Coalition Of Community, Tenant & Labor Allies Hand Out Awards To NYSAFAH Members

NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tonight, while members of NYSAFAH pay tribute and honor themselves at their annual Fall Awards for Excellence, hundreds of New Yorkers will be hosting their own "awards" ceremony calling attention to the dishonor, greed and corruption that NYSAFAH members have brought to New York City's affordable housing programs. 

"While hundreds of NYSAFAH members and their guests wine and dine under the stars on the Yale Club rooftop, thousands of hardworking New Yorkers continue to suffer from the corrupt practices of NYSAFAH members and their partners in crime," said Patrick Purcell, executive director of Greater New York LECET.  "Whether it's wage theft, unsafe working conditions, shoddy construction, or massive tenant displacement, NYSAFAH has continued to produce and promote a culture of greed and corruption.  We are here tonight to call attention to their corrupt business practices and to urge New York City to once and for all take action to correct the problems."

Among those cited tonight for "special awards" are:

L&M Development – Best Original Screenplay -  These seemingly progressive developers wear the mask of community saviors, while displacing hundreds of residents with their massive land grabs.  While tenants suffer through the winter with defective, dangerous heating units, Ron Moelis continues to enjoy his cocktails at NYSAFAH events, especially after a hard day on the golf course. 

Auringer Companies – Best Supporting Actor in a City Subsidized Project – For years a favorite go to subcontractor for many NYSAFAH developers, Auringer has a long sordid history of worker abuse and exploitation, including wage theft, racism, discrimination and supervisor retaliation.  And through it all workers receive no health insurance or other benefits.

Most Original Song & Dance – Mountco Construction – While hosting guest of honor Mayor Bill de Blasio and a long list of New York City "all-stars" at the dedication ceremony for its Sugar Hill project, dozens of exploited Mountco workers were being held against their will a few floors above the party to prevent them from coming in contact with the Mayor and other dignitaries for few that they might raise their stolen wage, unsafe conditions and general exploitation. 

MDG Design & Construction – (Dis)Honorable Mention – Comeback of the Year – After $5 million in stolen wages on their projects, we really thought we had seen the last of them.  But they're back.

And the final award of the evening goes to:

BRP Development – Lifetime Achievement in Profiteering  - For upholding the long standing tradition of turning millions of dollars in public subsidies into personal wealth, this genius developer has managed to double the rents of many East New York residents.

"NYSAFAH developers are gentrifying our neighborhoods and making bigger profits by cheating workers out of wages and cheating communities out of real affordability and good jobs," said Maritza Silva-Farrell, campaign director, for ALIGN, the Alliance for a Greater New York.    

"These 'awards' may seem funny, but the conditions under which we are living is no joke," said Bed-Stuy resident Ari Estrella.  "For years we have been trying to get help, but all be get in the run around.  These developers are here tonight, eating and drinking with the money they got building my 'affordable' home.  Instead of spending the money on a lavish dinner for themselves, they should use some of it to fix my home, and provide more units and prices my neighbors can actually afford."

Joining Greater New York LECET and ALIGN at tonight's award demonstration were members of Real Affordability for All, Vocal NY, Make the Road, CASA, Tenants & Neighbors, Iron Workers District Council, Mason Tenders District Council, New York Communities for Change, Community Voices Heard, UHAB, D.C 9.   This coalition is working to change the way New York City's affordable housing programs are created, constructed, contracted and administered.

SOURCE Greater New York LECET