PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gregory Smithsimon, Professor and Director of the Center for the Study of Brooklyn at Brooklyn College and CUNY Grad Center
2:40:40
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118 sec
Gregory Smithsimon, a professor and researcher, testified in support of City of Yes while warning about the dangers of legalizing basement apartments. He emphasized the risks of flooding, especially from rainfall, and other health hazards associated with below-ground living spaces.
- Highlighted that current flood zone maps don't adequately predict rain flooding risks
- Warned about health risks in basement apartments, including asthma triggers and radon exposure
- Urged caution in creating affordable housing that may endanger vulnerable populations
Gregory Smithsimon
2:40:40
Thank you chair Riley and council members for the opportunity to testify, and thank you for addressing the urgent need for affordable housing in New York.
2:40:47
I'm Gregory Smith Simon, director of the Center for the Study of Brooklyn and Professor SOCIOLOGY at Brooklyn College And the CUNY Grad Center.
2:40:53
For the past 2 years, I've been conducting research on basement flooding in New York, funded by a US Geological Survey project.
2:40:59
I support City of Yes.
2:41:01
At the same time, I wanna warn the committee that our research finds that current city of yes proposals would legalize apartments in sellers and basements that would put the most vulnerable families at deadly risk, especially from floods.
2:41:13
City of yes recognizes that living in apartments below ground level during a flood can be deadly.
2:41:17
It says basement apartments won't be permitted in coastal flood zones.
2:41:21
However, when 11 New Yorkers died in basement apartments during Hurricane Ida, none of them lived in coastal flood zones.
2:41:28
They died from rain flooding, not coastal flooding.
2:41:31
Unfortunately, there are no existing maps to predict what properties are more or less likely to flood from rain.
2:41:36
The city's own prediction show that by 2080 rainfall like Ida would flood thousands of streets in every city, single city council district.
2:41:44
Our research found rain flooding happens even on the highest elevations and basement sometimes flood on blocks through the street itself never does.
2:41:50
There is no way to make sellers which are below ground safe from floods.
2:41:56
There are other risks.
2:41:57
Asthma is epidemic among low income children of color.
2:42:00
Basement Apartments would disproportionately expose kids at risk to known as matriggers, including mold, rodent mouse droppings, and natural gas, and exhaust, and furnaces, and hot water heaters.
2:42:10
Basement Apartments also expose people to naturally occurring gas rate on gas, which causes 21,000 cancer deaths last year and has a greater effect on children than adults.
2:42:20
We need to make sure that we're creating housing that is both safe and affordable.
2:42:24
Burying poor New Yorkers in basement and cellar apartments during climate change is a well intentioned but deadly move.
2:42:31
Anyone concerned about the most vulnerable New Yorkers must prevent this part of an otherwise admirable bill.
2:42:37
Thank you.
