How Does Trump Federal Government Shutdown Effect Roosevelt Island Residents With Housing Subsidies And Other Benefits?

The Trump federal government shutdown continues into its second month

Trump: "I am proud to shut down the government..."

He's "proud" of the pain he's causing hard-working families who cannot make ends meet. #TrumpShutdown pic.twitter.com/iDom8FXUw9

— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) January 20, 2019

with no expectation as to when it may end.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “We cannot have the president, every time he has an objection, to say I’ll shut down the government until you come to my way of thinking…If we hold the employees hostage now, they’re hostage forever.” https://t.co/oVwpm1i4A2 pic.twitter.com/ZbkCS5DTtN

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 22, 2019

How does the Trump federal government shutdown effect Roosevelt Island residents? That was a concern expressed at the January 9 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) meeting by Common Council member Adib Mansour who noted there are alot of people living on Roosevelt Island that depend on food stamps and housing subsidies who may be harmed by the shutdown. Mr Mansour asked for ideas to help neighbors adversely effected by the shutdown.

RIRA Common Council Member Eneaqua Lewis added that the Manhattan Park 2-4 River Road affordable housing buildings

have not had their leases/subsidies renewed yet by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).



On January 17, Ms Lewis reported:

Manhattan Park. 2 & 4 River Road HUD subsidy expired on January 9. The last time I spoke with MP they said they would honor leases and also still renew leases in this time but they didn’t know what would happen if the shutdown lasted longer.

One month after the government shutdown began, its effects have begun to hurt some of the most vulnerable Americans: not just homeless people, but also those who are one crisis away from the streets https://t.co/n7QxKCCi5P pic.twitter.com/NGh2knrXbM

— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) January 21, 2019

On January 18, I asked Manhattan Park ownership:

How does the government shutdown effect residents and building ownership of 2-4 River Road in Manhattan Park.

Are housing subsidies being paid and leases renewed.

I understand the HUD subsidy expired in January and has not been renewed due to the shutdown. Is that true?

Any statement from Manhattan Park on this issue?

Manhattan Park representative Brian Weisberg replied:

It's our hope that the shutdown will end soon. With that said, the financial impact of the shutdown will ultimately be on ownership. Tenants at 2-4 River Road in Manhattan Park won't be impacted.

Ms Lewis was quoted in a recent AP article on the government shutdown:

... People are really afraid right now and just don’t know what to do,” Lewis said. “I can’t afford market rate rent here. Where would I go? Where would everyone go? One side of the building is all elderly or handicapped. The other side is all families. Where would we all go?...

Here's Bronx/Queens Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

First House Floor speech from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC): “The truth of this shutdown is that it's actually not about a wall...The truth is, this shutdown is about the erosion of American democracy and the subversion of our most basic governmental norms." pic.twitter.com/r8tmsGSNtT

— CSPAN (@cspan) January 17, 2019

and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

The American people deserve a functioning government and a secure border. We’re in Day 26 of a partial government shutdown because Democrats have made a marketing decision to obstruct President Trump, at all costs, even if it hurts substantive priorities they used to support. pic.twitter.com/eN4rwNyDwW

— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) January 16, 2019

expressing their stark differences on the government shutdown.