mike miller letter to comptroller re: homeless shelter

CHAIR Majority Committee on House Operations COMMITTEES Aging Banks Education Labor Racing & Wagering Veterans’ Affairs MEMBER Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators New York State Chapter of Jewish Legislators May 7, 2015 Honorable Scott M. Stringer Office of the Comptroller 1 Centre Street New York, NY 10007 Dear Comptroller Stringer: I am writing to you once again in regards to the proposed homeless shelter at 78-16 Cooper Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385, which was submitted to the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) by Samaritan Village. Recently, it was found that the Pan Am Hotel, located at 79-00 Queens Boulevard was issued numerous violations for lead paint hazards and the Daily News published an article on April 28, 2015 revealing other hazards such as piles of garbage and a severe rat infestation. Complaint by the residents included lack of heat and hot water as well as bed bugs. Given these incidents, it would be irresponsible to approve another contract between the Department of Homeless Services and Samaritan Village for the proposed homeless shelter at 78-16 Cooper Avenue in Glendale, Queens. This massive piece of property, at a size of approximately 105,000 square-feet, could alternatively be used to address growing problems in our neighborhoods such as the lack of senior housing and veteran’s facilities. As I stated in a previous letter, the New York State Comptroller found that Samaritan Village mishandled approximately $1 million dollars over the course of a one year period. I have already insisted that for this reason only the contract between the Department of Homeless Services and Samaritan Village should be denied. Further, the State has recently allocated $63 million to assist homeless families and keep them out of the shelter system. The State is doing what it can to help keep families in their homes and we need the city to do its part by keeping families in their homes and not continuing to build homeless shelters throughout the borough. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate contact me at my office. Thank you for consideration and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Mike Miller Member of Assembly District 38 ALBANY OFFICE: 542 Legislative Office Building, Albany , NY 12248 • 518-455-4621 • FAX: 518-455-5361 DISTRICT OFFICE: 83-91 Woodhaven Boulevard, Woodhaven, New Y ork 11421 • 718-805-0950 • FAX: 718-805-0953 Email: [email protected] THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY MICHAEL MILLER Assemblyman 38 th District

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Mike Miller's letter to Comptroller Stringer re: Homeless Shelters

TRANSCRIPT

CHAIR

Majority Committee on House Operations

COMMITTEES

Aging

Banks

Education

Labor

Racing & Wagering

Veterans Affairs

MEMBER

Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force

New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators

New York State Chapter of Jewish Legislators

May 7, 2015

Honorable Scott M. Stringer

Office of the Comptroller

1 Centre Street

New York, NY 10007

Dear Comptroller Stringer:

I am writing to you once again in regards to the proposed homeless shelter at 78-16

Cooper Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385, which was submitted to the Department of Homeless

Services (DHS) by Samaritan Village. Recently, it was found that the Pan Am Hotel, located at

79-00 Queens Boulevard was issued numerous violations for lead paint hazards and the Daily

News published an article on April 28, 2015 revealing other hazards such as piles of garbage and

a severe rat infestation. Complaint by the residents included lack of heat and hot water as well as

bed bugs. Given these incidents, it would be irresponsible to approve another contract between

the Department of Homeless Services and Samaritan Village for the proposed homeless shelter at

78-16 Cooper Avenue in Glendale, Queens. This massive piece of property, at a size of

approximately 105,000 square-feet, could alternatively be used to address growing problems in

our neighborhoods such as the lack of senior housing and veterans facilities.

As I stated in a previous letter, the New York State Comptroller found that Samaritan

Village mishandled approximately $1 million dollars over the course of a one year period. I

have already insisted that for this reason only the contract between the Department of Homeless

Services and Samaritan Village should be denied. Further, the State has recently allocated $63

million to assist homeless families and keep them out of the shelter system. The State is doing

what it can to help keep families in their homes and we need the city to do its part by keeping

families in their homes and not continuing to build homeless shelters throughout the borough.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate contact me at my office. Thank you for

consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Mike Miller

Member of Assembly

District 38 ALBANY OFFICE: 542 Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248 518-455-4621 FAX: 518-455-5361

DISTRICT OFFICE: 83-91 Woodhaven Boulevard, Woodhaven, New York 11421 718-805-0950 FAX: 718-805-0953 Email: [email protected]

THE ASSEMBLY

STATE OF NEW YORK

ALBANY

MICHAEL MILLER Assemblyman 38

th District