PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Daniel Arnow, Representative of Entertainment Community Fund
8:34:37
·
128 sec
Daniel Arnow, representing the Entertainment Community Fund, expressed strong support for the City of Yes housing initiative. He emphasized the importance of affordable housing for artists and cultural workers in New York City, highlighting their contribution to the city's economy and culture.
- Arnow stressed that high living costs are causing an outward migration of artists from the city.
- He urged the city to go further in creating affordable housing specifically targeted at arts workers.
- The testimony highlighted the potential of mixed-use development to integrate affordable housing with arts and cultural spaces.
Daniel Arnow
8:34:37
Daniel Arnold.
8:34:39
Good evening.
8:34:40
Thank you.
8:34:41
My name is Daniel Arnold.
8:34:42
I'm here on behalf of the Entertainment Community Fund and our housing development corporation.
8:34:47
We are a national human services organization that provides support, including housing for everyone in the performing arts and entertainment community.
8:34:56
We are here to express our strong support for the administration's city of yes housing initiative, New York is the cultural capital of the world, and its commitment to the arts is essential to the city's health.
8:35:08
Arch workers are a major driver of economic activity.
8:35:12
And in lower income neighborhoods, cultural resources including artists living there are linked to positive outcomes in education, safety, and health.
8:35:20
However, the high cost of living has put this community at risk.
8:35:25
As a result of high rents, we have witnessed an outward migration of artists from the city with creatives leaving for more affordable cities.
8:35:34
The city of yes housing initiative is an important step to addressing this affordability crisis.
8:35:39
It will help create more housing options for all New Yorkers including artists.
8:35:44
Additionally, the focus on mixed use development provides an opportunity to integrate affordable housing, arts and cultural, commercial uses, which create more vibrant communities.
8:35:54
While we strongly support this proposal, We urge the city to go even further in its commitment to ensure that cultural workers can continue to live and work here.
8:36:03
Low income artists are one of the city's most financially vulnerable groups and need more affordable housing targeted exclusively at Arts Workers.
8:36:12
In the 1st months of the pandemic, art's employment dropped by 60%, and employment remains 13% below pre pandemic levels.
8:36:22
To ensure that art that New York remains the global arts hub, We need to expand affordable artist housing and ensure that artists have affordable workspaces that allow them to thrive in this city.
8:36:36
In closing, we strongly support city of yes, and urged the council to embrace policies that make our cultural community stronger.
8:36:45
Thank you.
Shaun Abreu
8:36:45
Thank you, Daniel.
