crisis" where the author does a good job of breaking down the budgetary problems NYCHA is currently facing.