MEDIA ADVISORY

Panel to Debate Impact of Water & Sewer Rates on NYC's Affordable Housing Stock

NEW YORK, NY (01/26/2009)(readMedia)--

The Women's City Club presents a forum on the impact of water and sewer rates and financing on NYC's affordable housing stock. The event is co-sponsored by Housing First!

WHEN:

? Thursday, January 29th, 2009

? 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

WHERE:

? League of American Orchestras

? 5th Floor Conference Room, 33 West 60th Street, NY, NY 10023

(off Columbus Circle between Broadway & Columbus Avenue)

PANELISTS:

? Harold Shultz, Senior Fellow, Citizens Housing and Planning Council

? Lisa Deller, NY Regional Director, National Equity Fund, an affiliate of LISC

? Hon. Anne Canty, Dep. Commissioner, Communications and Intergovernmental Affairs, NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection

? Hon. Angela Licata, Dep. Commissioner, Environmental Planning and Analysis, NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection

? Moderator, Ann R. Loeb, Co-Chair, WCC Housing & Planning Committee

THE ISSUES:

? Why do Harlem and the South Bronx pay more for water and sewer usage than the Upper East Side of Manhattan or Northeast Queens?

? Why does a building in which the median household income is $25,000 pay a higher water and sewer tax than a building in which the median income is $55,000?

? Why do residential buildings pay more in water and sewer costs than commercial, industrial or government buildings?

? Why is the water rate being increased 14% this year and every subsequent year?

? Why do water rates include lease payments to the City that are hundreds of millions of dollars more than the cost of the water system's infrastructure provided by the City?

? How much of a negative impact will the complicated and discriminatory system of running and setting rates for the NYC water and sewer system have on the City's stock of affordable housing?

? What types of incentives are needed to encourage conservation?

? What types of reforms can address these issues?

? How can the public's awareness and understanding of these matters be heightened?

COST:

? No charge for Women's City Club members, students, and members of the press

? No charge for staff of Housing First! supporters and member organizations who pre-register before 6PM on Wed., Jan. 28th

? $15.00 for all others

For information and to pre-register as a Housing First! associate, contact David Muchnick, Coordinator, Housing First! 212-957-0848 or dmmuch@aol.com

For other questions, contact Women's City Club of New York, 212-353-8070 info@wccny.org