Mayor de Blasio Raises the Stakes on Housing Affordability

Mayor Bill de Blasio's recent State of the City address broke with tradition and voiced an impassioned plea regarding to housing affordability.

1 minute read

February 16, 2017, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


de Blasio Administration

Joe Tabacca / Shutterstock

"In an election year and amid an extraordinary shift in the nation's political climate, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday night split from his formula for State of the City speeches, delivering a lofty, not fully scripted and sometimes rambling address on the city’s growing 'affordability crisis,'" writes Laura Nahmias.

According to Nahmias, Mayor de Blasio's speech lacked the specifics and proposed policies of traditional State of the City addresses. The mayor's impassioned speech offered at least one memorable phrase on the subject of housing affordability: "This affordability crisis threatens who we are. It threatens the very soul of this city," said Mayor de Blasio.

Among the specifics included in Mayor de Blasio's speech were actions on jobs and the plan to retrofit public building in the city for energy efficiency.

Monday, February 13, 2017 in Politico New York

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Converted garage to housing unit in London, UK.

Grand Rapids Mayor Proposes Garage Conversion Plan

The mayor says allowing homeowners to convert garages to dwelling units could alleviate the city’s housing shortage.

6 seconds ago - Fox 17

Curb cut at corner of sidewalk with yellow panel with bumps to indicate wheelchair ramp.

Baltimore Ordered to Improve Sidewalk Accessibility

The city is one of many to face lawsuits for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio

Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab