TESTIMONY
Colin Kent-Daggett, Advocacy Coordinator and Paralegal at TakeRoot Justice, on funding for the Stabilizing New York City Coalition and community housing initiatives
5:09:12
·
168 sec
TakeRoot Justice requests $4 million in funding for the Stabilizing New York City Coalition to combat tenant harassment and preserve affordable housing.
- TakeRoot Justice works with community organizations to fight gentrification and demand better living conditions and affordable rents.
- The Stabilizing New York City Coalition, founded by TakeRoot, combines tenant organizing with legal representation across 19 grassroots groups.
- TakeRoot conducts various housing-related activities through the Community Housing Preservation Strategies Initiative (CHSPI) and Community Land Trust Initiative.
- The speaker emphasizes ongoing pandemic effects on New Yorkers, including overwhelming eviction cases and continued struggles with rent payments.
Colin Kent-Daggett
5:09:12
Thank you.
5:09:12
I accidentally muted myself if you unmuted me.
5:09:16
Hello, and thank you to chairperson Sanchez and the committee for your leadership.
5:09:20
My name is Colin Kent Daggot, and I'm an advocacy coordinator in paralegal with the housing rights team at Take root.
5:09:26
And as my colleague Paula mentioned, Take root works side by side with community organizations, tenants, and community leaders as they fight against gentrification to demand better living conditions, affordable rents, and a voice in the policies that shape their neighborhoods.
5:09:41
Take root is a founder and coordinator of the stabilizing New York City coalition.
5:09:45
Which is a group of grassroots organizations that combines tenant organizing with legal representation to combat tenant harassment and preserve affordable housing for the New Yorkers who need it most.
5:09:55
The city council has funded stabilizing NYC every year since 2014, and taker justice and the 19 grassroots groups that are part of it form and strengthen 100 of tenant associations across the city to fight against predatory equity tactics.
5:10:11
My submitted testimony includes more detail about the challenges facing, take root, and other members of the coalition.
5:10:18
But we are requesting $4,000,000 to allow for a modest cola increase to each of the 20 coalition members, helping to ensure that we can continue to do the same amount of work as business and living costs have risen sharply.
5:10:30
And encourage staff retention in these very important roles.
5:10:34
Further, our work would not be possible without funding from the community housing preservation strategies initiative and the community land trust initiative, and we ask for your continued and enhanced support for these important initiatives.
5:10:47
My colleague Paula testified about the CLT initiative, But through our CHSPI, we fight alongside more than 45 community benefit organizations to prevent evictions, wind repairs, empower tenants and protect homes.
5:11:00
Additionally, with that funding, we run a warm line on tenant rights for Council District 4.
5:11:05
Hold NICE accountable for repairs of tenant leaders in CD5, and conduct monthly tenant clinics and workshops with the Goddard Riverside SRO project in CD 6.
UNKNOWN
5:11:14
Times expired.
5:11:15
Thank you.
Colin Kent-Daggett
5:11:16
Did I finish my my remarks?
5:11:18
The very brief.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
5:11:20
Go ahead.
Colin Kent-Daggett
5:11:21
Thank you.
5:11:22
Despite all of these efforts, tenants and communities in New York still find themselves under attack, safe affordable housing continues to be threatened as we emerge in the pandemic.
5:11:30
And there was mentioned throughout today's hearing of a post pandemic economy and recovery.
5:11:34
But for New Yorkers who lost jobs, wages, family members, and more throughout the pandemic, The effects are still very much ongoing.
5:11:41
Courts continue to be overwhelmed with eviction cases following the lifting of the moratorium and tenants still continue struggle to continue to pay rent.
5:11:50
I hope we can continue to work together to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable and healthy housing and public spaces.
5:11:57
Thank you for your attention and your commitment to our communities.
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Paula Segal, Staff Attorney at Take Root Justice, on Community Land Trusts, Public Housing Support, and Municipal Debt Collection Redesign
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Wendell Walters, Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Osborne Association, on Housing Challenges for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals and Reentry Services