The year 2025 marks a historic occasion — our city’s 400th anniversary. It marks four centuries since the first European settlement of Manhattan in 1625, on land then known as Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Lenape people. The tiny Dutch colony began as New Amsterdam and then changed to New York when the English took control and expanded rapidly. A century ago, its boundaries increased beyond the island of Manhattan to encompass the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
To celebrate our city’s 400th anniversary, we are proud to announce the launch of our “Founded By NYC” campaign, which focuses on commemorating and celebrating our city’s 400th birthday and honoring the Indigenous communities that came long before. The campaign highlights contributions from New York City that have shaped our nation and affirmed our country’s place in the world.
Our website, FoundedByNYC.com, features events and activities that showcase our city’s amazing 400-year history. You can also sign up for our newsletter, which will keep you up to date on events in the five boroughs and submit information about your own events that illustrate New York City’s past so that we can showcase it on our calendar.
Even as we look forward and celebrate all our great city has to offer, our administration is deeply committed to acknowledging and engaging with our city’s complex past. That is why we met with Chief Brad KillsCrow of the Delaware Tribe of Indians at Gracie Mansion and have proclaimed November 20 as “Lenape Heritage Day.” The Lenape people are the original inhabitants of this region, we acknowledge the pain they have experienced and the great contributions that have made — and continue to make — to our city.
Like the Lenape, our city’s story has ultimately been one of perseverance and triumph. Together, the many nationalities, religions, and ethnicities that have been a hallmark of our city from its earliest years have worked to build a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. For four centuries, New York City has been a beacon of hope for people from all over the world, a place of religious freedom and tolerance, a place to fulfill the American Dream; and our administration has been working hard to bring that dream a little closer for New Yorkers today.
We passed the historic “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan that will help build a new generation of affordable housing; proposed the “Axe the Tax for the Working Class” to eliminate and cut city income taxes for some of our hardest-working New Yorkers; driven down crime all last year by seizing illegal guns, getting ghost cars and other illegal vehicles off our streets, and closing down unlicensed cannabis stores. We also created a record number of new jobs and small businesses, shattered affordable housing records, and produced a record amount of public space for pedestrians across the five boroughs. And, as we commemorate our 400th anniversary, we are preparing for the next 400 years — prioritizing climate resiliency by instituting citywide composting, creating new parks, planting trees, and completing the first section of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project.
As mayor of the greatest city in the world, I am committed to fulfilling the great promise that is New York, and delivering for you. Every day. Everywhere.
Addressing the Affordable Housing Shortage:
Prioritizing U.S. Citizens in Housing Allocation
The shortage of affordable housing in cities like New York has become one of the most pressing issues in recent years. What was once a manageable problem has become a crisis, with waiting times for senior housing in the city escalating from just one year to seven or even ten years. This significant increase in waiting time is largely due to a shift in policy that allows anyone who meets the age and income qualifications, regardless of citizenship status, to apply for public housing. While this may seem fair on the surface, the reality is that a large influx of immigrants has crowded out many American citizens from accessing these essential resources.
A telling example of this situation can be found in the case of senior housing applications in New York City. A decade ago, U.S. citizens applying for senior apartments only had to wait about a year to receive assistance. However, the current system, which permits non-citizens to use, has created a severe bottleneck, with citizens now facing wait times of several years. Many American citizens, particularly veterans, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities, are finding themselves unable to access permanent housing due to an influx of non-citizen applicants who have equal eligibility under the current guidelines. This has become an increasingly unfair situation for those who have contributed to society for decades, paying taxes and building their lives in this country.
The problem is not confined to senior housing alone. In July 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a policy limiting the length of stay for undocumented immigrants in city shelters to 60 days. The goal was to reduce the burden on the shelter system by encouraging immigrants to transition into permanent housing. However, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) criticized this plan, calling it "short-sighted" and advocating for permanent housing solutions for asylum seekers instead of limiting their stay in shelters. Murad Awawdeh, executive director of NYIC, argued that this approach places an unnecessary bureaucratic burden on vulnerable New Yorkers and fails to address the root cause of the housing crisis.
The need for permanent housing should be prioritized for American citizens, particularly those who have served in the military, paid taxes for decades, and have no criminal records. Vulnerable populations, including elderly citizens and people with disabilities, must be given top priority in housing allocation. These groups should not have to compete with non-citizens for scarce resources. The government must ensure that permanent housing resources are allocated to those who have been contributing members of society for years.
On the other hand, temporary housing solutions should be offered to people facing temporary hardships, including many immigrants who are still adjusting to life in the U.S. The focus should be on providing transitional housing for those in temporary distress, not crowding out American citizens needing long-term housing assistance. Many individuals staying in shelters or applying for refugee status could support themselves through work and eventually rent their homes. Their temporary housing needs should not be conflated with those of long-term, low-income American citizens.
The government must implement more stringent eligibility checks for permanent housing applicants to ensure fairness and transparency in housing allocation. First and foremost, applicants should be thoroughly vetted to confirm they meet the low-income criteria. Officials should investigate whether applicants hide foreign retirement funds or investments that could disqualify them. Furthermore, an investigation should be conducted into whether applicants have transferred their property or assets to friends or family members to meet the low-income threshold. Foreign applicants must provide official documentation of their financial assets and income in their home countries. Additionally, the individuals who sponsored their immigration to the U.S. should also undergo scrutiny to ensure that their financial situation aligns with the original economic guarantees made during the immigration process.
Strengthening legislative oversight of housing distribution is the most effective way to prevent fraud and corruption. By tightening eligibility requirements, the government can ensure that housing is allocated to those who truly need it—those who have spent years contributing to the nation's well-being and genuinely need assistance.
The affordable housing crisis is a multifaceted problem that requires thoughtful and equitable solutions. While compassion for those seeking refuge in the U.S. is important, it is equally important to prioritize the needs of U.S. citizens who have long been overlooked. Housing policies must be designed to ensure that American citizens are not left behind in the race for affordable housing. Ensuring fairness in housing allocation will help create a more just and sustainable future for all New Yorkers.
Jack George
12/25/2024