To the:

Honorable Chuck Schumer 

Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand 

Honorable Gregory Meeks

Honorable Kathy Hochul

Honorable New York State Senator James Sanders Jr.

Honorable New York State Assemblywoman Vivian Cook

Honorable Mayor Eric Adams

Honorable Speaker Adrienne Adams

Honorable Queens Borough President Donovan Richards

We, the undersigned residents of Rochdale Village Mitchell-Lama Cooperative respectfully submit this petition for financial assistance and support.

Rochdale Village is one of New York's largest Mitchell-Lama cooperative housing developments, providing essential affordable housing for thousands of Queens residents in New York State.

Our cooperative is currently facing unprecedented financial challenges requiring a significant increase in carrying charges that will directly impact on the affordability of housing for our residents.

We have identified critical infrastructure and capital improvement projects totaling approximately $480 Million dollars, including essential safety upgrades to plumbing, electrical systems, fire alarms, and building integrity.

Without additional financial assistance, Rochdale Village will be forced to implement carrying charge increases that may place an undue burden on seniors, single-parent households, federal workers, laborers, basically every household in our community threatening the long-term affordability and stability of our community.

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the undersigned cooperators of Rochdale Village, respectfully petition you to:

• Allocate additional state funding specifically for Mitchell Lama cooperatives facing critical infrastructure needs;
• Make sure the supervising agency, DHCR, holds to the budget numbers and/or develop a plan to reduce the numbers submitted by the housing company. The current projects by DHCR will devastate this community and Rochdale Village will no longer be affordable;
• Establish special grant programs to offset the costs of essential capital improvements in aging affordable housing developments;
• Create financial relief programs for Mitchell-Lama cooperatives to maintain affordability while addressing necessary infrastructure upgrades;
• Advocate for legislative changes that provide tax incentives and financial support for Mitchell-Lama developments; and
• Develop programs that provide technical and financial assistance to help Mitchell-Lama cooperatives implement energy-efficient upgrades that will reduce long-term operational costs.

NOW, THEREFORE, We, the undersigned residents of Rochdale Village, respectfully submit this petition and look forward to working collaboratively with our elected officials to preserve affordable housing in our community.