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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by George Calderaro, Board Member of 6 New York City Civic Organizations

4:57:11

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125 sec

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George Calderaro, representing six NYC civic organizations, criticizes the City of YES for Housing Opportunity proposal, arguing it won't create affordable housing and instead encourages unaffordable, market-rate, and luxury housing development. He suggests the city is not serious about affordable housing and is part of a larger effort to deregulate development in NYC.

Calderaro proposes repurposing existing buildings (like Hotel Pennsylvania) for housing instead of demolishing them
He criticizes coordinated pro-development efforts, including Open New York and Abundant New York
Calderaro argues against the notion that simply building more units, including market-rate and luxury, will solve the housing crisis
He asks that criticism of City of YES not be dismissed as "NIMBY" attitudes

George Calderaro

4:57:11

I'm George Caldero, the board member of 6 New York City Civic Organizations.

4:57:16

City of YES for housing opportunity won't create affordable housing because it does not require or even prioritize affordable housing.

4:57:24

From building owners and developers except for 1 optional voluntary provision.

4:57:30

But it does encourage more unaffordable, market rate, and luxury housing.

4:57:35

If the city we're serious about creating and retaining a affordable housing, it would not allow the demolition of massive buildings such as the hotel, Pennsylvania, whose 2000 rooms with bathrooms could easily be used for housing as opposed to the massive vacant log will all be stuck with for the rest of our laws, like those vacant lots that were found throughout Midtown Manhattan, were massive historic buildings were destroyed by so called developers with impunity.

4:58:04

The city of yes is part of a current multipronged offensive to deregulate development in New York City, often using the disingenuous empty promises in affordable housing.

4:58:14

These coordinated efforts in King City of Yes, Open New York and its infiltration of community boards and abundant New York, a pack created to fund pro development elected officials.

4:58:24

Hopefully, no one listening to this ball, as well as other overt and covert tactics to, quote, streamline development and regulation.

4:58:33

What these pro development, pro developer proposals, including city of yes, for housing opportunity have in common, is that they argue we need more units, period, including market rate and luxury units despite the fact that there are many empty market rate and luxury units not to mention the thousands of units that landlords are, including the city, are sitting on because current rents are too affordable due to rent regulations.

4:58:59

Also, I ask that my and others criticism parts of city of yes, not be branded and dismissed simply as nimbi.

4:59:06

Our commute concerns for our communities and how they look and function are considered and sincere, and they should be yours too.

4:59:15

Thank you.

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4:59:13

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