N.Y. Municipal Housing Authorities Law § 66: Powers of authority

* § 66. Powers of authority. An authority shall constitute a body both

corporate and politic. It shall have the following powers in addition to

others herein granted.

To investigate into living and housing conditions in the county, city

or village and into the means and methods of improving such conditions;

to determine where unsanitary or substandard housing conditions exist;

to study and make recommendations concerning the municipal plan in

relation to the problems of clearing, replanning and reconstruction of

areas and the providing of housing accommodations for persons of low

income, and to cooperate with any municipal or regional planning agency;

to prepare, carry out and operate projects; to construct, reconstruct,

improve, alter or repair or to provide for the construction,

reconstruction, improvement, alteration or repair of any project or any

part thereof; to take over any project undertaken by any government; to

act as agent for the federal government in connection with a project; to

arrange with the county, city or village or with a government for the

furnishing, planning, replanning, opening, grading or closing of

streets, roads, roadways, alleys or other places or facilities or for

the acquisition by the municipality or by a government of property,

options or property rights or for the furnishing of property or services

in connection with a project; to lease or rent any of the housing or

other accommodations or any of the lands, buildings, structures or

facilities embraced in any project and to establish and revise the rents

or charges therefor; to enter upon any building or property in order to

conduct investigations or to make surveys or soundings necessary to

carry out the purposes of the authority; to purchase, lease, obtain

options upon, acquire by eminent domain or otherwise, sell, exchange,

transfer, assign or mortgage any property real or personal or any

interest therein; to acquire any property real or personal or any

interest therein from any person, firm, corporation or government by

gift, grant, bequest or devise; to own, hold, clear and improve

property; to insure or provide for the insurance of the property or

operations of the authority against such risks as the authority may deem

advisable; to borrow money upon its bonds, notes, debentures or other

evidences of indebtedness and to secure the same by mortgages upon

property held or to be held by it or by pledge of its revenues, or in

any other manner; to limit by contract, the exercise of any powers of

the authority granted in this article; to invest any funds held in

reserves or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate

disbursement in property or securities in which savings banks may

legally invest funds subject to their control; to sue and be sued; to

have a seal and to alter the same at pleasure; to have perpetual

succession; to make and execute contracts and other instruments

necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the authority;

to make and from time to time amend and repeal by-laws, rules and

regulations not inconsistent with this article to carry into effect the

powers and purposes of the authority; to conduct examinations and

investigations and to hear testimony and take proof under oath at public

or private hearings on any matter material for its information; to issue

subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses or the production of

books and papers and to issue commissions for the examination of

witnesses who are out of the state or unable to attend before the

authority, or excused from attendance; and to do all things necessary or

convenient to carry out the powers given in this article. Any of the

investigations or examinations provided for in this article may be

conducted by the authority or by a committee appointed by it, consisting

of one or more members thereof, or by counsel, or by an officer or

employee specially authorized by the authority to conduct it. Any member

of the authority, its counsel, or any person designated by it to conduct

an investigation or examination shall have power to administer oaths,

take affidavits and issue subpoenas or commissions.

* NB The text of Article 5 of the former State Housing Law (cited

herein as the "Municipal Housing Authorities Law"), as such article

existed immediately prior to its repeal pursuant to section 227 of

Chapter 808 of the Laws of 1939, is provided here for ease of reference

and historical purposes as such text continues to be applicable for the

New York City Housing Authority pursuant to the provisions of section

401 of the current Public Housing Law.