New Coalition to Demand End to Hochul Plan for Penn Area, Call for Housing Over Offices

Residents, housing advocates and community groups to call on Governor to build thousands of units of affordable housing, not 17 million square feet of glitzy commercial towers; "End Hochul's Hoax" Coalition formed in response to New York's worst housing crisis in decades, which Governor has failed to address in the Penn Area

NEW YORK, NY (12/19/2023) (readMedia)-- Today, a new coalition of community members, city-wide organizations, and housing advocates will rally to launch "End Hochul's Hoax", a campaign demanding that Governor Kathy Hochul abandon support for her deal with Vornado to prioritize more than 17 million square feet of luxury commercial space over urgently needed affordable housing in the neighborhood near Penn Station. Amid the city's worst housing crisis in decades and a tanking market for office space, the Governor's real estate deal would use executive authority to supersede New York City's zoning laws and hand Vornado Realty Trust and its CEO Steve Roth the power to build six commercial mega-towers.

Now, as the neighborhood sits in limbo while Vornado waits for better economic conditions that are unlikely to materialize anytime soon (if ever), coalition members will call on Governor Hochul to drop her support for the real estate handout and finally embrace a plan that puts affordable housing and community space over favors for her campaign donor.

WHO:

Community Members of the Penn Area

New York Communities for Change

Strong for All Economy

Midtown South Community Council

Members of Rethink Penn Station

Members of Empire Station Coalition
WHAT:

 Press Conference Launching a New Coalition Advocating for Housing in the Penn Area.  
WHEN: Tuesday December 19, 2023 at 11:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: Outside of former Hotel Pennsylvania
401 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10001