Tell Me, Where Will The Children Live?

Campaign For Affordable Housing Gears Up On Long Island

You may have seen the recent TV spots, or heard the commercials on local radio. The premise, that the children of Long Islanders must leave not only the nest, but the island itself, in large part due to the lack of affordable housing, sets the stage not for a political campaign, but rather, for a public relations blitz aimed at educating the public and moving Albany off of square one on the affordable housing front.

While some -- particularly those in Albany who favor the benign neglect of the status quo -- may view the local Campaign for Affordable Housing as Long Island's perfect storm, the convergence of three powerful organizations -- the Long Island Association, the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and the Nassau/Suffolk Building and Construction Trades Council -- portends a significant movement form talking about affordable housing on Long Island to actually doing something about it.

Under the moniker of The Campaign For Next Generation Housing, the goals espoused are as follows:

- A series of media ads over the next several months encouraging Long Islanders to learn about Next Generation Housing and to better understand that it’s all about keeping our young people here on Long Island. [You will see TV commercials, you’ll hear radio commercials, and you will see ads in Newsday and other publications. All of those ads will direct you to the organization's website, www.nextgenerationhousing.com.]

- Meetings with civic leaders and boards of education members in each town on Long Island. Discussion of Long Island’s housing crisis with everyone who works to make their neighborhoods and school districts better places. Not to tell them what they should do, but to be sure they all understand what is happening to Long Island. To allow people in positions of influence on the Island to make informed decisions, and to assure that the information they have is complete and accurate.

- Presentations to local groups, such as Chamber of Commerce, PTA’s, Rotaries, Kiwanis, Lions, and other organizations. The organization will provide a speaker who can give group members a sharp, concise presentation about Long Island’s housing crisis, and what can be done about it. [If you are interested in having a presentation made to your organization, please click here.]

As part of its plan, the campaign supports legislation in Albany that advances the cause of affordable housing, with it's three component organizations cooperating on political support, including election strategy, endorsements and political fundraising -- points that have, in recent weeks, raised both eyebrows and ire among some incumbent legislators, particularly in the Republican-led Senate, which has dragged both feet and tail on measures designed to bring more affordable housing to the island. [SEE, Newsday editorial, The housing harangue.]

Residents -- who foot the bill for costs associated with the high costs of housing on Long Island -- are being asked to take an active role in the campaign [SEE, What You Can Do To Help], and, through the campaign's interactive interface, to let their voices be heard by public officials on the housing crisis and its ramifications.

The Community Alliance supports The Campaign For Next Generation Housing as well as the greater, broad-based Campaign For Affordable Housing, and urges everyone reading this blog to sign up and do your part to help make it possible -- and affordable -- for our children to stay on Long Island.

Click HERE to contact The Campaign For Next Generation Housing
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Click HERE for Debunking The Myths About Affordable Housing

Click HERE to learn The Truth About Affordable Housing