COMPTROLLER MYCHAJLIW MEETS WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HUD OFFICIAL

Comptroller Mychajliw meets with Trump Administration official
in his Rath Building office and shares his previously released affordable housing report
with HUD Assistant Secretary Anna Maria Farías 

Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr. met with Trump Administration official Anna Maria Farías, the United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Assistant Secretary, in his Rath Building office in downtown Buffalo.  Inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000, Assistant Secretary Farías once served as senior counsel to former HUD Secretary Melquíades Rafael Martinez, who went on to become a United States Senator.  Prior to her work with HUD, she served in the administration of former President Ronald Reagan, working for then-Secretary of Education William J. Bennett. 

Ms. Farías has a unique perspective to serving as a senior official in Housing and Urban Development in the Trump administration.  Having grown up within the walls of the Crystal City Housing Projects in Texas, Ms. Farías later returned in a professional capacity as the Executive Director of those very same housing units.  She led by example, becoming one of the first housing Executive Directors to actually live in the same housing developments she was responsible for. 

“Anna Maria Farías is the definition of a selfless, dedicated public servant that cares deeply about serving others.  We had a nice talk, a very productive meeting.  She is quite impressive.  The Trump administration is served well having Anna Maria Farías leading the charge to reform federal housing policies.  We also talked about our shared admiration for former HUD Secretary and Buffalo Bills quarterback Jack Kemp.  His compassionate conservatism in giving the poor a ‘hand up, not a handout’ still reverberates the halls of HUD many years after his time in Washington,” said Comptroller Mychajliw. 

President Trump nominated HUD Assistant Secretary Farías to her current position on June 20^th, 2017.  She was confirmed by the United States Senate two weeks later on August 3^rd, 2017. 

“Our discussion was very productive.  I gave Assistant Secretary Farías my report on affordable housing in Erie County.  In my opinion, forcing private developers to give a big percentage of their new development for affordable housing will cripple growth in our community.  No one will build again here.  That misguided over-regulation is punitive in nature.  It’s a big government sponsored, job-killing idea that will destroy businesses.  I am proud to work with officials from the Trump administration who understand the importance of strong economic growth and reducing regulations are key to our prosperity,” concluded Comptroller Mychajliw.

For a PDF of the press release, please CLICK HERE.