Assembly Resolution No. 818
BY: M. of A. Davila
COMMENDING Southside United HDFC-Los Sures upon
the occasion of hosting its Annual Gala on October
16, 2025
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those organizations whose commitment and dedication to the
well-being of others have significantly enhanced the quality of life for
individuals and families across the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Southside United HDFC-Los Sures upon the occasion of hosting its Annual
Gala on Thursday, October 16, 2025; and
WHEREAS, With minimal staff and a handful of volunteers, Southside
Los Sures began to rebuild the South Side of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in
June 1972; the founders were responding to an epidemic of landlord
abandonment, withdrawal of City services, and illegal evictions by
landlords attempting to alter the ethnic composition of the
neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Southside Los Sures fought back by organizing tenants and
promoting community-based control of housing, becoming the first
community-based organization to enter into agreements to manage
City-owned properties; Los Sures was one of the first groups to
undertake large-scale rehabilitation, becoming a key player in the
stabilization of buildings' long-term affordability and health; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Southside Los Sures hosts its Gala to support
its mission of providing affordable housing, tenant advocacy, and
community development; the Gala serves as a cornerstone fundraising
event for Los Sures, bringing together community leaders, activists, and
supporters to celebrate the organization's impact and raise funds for
its programs; and
WHEREAS, Southside Los Sures provides culturally competent and
linguistically accessible support to residents of Williamsburg and
Bushwick; its Social Services Department provides a variety of services,
including a Food Pantry, Senior Center, and entitlement benefits
assistance, impacting more than 150,000 residents annually; the
Community Organizing Department works with residents, Housing
Development Fund Corporations (HDFCs), and tenant associations to
provide technical assistance and educational workshops on housing
issues; and
WHEREAS, Southside Los Sures received the 2012 NYC Food Bank Award
for the Borough of Brooklyn and the 2014 "Pantry of the Year"
recognition for its Choice Emergency Food Pantry which serves more than
700 families monthly; and
WHEREAS, Southside Los Sures was a key participant in the Right to
Counsel NYC Coalition which won a major city-wide victory when
then-Mayor Blasio committed to passing legislation to mandate universal
access to legal representation for low-income tenants in court; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, Southside Los Sures has been working in
communities impacted by gun and gang violence by implementing a
community-based approach to interrupting violence and developing a
Neighborhood Safety Coalition; this Coalition brings together community
stakeholders who can use their resources and community connections to
address issues of violence and promote community-coordinated responses
to acts of violence; and
WHEREAS, This year's Southside Los Sures Gala proudly celebrates the
mission to nurture and sustain a vibrant North Brooklyn neighborhood by
advocating for affordable housing, promoting family health and
well-being, and advancing equal opportunity for all; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to recognize the outstanding
contributions of Southside Los Sures to the social fabric of the State
of New York and celebrate the organization's unwavering commitment to
building a more equitable and supportive society for all; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Southside United HDFC-Los Sures, upon the occasion of hosting its
Annual Gala on October 16, 2025, and to commend the organization for
more than five decades of transformative service; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Southside United HDFC-Los Sures.
