Sanders Treks through the Bronx to Discuss Affordable Housing

Senator Bernie Sanders is calling for a change in national priorities for government funding of public housing and its community centers. On Monday, Senator Sanders was joined by New York City Councilmember Ritchie Torres and New York State Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda in the Bronx. He wants the government to provide sufficient funds to the New York City Housing Authority, so that residents living in these buildings, particularly the children, have the necessary resources to live succesful lives, guaranteeing "a path for opportunity and success," said Senator Sanders, "not simply to go to jail."

This issue surfaced while Sanders was campaining on Ford Street in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx.  Affordable housing was one of the many social issues Sanders took up prior to Tuesday's Presidential primaries.

Senator Sanders arrived at Twin Park West apartment complex in the Bronx with Councilmember Torres and Assemblyman Sepulveda, touring the outside community center of the building. This is an abandoned area where the residents, especially the children, once had the ability to "come together to have some time and get some mentoring after school," said Senator Sanders.

But now, the playground remains padlocked, unavailable to the residents of the complex due to the lack of government funds. "In order to replace all of the structures and systems in the building, the New York City Housing Authority would need $17 billion, yet it only receives $200 million every year," said Councilman Torres.

Shenia Rudolph, a resident at the Twin Park West apartment builiding and supporter of Senator Sanders, believes preserving public housing is a crucial issue that needs to be addressed. According to Rudolph, there is a need for the government to fund public housing "instead of putting a Band-Aid job on it."

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WFUV Reporter Aubree Oppici