PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Elisa Koenderman, Resident of Forest Hills, Queens
10:59:53
·
125 sec
Elisa Koenderman, a longtime Forest Hills resident, strongly opposes the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity (CHO) proposal, arguing it would destroy her neighborhood's character and quality of life without delivering affordable housing. She urges the City Council to reject the proposal unanimously.
- Warns of overdevelopment, strain on infrastructure, increased crowding, and displacement of current residents and businesses
- Criticizes the proposal for benefiting developers and removing local control over development projects
- Suggests finding alternative means to achieve affordable housing without sacrificing single-family homes and low-density neighborhoods
Elisa Koenderman
10:59:53
Okay.
10:59:54
Thank you.
10:59:55
I am a lifelong resident of Forest Hills Queens, where I've owned a single family home for more than 30 years.
11:00:02
I am testifying on behalf of myself and my like minded neighbors.
11:00:07
This ill conceived one size fits all proposal would destroy our neighborhood.
11:00:12
The overdevelopment guaranteed by this proposal would subsume our light air, and space, including precious green space, strain the already overburden infrastructure, and increase crowding, traffic congestion, pollution, and garbage on our streets.
11:00:29
Ultimately, the proposal will displace our current residents and merchants who will be forced out of their homes and businesses in a neighborhood which has become unrecognizable.
11:00:39
Traditionally, this extension of our neighborhood as we know it will be for naught.
11:00:43
Since it will do nothing to deliver affordable housing.
11:00:47
Rather, the proposal will operate as a boon for developers who will exploit it for profit from market rate and luxury housing.
11:00:55
Further, The proposal would rob us of the power to control future development projects by transferring local authority to a city agency with no knowledge of or connection to our neighborhood and no accountability to us.
11:01:08
The city council should unanimously reject this radical and unwarranted proposal devised by a mayor currently under indictment for corruption, which their constituencies overwhelmingly oppose.
11:01:20
We say no to the destruction of our neighborhoods reportedly to create affordable housing, which this proposal will not deliver.
11:01:27
New York City must find other means to achieve affordable housing without asking us to sacrifice our single family homes and low density neighborhoods.
11:01:37
We are tired of our elected officials ignoring our wishes in favor of their own interests and agendas.
11:01:44
Here, our quality of life is at stake.
11:01:47
Simply put those council members who approve this proposal should expect to
UNKNOWN
11:01:52
be Thank you.
11:01:52
Your time has expired.
Elisa Koenderman
11:01:54
And to fail in any effort to succeed to hire office.
11:01:57
Thank you.
