PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Carol Donovan, President of Richmondtown & Clarke Ave. Civic Association
13:26:58
·
120 sec
Carol Donovan, representing the Richmondtown & Clarke Ave. Civic Association in Staten Island, strongly opposes the City of Yes proposal. She argues that the plan lacks provisions for affordable housing, removes democratic processes, and fails to address infrastructure needs.
- Criticizes specific aspects of the proposal, including ADUs, SROs, and basement apartments, citing safety and environmental concerns.
- Highlights Staten Island's unique challenges, including limited public transportation and lack of a public hospital.
- Expresses concern about the strain on already understaffed essential services like NYPD, FDNY, and schools.
Carol Donovan
13:26:58
Yes.
13:26:58
Yes.
13:26:58
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight.
13:27:01
I'm president of Richmondtown of Park Avenue, civic association in Staten Island, and we clearly, as many residents of communities have said, We really ask you, please say no to the city of yes in its entirety.
13:27:18
The city of yes has no provision for affordable housing.
13:27:22
It's only more housing and surely housing at market rate We do not want this to become a slum city.
13:27:29
With no democracy, no you learn, no community or community board input, no provision for increase in infrastructure, how city, The ADUs, they would rob the ability to absorb rainwater in backyards.
13:27:44
Climate change has made storms much more intense.
13:27:47
We need the backyards.
13:27:49
SROs, They encourage the transmission of communicable diseases and are very dangerous.
13:27:56
Basement Apartments, as we've seen, lives were lost in Hurricane Ida.
13:28:00
Basement Apartments are deadly.
13:28:03
Static Apartments too are dangerous.
13:28:05
The Department of Buildings is understaffed to review or or investigate that these types of apartments would meet any types of codes.
13:28:17
Parking spaces are clearly needed.
13:28:19
Staten Island has one train for half a million people, which is laughable if they say they want transit oriented development.
13:28:28
Where how will the people get to work if there's barely a train service?
13:28:33
We have extremely scarce bus service.
13:28:36
The NYPD, FDNY, EMTs, department building, schools, hospitals, they are already stranded understaffed, and Staten Island has no public hospital.
13:28:47
Which is something that would be needed for people that are are at an income bracket where they need affordable housing.
UNKNOWN
13:28:55
Thank you.
13:28:55
Your time has expired.
Carol Donovan
13:28:57
Alright.
13:28:57
Thank you.
