Congressman Avoids Opinion on Affordable Housing in His District

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), whose district covers affluent neighborhoods in the New York City suburbs, has refused to express whether he supports efforts to expand affordable housing options the localities he represents.

According to a Daily Caller report, the congressman’s Westchester County District is in a struggle with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding whether the county government should build or attain 750 affordable housing units in 31 of its wealthiest neighborhoods. The Justice Department had agreed to a legal settlement of this matter with former Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat, but the current Westchester County Executive, Republican Rob Astorino, is resisting the implementation of the agreement.

As for Engel, he is avoiding taking sides on the matter.

“I can’t answer yes or no, but I’m for affordable housing,” Engel told the Daily Caller. “I think Westchester County, like every county has to abide by the decisions of the courts. It’s not a matter of what I want. It’s a matter of what the courts say. I think that the case was adjudicated and I think that you have to follow the ruling of the court. What I think is not important.”