§ 970-B — Legislative findings and declaration

§ 970-b. Legislative findings and declaration. It is hereby found and\ndeclared that there exists in many communities blighted areas which\nthreaten the economic and social well-being of the people of the state.\nBlighted areas are characterized by one or more of the conditions set\nforth in subdivision (a) of section nine hundred seventy-c of this\narticle.\n It is further found and declared that such conditions of blight tend\nto further obsolescence, deterioration and disuse and that remedying\nsuch conditions is necessary to facilitate commercial and industrial\ndevelopment, to maintain and expand the supply of low and\nmoderate-income housing and to maintain and expand employment\nopportunities for jobless, underemployed and low income persons.\n For these reasons it is declared to be the policy of the state to\nprotect and promote the sound development and redevelopment of blighted\nareas and whenever the redevelopment of such areas cannot be\naccomplished by private enterprise alone without public participation\nand assistance in the acquisition of land, in planning and in the\nfinancing of land assembly, in the work of clearance, and in the making\nof improvements necessary therefor, it is in the public interest to\nemploy the power of eminent domain, to advance or expend public funds\nfor these purposes, and to provide a means by which blighted areas may\nbe redeveloped or rehabilitated.\n It is further found and declared that sound development and\nredevelopment of blighted areas increases public school enrollment by\nproviding affordable housing and employment opportunities and the need\nfor expanded public education facilities and services.\n