Posted on April 22, 2010 by PATRICK MARKEE Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to charge homeless families “rent” for shelter has earned national ridicule. Salon magazine featured the Mayor’s plan in their “This Week in Crazy” column. And a Newsweek writer labeled it the “Stupid Idea for the Day.” Locally, El Diario wrote a strong editorial condemning the Mayor’s misguided plan as “a triumph of ideology over common sense.” And WNBC’s legendary newsman Gabe Pressman declared, “City Hall’s latest edict on the homeless is neither fair nor sensible nor humane.” Fortunately, there’s still time to make sure that Albany stops the Mayor’s absurd plan from becoming a reality. Thousands of people have signed the Working Families Party’s petition urging State Legislators to block the shelter rent rules. On Friday the WFP sent out a message from New York State Assemblyman Keith Wright, who, along with State Senator Daniel Squadron, is leading the charge for legislation that will prohibit the City of New York from forcing homeless families to pay “rent” for shelter. Assemblyman Wright urged New Yorkers to sign the WFP petition and to ask everyone they know to do the same. This week, the Coalition’s Mary Brosnahan also wrote to supporters asking them to sign the petition. Here’s Mary’s message: More and more New Yorkers are outraged by Mayor Bloomberg’s misguided plan to charge homeless families rent to stay in shelters.*In fact, Bloomberg administration officials admitted last week that the Mayor’s plan would force homeless families to pay as much as $926 per month for emergency shelter! But thanks to you, we’re making progress on stopping this absurd plan. New York State Legislators, led by Assemblyman Keith Wright and Senator Daniel Squadron, are advancing legislation to prohibit the City from charging “rent” for emergency shelter. On Friday, Assemblyman Wright sent out the following message: “It should be obvious: a homeless shelter is where you go when you can’t pay rent. “I’ve been working for months with other NY state legislators to stop Mayor Bloomberg’s shocking plan to charge rent at New York City’s homeless shelters. And I have to say, it’s so heartening to have the phones ringing and emails flooding in from people like you. “We’re just weeks or even days away from the vote that could stop this terrible idea in its tracks — but we still need your help.” Please join thousands of other New Yorkers by signing the Working Families petition — then forward this to everyone you know: http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1545&tag=cfth Albany has the power to stop this plan dead in its tracks. But we don’t have much time. Please sign the petition, and forward this to other New Yorkers: http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1545&tag=cfth Mary thanks, Mary Brosnahan Coalition for the Homeless
