PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Elena Sytcheva on City of Yes Initiative
12:41:30
·
97 sec
Elena Sytcheva, a lifelong Brooklyn resident, testified in favor of the City of Yes Initiative, emphasizing its potential to address New York City's housing crisis. She shared her personal experience growing up in mental illness housing and highlighted the importance of affordable housing for immigrant families and future generations.
- Sytcheva stressed the need for affordable housing solutions, citing skyrocketing rents and low vacancy rates in NYC.
- She supported specific aspects of the proposal, including the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP), making parking optional, and transit-oriented development.
- Sytcheva urged the city council to approve the proposal in its strongest form, emphasizing the urgency of the housing crisis.
Elena Sytcheva
12:41:30
Good evening.
12:41:31
Chair Riley and members at the sub committee and counsel.
12:41:34
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in favor of the city of Yext Initiative.
12:41:38
My name is Elena Sacheva, and I'm a lifelong Brooklyn resident of over 30 years.
12:41:43
I also grew up in mental illness housing.
12:41:45
And she said by Brooklyn, and I currently rent in Greenpoint, in Brooklyn from New York 1.
12:41:51
And it would be my preference to stay permanently in the Great borough of Brooklyn.
12:41:55
My parents immigrated from the former Soviet Union, and we were able to remain in New York and they were able to work in public service because of their access to affordable homeownership.
12:42:04
This allowed me to have a wonderful, cultural, educational, and career opportunities in New York City, and I'm concerned that this is no longer a possibility for generation or future generations.
12:42:15
My friends and colleagues are being forced to leave the neighborhoods they love because of the significant cost of living increases.
12:42:21
This is especially true for young working class families and their children.
12:42:25
We're all well aware that there is a severe housing crisis in New York City with historically low vacancy rates and skyrocketing rents.
12:42:33
I'm here because I really believe in this proposal, and I believe that we'll provide much needed affordable housing through New York City.
12:42:40
By creating permanent affordable housing through UAP, making costly parking optional, instead of mandatory, and the common sense solution of transit oriented development.
12:42:49
All of these solutions will help New Yorkers remain in the communities they love and will allow our great city to continue in welcoming new residents.
12:42:57
I urge the city council to approve this proposal in the strongest form.
12:43:01
We can't afford to wait.
12:43:02
We need to be bold.
12:43:03
Thank you so much for your time and for staying this late.
