Housing Policy and Urban Development with Hon. Alicka Ampry-Samuel

Join Basil Smikle Jr. and Nicholas Bloom in conversation with Hon. Alicka Ampry-Samuel, for a meaningful discussion about federal housing policy and urban development. Ms. Ampry-Samuel is an experienced human rights champion with a deep understanding of the experiences and the needs of the Department’s most vulnerable. She strives to provide quality affordable housing for low-income residents and homebuyers by ensuring that HUD grants provide economic opportunities and services to underserved populations.

Speakers:

Hon. Alicka Ampry-Samuel, presides over HUD’s local activities as Regional Administrator in New York and New Jersey. Appointed in January of 2022, Ms. Ampry-Samuel oversees over $6 billion in programs and activities in HUD’s Regional office and its field offices in Albany, Buffalo, and Newark.  The Regional Administrator works with Members of Congress and local elected officials to ensure that the Department’s policies and programs create more affordable, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive communities.

Dr. Basil A. Smikle Jr., is a Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the Public Policy Program at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College. Previously, he was appointed by former Governor David Paterson to serve as the Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party during the 2016 presidential cycle where he was the “second highest ranking Democrat” in the State. He holds a PhD in Politics and Education and an MPA from Columbia University and received a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University. He is an on-screen public affairs commentator for CNN and MSNBC.

Nicholas Dagen Bloom is a Professor of Urban Policy of Planning and Director of the Master in Urban Planning Program at Hunter College. He is the author/editor of 10 books from leading academic presses and is a frequent reviewer/guest critic of scholarly manuscripts and published works in urban history. He has also been interviewed and quoted on housing and other topics in leading national and regional media sources, including WNYC, The New York Times, Gothamist, CNBC, and NPR Marketplace.