NY Gen Mun L § 691 (2021)
2021 New York Laws GMU - General Municipal Article 16 - Urban Development Action Area Act 691 - Policy and Purposes of Article.

§  691.  Policy  and  purposes  of  article.    There  exist  in  many   municipalities within this  state  municipally-owned  areas  which  were   acquired  pursuant  to  the  urban  renewal powers delineated in article   fifteen of  this  chapter  or  through  condemnation  for  projects  now   abandoned  or as a direct result of previous landowners' failure to meet   in  full  their  real  estate  tax  or  other  obligations  or   through   proceedings relating to abandoned multiple dwellings or which consist of   municipal  facilities no longer needed for public purposes.  These areas   are  residential,  non-residential,  commercial,  industrial,  municipal   facilities  or vacant areas, and combinations thereof, which are slum or   blighted, or which are  becoming  slum  or  blighted  areas  because  of   substandard,   insanitary,  deteriorated  or  deteriorating  conditions,   factors, and characteristics, with or without tangible physical  blight.   The existence of such areas constitutes a serious and growing menace, is   injurious  to the public safety, health, morals and welfare, contributes   increasingly to the spread of crime, juvenile delinquency  and  disease,   necessitates excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds   for  all  forms  of  public  service  and  maintenance and constitutes a   negative influence  on  adjacent  properties  impairing  their  economic   soundness  and  stability,  thereby  threatening  the  source  of public   revenues.In order to protect and promote the safety, health, morals and welfare   of the people  of  the  state  and  to  promote  the  sound  growth  and   development of our municipalities, it is necessary to provide incentives   for   the   correction   of   such  substandard,  insanitary,  blighted,   deteriorated or deteriorating conditions, factors,  and  characteristics   by    the    clearance,   replanning,   reconstruction,   redevelopment,   rehabilitation,  restoration  or  conservation  of   such   areas,   the   undertaking  of  public and private improvement programs related thereto   and the encouragement and participation in  these  programs  by  private   enterprise.Moreover  in  order  to  assure  that  each  segment  of  our society,   particularly enterprises experienced in the construction of one to  four   family   residential  structures  and  business  enterprises  which  are   controlled by members of minorities,  is  accorded  a  real  and  proper   ability  to  participate  in  projects to be undertaken pursuant to this   article, it must be the public policy  of  each  municipality  operating   pursuant  to  the  provisions  hereof  to  take  such initiatives as are   appropriate to effect such participation.It is necessary for the  accomplishment  of  such  purposes  to  grant   municipalities  of  this  state  the  rights and powers provided in this   article. The use of such rights and powers to correct  such  conditions,   factors  and characteristics and to eliminate or prevent the development   and  spread  of  deterioration  and  blight   through   the   clearance,   replanning,  reconstruction,  rehabilitation, conservation or renewal of   such areas, for residential, commercial, industrial,  community,  public   and  other  uses  is  a  public  use and public purpose essential to the   public interest, and for which public funds may be expended.