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City Mulls Funding Freeze To Homeless Advocacy Group After NY Post Article
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 1, 2012
Modified Apr 1, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 1, 2012
Modified Apr 1, 2012
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A week after the New York Post falsely conflated the work of the homeless advocacy group Picture the Homeless with "pimps" and "hookers," the paper obtained a letter from City Counsel attorney Elizabeth Fine asking for a probe of the non-profit that may shut off its funding—PTH was scheduled to receive $50K this fiscal year. The Post's subheadline for the web article begins, " 'Picture' this:" Yeah! Take that, organization working to enact meaningful social change.
PTH, which rallied in front of New York's News Corp headquarters on Thursday, released a statement today addressing the backlash the Post's "misleading and racially charged article" has caused. "Unsubstantiated allegations should not be the basis for the loss of public funds," councilmember Letitia James says in the release. "Until an independent investigation is completed, Picture the Homeless should continue receiving public funds. They serve a vulnerable population and are addressing crucial issues—especially at a time when the housing crisis is causing homelessness to increase at a devastating rate."
Gideon Oliver, the president of the New York Chapter of the National Lawyer's Guild said, "A team of legal allies are working with PTH to respond to this attack on what amounts to over 10% of PTH's annual budget…We are considering all options, including litigation."
Tagged
homelessness
homesteading
mayor bloomberg
new york post
Picture the Homeless
squatting
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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