News

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Liberty City Rising Act (S. 1746), which would improve safety standards for federally assisted public housing complexes located in high-crime areas, such as Miami’s Liberty City and Overtown. The bill was developed after Rubio’s 2018 visit to Liberty Square Apartments, one of the country’s oldest public housing developments, where he heard firsthand from the residents who had been victims of the systematic violence and crime reported in the community. Rubio first introduced this legislation in May 2018. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
 
“The Liberty City Rising Act would ensure higher safety standards for families living in HUD housing,” Rubio said. “I am committed to working to improve conditions in communities, like Liberty Square, so that Florida’s families can raise their children in safe and sanitary living conditions.” 
 
“Everyone, no matter their economic status, should have the opportunity to live in safe and secure housing,” Wilson said. “The federal government is in essence the landlord of these public housing complexes, which are home to thousands of children in my district, so it is incumbent upon the federal government to ensure that tenants are not living in fear. The Liberty City Rising Act is a vital part of our effort to improve public housing conditions for families and individuals in Florida.”
 
The Liberty City Rising Act would:

• Require Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) with traditional public housing and project-based section 8 properties located in “high-crime areas” to ensure properties have properly functioning security cameras, dead-bolt locks on entry unit doors, smoke detectors in common areas, and covers on security camera boxes and covered security camera wires;
• Make an anonymous PHA operated crime-reporting hot-line available to tenants; and
• Require HUD give priority to high-crime PHAs when awarding Emergency Safety and Security grants.