REMARKS
Council Member Sanchez's opening remarks and appreciation for the commissioner's presentation
0:33:39
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153 sec
Council Member Pierina Ana Sanchez begins by expressing strong appreciation for Commissioner Carrión's remarks, describing them as the best she's heard in her time with the city government. She emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach to solving the affordable housing crisis, involving the council, administration, city, state, and federal government.
- Sanchez uses an analogy of getting dressed to illustrate the multifaceted approach needed for tackling the housing crisis
- She highlights the alignment between the council and administration on various housing policies
- Sanchez stresses the importance of focusing on affordability in any new tax incentive program replacing 421A
Pierina Ana Sanchez
0:33:39
Thank you so much commissioner.
0:33:42
That was probably the no no offense to anyone, but that was probably the best remarks that I've heard out of budget hearing and, you know, my my little 10 years, but my 10 years came in the council.
Adolfo Carrión Jr.
0:33:53
Thank you, madam chair.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
0:33:54
And in the city, government.
0:33:55
So thank you for for that very comprehensive overview.
0:34:00
First, you know, just a statement that that is certainly just coming from me in this moment, but I I know many of my colleagues on the council agree with, you know, here in in solving the affordable housing crisis together, the council with the administration, the city, with the state, and with the federal government, we must work together.
0:34:18
And it it's a it's a yes and approach.
0:34:21
And I I often talk about it in terms of clothes.
0:34:24
You don't walk out the door in the morning.
0:34:26
You don't just put on your shoes, and then you're like, great.
0:34:28
Let's go.
0:34:28
Right?
0:34:29
I'm not that's, you know
Adolfo Carrión Jr.
0:34:31
It would be interesting.
0:34:31
Yeah.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
0:34:32
I mean, you know and that's similarly the the kind of approach that we need to to take in terms of tackling the housing crisis, one that is talking about increasing supply, using the tools that we have in the best ways that we can use them, one that is talking about protecting and tenants.
0:34:49
And of course, one of that is helping New Yorkers to be able to stay and afford their homes.
0:34:54
So first, I I just wanted I I wanted to to make that, you know, sort of position statement.
0:34:59
And then in in terms of the the policies that you highlight in Albany, you know, this council has provided resolutions in support of many of these topics, office conversions for affordable homes, basement, apartments.
0:35:14
We've introduced, although it didn't I get to pass, I don't believe the removing the cap on the floor area ratio.
0:35:19
I I introduced that legislation in the last cycle.
0:35:22
And so there's a lot of alignment that I wanna highlight between the count and administration in terms of what we do need to see.
0:35:29
And when it comes to the the topic of an affordable housing tax incentive, the replacement program for 421A.
0:35:35
I think I speak for several, if not, many of my colleagues here that we really do need to see the affordable component here and the deeply affordable component here highlighted.
0:35:46
Right?
0:35:46
We can't just, you know, give away taxpayer money, your money, your money, your the public's money in in return for not the affordability levels that we need the lowest income new workers are leaving us.
0:35:59
And so how can we shape that program to to help that part of the crisis?
0:36:04
Thank you, commissioner.
0:36:06
My first question And then I want to turn it over to my colleagues who may have schedules that don't allow them to stay as long as I will.