PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Chloe Sarnoff, Director of Policy Research and Initiatives at Robin Hood
7:10:36
·
127 sec
Chloe Sarnoff, representing Robin Hood, strongly supports the City of Yes proposal and urges the council to vote for it as written. She emphasizes the severity of New York City's housing crisis, particularly its impact on low-income residents, and argues that City of Yes would significantly increase housing supply and create economic opportunities.
- The proposal could add up to 109,000 new units over the next decade, potentially creating opportunities for low-income families with rental assistance vouchers.
- A report estimates City of Yes would create up to 30,000 new jobs annually for 15 years, generating $32 billion in earnings and $83 billion in economic activity.
- While acknowledging that City of Yes alone won't solve the affordable housing gap, Sarnoff sees it as part of a broader necessary approach to addressing the housing crisis.
Chloe Sarnoff
7:10:36
Hi, everyone.
7:10:37
My name is Chloe Sarnoff, and I'm the director of policy research and initiatives at Robin Hood, one of New York City's largest poverty fighting organizations.
7:10:44
On behalf of Robin Hood, I am here to express our strong support for City of Yes and to urge the counsel to vote for the proposal as written.
7:10:51
New York City's housing crisis has reached its breaking point.
7:10:54
Nearly a third of low income renters in the city spend more than half of their income on rent.
7:10:58
And recent data from the property tracker finds up for the typical rent burden in New Yorker living in poverty, rent amounts to 70% of their cash income each month.
7:11:07
With the vacancy rate of only 1.4% the lowest in 56 years, our housing shortage affects all New Yorkers, but it threatens the lives of the city's most vulnerable families.
7:11:16
These are the New Yorkers who will be most harmed long term if the council does not pass city of yes.
7:11:21
With so few available affordable apartments, families currently spend over 400 days in shelter before finding an apartment they can afford.
7:11:28
If city of yes is passed as written, it will add as many as a 109,000 new units to the city over the next decade.
7:11:35
And in doing so, we'll create opportunities for low income families with rental assistance vouchers to access newer units in higher opportunity neighborhoods.
7:11:42
Beyond just new housing, a new report from the regional planning association estimates that City of Yes would create up to 30,000 new jobs annually for 15 years, generating $32,000,000,000 in total earnings $83,000,000,000 in overall economic activity for New York City.
7:11:57
Some have questioned whether city of yes for housing does enough to create a production pipeline for deeply affordable housing.
7:12:03
This is an important question for organizations like Robin Hood whose partners are focused on meeting the needs of the poorest New Yorkers.
7:12:09
Our response is that citywide zoning tax amendments can only do so much.
7:12:13
On its own city of yes for housing will not close our affordability a deep affordable housing gap or completely solve the housing crisis, which is why we are excited to see what else the council proposes as broader housing agenda and why we have to keep the pressure on an Albany for state wide option.
7:12:29
There is no civil bullet that will solve New York's housing crisis, meeting the needs of low income New Yorkers requires increasing the supply of affordable housing and providing more support for tenants today.
MacKenzie Fillow
7:12:38
These are the 2
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7:12:39
Thank you.
7:12:39
Attempting spy.
Chloe Sarnoff
7:12:41
Piece of our policy agenda.
7:12:42
Thank you.
