TESTIMONY
962 Pacific Street Rezoning: Testimony in Support From a Lifelong Brooklyn Resident
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137 sec
Gregory Smith, a lifelong resident of Brooklyn, NY, testifies in support of the 962 Pacific Street rezoning.
He shares his personal struggles as a victim of displacement because there was no housing affordable enough for him.
He states he is in support of the project because it will bring affordable housing into Brooklyn.
Speaker 1
1:01:33
Next, we'll have Gregory Smith.
Speaker 20
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Good morning.
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My name is Gregory Smith.
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I'm a lifelong resident of Brooklyn, New York.
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I've lived in several of the communities that we were from Bushwick, Brownsville, Bedside, Crown Heights, Park Slope.
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I've seen the community change drastically over the years.
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I remember when it went from Brooklyn Union Gas running things and other projects came up, mass projects that caused rezoning and housing deficits and what have you.
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And there's a problem in house affordable housing in Brooklyn, New York.
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I I say that and I say it passionately because I'm a victim of that.
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I was born and raised in Brooklyn.
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I'm sixty seven years old, but 2 of my life years of my life had been in Brooklyn.
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But, however, now I am forced to live in another part of the city.
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Why?
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Because as as of 2021, there would no housing affordable for me.
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And I'm very passionate about it because I feel like I'm a victim because it has traumatized me.
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It has led me into undue hardship.
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It has isolated me from everything that I love, the housing crisis, from my family, my friends, everything that I know and appreciate is in Brooklyn.
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And because I have to live in the upper part of of the five boroughs now far away from my family and friends, I have no support.
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I've been no real support units there, and I feel threatened.
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I feel lonely.
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I feel afraid.
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Even at this point right now, I don't even go to my my the place that I'm supposed to do because I'm afraid.
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And I'm afraid because I don't have the the units, the people around me that I need to support me.
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So I am absolutely in support of this project, and any project that's going to bring affordable housing into Brooklyn that is going to keep families closer together I appreciate this family because they've been there since I was a little boy.
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And the continuity that they're bringing in is a wonderful thing.
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I supported 100%.
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Just like I supported, the the new comp that used to walk around my school when I was a little boy.
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So by all means, please, we do support this program, and we hope that it goes for.
1:03:49
Thank you.
