PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Andy Zhang, Renter from Williamsburg
11:33:02
·
124 sec
Andy Zhang, a renter from Williamsburg, testifies in support of the City of Yes proposal with no modifications. He emphasizes the importance of addressing the housing shortage and focuses on the benefits of Transit Oriented Development (TOD).
- Zhang argues that unbanning and relegalizing homes near transit connects New Yorkers to centers of opportunity and mobility.
- He stresses the importance of the "freedom to build" alongside other freedoms like living, starting families, and working.
- As a first-generation Chinese American, Zhang sees the proposal as a step towards realizing the American dream and creating a more inclusive New York City.
Andy Zhang
11:33:02
Hello city members of city council.
11:33:04
My name is Andy Huang, and I am a renter who lives in Williamsburg, and this year marks a decade of living in this city.
11:33:12
I'm here today to testify in support of city of yes with no modifications.
11:33:17
The shortage in housing is one of, if not, the most significant contributors to elevated cost of living and quality of life.
11:33:24
I want to focus on one aspect I am particularly interested in, TOD AKA transit oriented development.
11:33:31
I live off the train, and like my family, friends, and neighbors, I consistently rely on the proximity to transit that makes it easier to commute to work, job training, school, and more.
11:33:42
We see the same up and down, left and right across the entire transit network, be it the subway, the bus, the ferry, the l I double r, the metro North networks, and more.
11:33:52
Unbanning and relegalizing perfectly normal and regular homes near transit connects New Yorkers to the centers of opportunity and mobility that our communities and neighborhoods deserve.
11:34:03
We as New Yorkers and Americans desire and deserve the freedom to live, the freedom to start families, the freedom to study, the freedom to work, to even start businesses.
11:34:12
None of these freedoms mean anything without the freedom to build.
11:34:16
City of YES may only be the 1st step to addressing our housing crisis and our ability to build, but as many others have said, first steps are important.
11:34:25
We are a city, not a collection of mere districts.
11:34:28
We live in connected neighborhoods, not scattered HOA's, We cannot have local yet vocal minorities dictate one size fits all solutions for any and all land use in their immediate vicinity.
11:34:39
A city of yes is the 1st step towards the city for all.
11:34:43
I'm a 1st generation Chinese American whose family arrived in America in the 19 nineties seeking a better life.
11:34:49
I, like Igor here, am proud to be one of the many generations of new residents and immigrants who embody the story of New York City and the American dream.
11:34:57
Let's stop shooting ourselves in the foot by legalizing the housing we deserve and building the housing we deserve for a greater New York City that we all deserve.
11:35:04
Thank you for your time.
