Cynthia Nixon: NYCHA trouble is a 'health crisis'

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Cynthia Nixon took her campaign for governor to public housing on Wednesday with a tour of the Albany Houses in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

She met with several residents, including Christine Morrison who said she is stuck in her apartment because NYCHA hasn't widened her doors so she can get her wheelchair through. She said what she saw was "very upsetting."

The actress and activist, who accepted an invitation to visit from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, got close-up looks at leaks, broken floor tiles, and the asthma inhalers that have become a necessity in so many of the apartments.

"This isn't just a housing crisis—this is a health crisis," she said. "Every branch of government has neglected public housing in this city for far too long."

Her visit looked a lot like the three tours her opponent Gov. Andrew Cuomo made in recent weeks, which prompted him to pledge an additional $250 million in funding for repairs.

The NYCHA Citywide Council of Presidents released an open letter asking Cuomo to deliver on his promise and declare an emergency over authority. The governor's office said Cuomo will push the Legislature for the declaration and won't sign a budget that doesn't include immediate remedies for NYCHA.

Public housing resident Kayaswonna Williams said she hopes the dueling visits from Cuomo and Nixon translate into action.

"I feel like more people [are] paying attention but I don't want it to end up being just politics," Williams told reporters.

As for the politics, Nixon also criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio, saying that his four-year timeline to replace NYCHA boilers is unacceptable. But she had even stronger words about the ongoing feud between the mayor and governor.

"When I am the governor, I am sure that the mayor and I will disagree on a whole host of issues," Nixon said. "But I can promise you we won't get into this kind of a pissing contest."

Nixon was also asked whether she thinks NYCHA Chair Shola Olatoye should step down. Nixon said she didn't understand how Olatoye could know about lead paint and not notify residents. But she said that even if Olatoye is replaced, NYCHA would still have a severe shortage of funding.