Contact: Colleen Roche/Jennifer Chait (212) 788-2958
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today met with Congressman Rick Lazio (R-NY) to commend him for his leadership on public housing issues affecting New York City during the recently concluded 105th Congress.
"I want to acknowledge Congressman Lazio for his advocacy and leadership in ensuring the passage of the Public Housing Reform Act of 1998, one of the major legislative accomplishments of the past Congress," Mayor Giuliani said. "Over the past three years, Representative Lazio has led the effort to reform the nation's public housing system. As the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, Congressman Lazio worked effectively to ensure that the final bill which passed into law addressed the needs of public housing residents living in our City."
The Public Housing Reform Act, which received bipartisan support in Congress, will allow more working families in public housing, encourage and reward employment by requiring community service as a condition of public housing, reduce crime in public housing by barring housing assistance to drug dealers and users, and improve living conditions for many of the City's poorest residents. By increasing the positive presence of working families in public housing, the law will enhance the quality of life in public housing. Finally, the law will provide housing authorities such as the New York City Housing Authority with greater flexibility to manage their units more effectively.