Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer: Poor Doors are “Offensive”
Poor doors no more. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is speaking out against the Extell Development Company’s recently approved plan to have a separate side entrance for affordable housing tenants in their development on Riverside Boulevard.
“The two-door system, or creating a poor-door system as some media have coined it, is an affront to New Yorker’s belief in fairness and diversity,” Brewer said in a speech this morning at City Hall. “Creating a two-tier system in a development that is receiving tax benefits is offensive.”
Sing it, Gale. Democratic councilwoman Helen Rosenthal chimed in to call the policy “an absolute disgrace” and call for the end of the loophole that allowed Extell to push it through.
“It’s the 21st century, It’s New York City, developers who decide to accept this money from the state absolutely their feet must be held to the fire to ensure that all residents are going through the exact same door,” Rosenthal said. “Developers and the city have no excuse.”
Yup. Affordable housing shouldn’t mean “lesser housing.” Time to amend that inclusionary housing program to prevent legally segregated buildings from popping up.