TESTIMONY
Testimony: Julius Tajiddin on Project Affordability Concerns in East Harlem
0:41:51
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3 min
Julius Tajiddin, an East Harlem resident, testifies about the Timbale Terrace project, emphasizing the affordability mismatch for the community. Highlighting NYU Freeman report data, Tajiddin criticizes the project for not adequately addressing the needs of the lowest-income residents. He advocates for income-targeted housing and calls for construction job guarantees for local US citizens, especially within the African American community. The testimony underscores systemic issues in housing and employment opportunities.
Speaker 17
0:41:51
Julius Tangerine.
0:41:55
This I live I'm an East Holland resident, and I like the project, but these are the problems with it.
0:42:04
According to the latest NYU Freeman report, 60% of these Harlem households earn at or below 30,000 a year.
0:42:14
33% are at the federal corbelow at the federal poverty level, which is approximately 14,000 a year.
0:42:23
The developer in this project touts that the residential units are 100% affordable, yet they don't tap into the 60% group, let alone the 33% group.
0:42:35
I find very appalling that this city can house migrants and luxury housing no less, but far too often don't allow housing for a less fortunate residence.
0:42:47
In this case, who have probably been here their entire lives or for a very long time.
0:42:53
The way the ecosystem in housing should work is that when new housing is built, some of the people living in such communities should go into that housing.
0:43:03
Then the landlords of these dilapidated buildings can renovate them and let some new transplants occupy them.
0:43:09
Many of the East Harlem residents in that 60% group as well as the 33% group live in overcrowded and deplorable apartment.
0:43:20
As far as the AMI goes, the use of it is a convenience for developers.
0:43:25
Even if a developer was shooting for a federal benefit, which would require the use of the AMI, that has nothing to do with us.
0:43:33
By the time of this closing, the AMI could be 10 to 15,000 more than the 127,000 that it it's currently.
0:43:41
So it's a system where the goalpost is always moving.
0:43:44
But if we use the method of income targeted housing, It is what it is.
0:43:50
We want housing that protects a certain income class, and that will not change.
0:43:55
What the developer presents today could change by the time of the closing.
0:44:00
Lastly, this developer said nothing about guaranteeing construction jobs for our US citizen residence in the Harlem area.
0:44:08
I travel all over the country and then the south, black people work in every job sector.
0:44:14
Yet here, there are too many job industries such as construction, where you don't see black construction workers.
0:44:21
Why is that?
0:44:22
I can tell you, it's not the black citizens doing.
0:44:25
It's the government's doing.
0:44:27
You, the committee, and hopefully, the city council, have an opportunity to fix this.
0:44:34
So that's what's wrong with this project.
0:44:36
Everything else about it is good.
Speaker 1
0:44:39
Thank you so much.
Speaker 17
0:44:42
Any questions?
0:44:45
Mister Salam, any questions?
Speaker 1
0:44:46
Are there any questions?
0:44:48
Well, firstly, I'd like to recognize council member, Youssef Salam, has joined us And anyone have questions?
0:44:55
Council member, Marte?
Speaker 4
0:44:56
Just a quick hello.
