Federal government, NYC reach deal to fix NYCHA

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The federal government will take greater control of the New York City Housing Authority in a deal struck by local officials and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.

The new plan would include the naming of a monitor to eventually replace the current, interim chairman of NYCHA.

"We are very hopeful the monitor will engage with the people," Carson said. "We should have a name in the next couple of weeks."

The federal government already provides $20 million to $30 million a week to NYCHA.

The new plan would also include the establishment of specific requirements and milestones to address the serious health and safety issues in public housing.

Residents of NYCHA have endured years of maintenance failures and health hazards.

"What we have done here today creates a very strong path forward," de Blasio said.

The city is committing $2.2 billion in funding over the next 10 years to address the issues.

175,000 apartments will be renovated, added the mayor.

The new plan came on the deadline imposed by a federal judge to NYCHA and HUD to come up with a plan to fix the problem-plagued buildings that house 400,000 low-income New Yorkers.