Schumer headlines 27th New York Housing Conference.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) delivered the keynote address at one of New York's largest housing events, the 27th annual New York Housing Conference and National Housing Conference awards luncheon. The event was held on Dec. 12 at the Shearaton New York Hotel.

To combat the growing need for affordable housing in New York, Schumer offered a series of proposals. Among the measures cited by the senator were: Promoting legislation, to increase affordable housing production and provide incentives for cities and states to develop enterprise zones and accelerate brownfield cleanup for the creation of new housing; convening a meeting of the entire New York State delegation to discuss a bipartisan strategy to bring more housing dollars to New York in the next Congress; organizing a task force of representatives from the New York Housing Conference and Community Development Corporations and the housing advocacy community to focus the integration of affordable housing concerns into their economic development agenda; and holding a series of town hail meetings throughout the New York State to better understand local and regional housing concerns.

Luncheon attendees; which included leaders in the fields of real estate, banking, insurance, investment banking, development, law, architecture, government, and not-for-profit sectors, also honored several individuals who have made significant contributions to increasing housing opportunities for New York families. Those honored included: George L. Engelke, Jr, chairman, president, and CEO of Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Association; Eugene R. McGrath, chairman and CEO of the Consolidated Edison Company of New York; and Kenneth J. Witkin, managing director of Fleet Real Estate Finance Group. These companies were honored with the Distinguished Community Development Award for their involvement in the Rebirth of Parkchester, a 12,000 unit housing community located in the Bronx.

In addition, Jeffrey E. Levine, president of Levine Builders received the Distinguished Housing Developer of the Year Award; Joseph B. Lynch, commissioner of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal received the Distinguished Public Service Award; and state senator John. J. Bonacic and assemblyman Vito J. Lopez, housing committee chairs for New York State Legislature received the Special Recognition Awards.

This year's event was chaired by Robert Lehrman, chairman of Resheff, Inc. and former president of the Community Bankers Association of New York State. New York Housing Conference co-chairs Clara Fox and John Kelly, New York Housing Conference staff director Carol Lamberg, and National Housing Conference executive director Robert Reid, all of whom served on the luncheon planning committee, were also in attendance.

"Having some 1,300 persons in attendance this year to honor representatives from the banking and real estate communities in New. York who have provided new housing opportunities for area families dramatically underscores the importance of such housing in the City of New York and the critical work of the New York Housing Conference," said Mr. Lehrman.

Clara Fox added "We hope that today's luncheon will heighten awareness of the need for more affordable housing production for the thousands of New Yorkers who face critical housing needs. The New York Housing Conference will work with senator Schumer to make housing a major legislative priority in New York and Washington."