Q&A
Council Member Holden questions City Planning Commission about addressing illegal apartments
3:42:20
·
61 sec
Council Member Robert F. Holden questions the City Planning Commission about concrete plans to address illegal apartments and other issues in his district. Daniel Garodnick, Chair of the NYC City Planning Commission, responds by acknowledging the dangers of illegal apartments and emphasizing the need for Holden's district to be part of the housing solution.
- Holden asks about concrete plans to address illegal apartments and gain access to them for inspection
- Garodnick acknowledges the dangers of illegal apartments, both for residents and first responders
- Garodnick argues that legalizing units is necessary due to the city's low vacancy rate
- He emphasizes that Holden's district needs to be part of the housing solution and cannot opt out
Robert F. Holden
3:42:20
What what do you have?
3:42:21
That's concrete.
3:42:21
How do you get into illegal apartments?
3:42:25
You don't.
3:42:25
The answer is you don't.
3:42:28
Tell me how you're going to address all what I just mentioned.
Daniel Garodnick
3:42:31
Thanks.
3:42:31
It's a lot.
3:42:32
Thank you very very much, council member.
3:42:35
Well, most important, as it relates to illegal apartments, there is clearly a shadow market of illegal apartments out there, which are extremely dangerous as you correctly pointed out to the people who live there.
3:42:46
You know who else it's dangerous to.
3:42:47
It's dangerous for our first responders who don't know where to go when something tragic happens.
3:42:52
They need to know what's happening.
3:42:55
We need to bring these folks out of the shadows.
3:42:58
We need to legalize units, and this is what you get with a 1.41% vacancy rate.
3:43:04
And I'm sorry.
3:43:05
I understand your your your challenges here, but your district needs to be part of the housing solution in New York City.
3:43:11
It's important.
3:43:12
You cannot opt out.
3:43:14
You cannot, you know, just say, no.
3:43:16
This is you agree with these real issues, but also your district has to be part of the solution.
3:43:20
No.
Robert F. Holden
3:43:20
It doesn't.
