New York & Tri-State + Tri-State | August 7, 2017

Rob Astorino Celebrates End of Seven-Year Fight with HUD

After seven years of lawsuits and legal wrangling, federal officials have accepted Westchester County’s contention that its local zoning laws are not designed to keep out housing for low-income people or minorities. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino celebrated with a piece in the Journal News.

“The charge that Westchester would ever, ever tolerate discrimination is patently false,” said Astorino.

An earlier settlement in 2009 required towns in the county to allow the the construction of 750 units of affordable housing in mostly white communities within seven years. The county now has 930 units in various stages of development, with 425 completed and occupied.

The 2009 settlement also required the county to submit a review of all potential hurdles to fair and affordable housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, part of the administration of President Donald Trump, has now reviewed this “analysis of impediments,” and accepted it without demanding changes to the local rules.