§ 970-b. Legislative findings and declaration. It is hereby found and declared that there exists in many communities blighted areas which threaten the economic and social well-being of the people of the state. Blighted areas are characterized by one or more of the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of section nine hundred seventy-c of this article.

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It is further found and declared that such conditions of blight tend to further obsolescence, deterioration and disuse and that remedying such conditions is necessary to facilitate commercial and industrial development, to maintain and expand the supply of low and moderate-income housing and to maintain and expand employment opportunities for jobless, underemployed and low income persons.

For these reasons it is declared to be the policy of the state to protect and promote the sound development and redevelopment of blighted areas and whenever the redevelopment of such areas cannot be accomplished by private enterprise alone without public participation and assistance in the acquisition of land, in planning and in the financing of land assembly, in the work of clearance, and in the making of improvements necessary therefor, it is in the public interest to employ the power of eminent domain, to advance or expend public funds for these purposes, and to provide a means by which blighted areas may be redeveloped or rehabilitated.

It is further found and declared that sound development and redevelopment of blighted areas increases public school enrollment by providing affordable housing and employment opportunities and the need for expanded public education facilities and services.