PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Karen Argenti, Member of the Public
10:07:51
·
104 sec
Karen Argenti testifies against the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity (CHO) proposal, highlighting environmental justice concerns and urging the council to vote no. She emphasizes the disproportionate effects of pollution and unhealthy land uses on certain communities, and criticizes the potential for luxury development to exacerbate these issues.
- Argues that the CHO proposal could lead to affordable housing being built on polluted brownfields and in flood-prone areas
- Expresses concern about the diminishing role of community boards and ULURP in the decision-making process
- Calls for a greener approach to development and requests a fiscal cost analysis of potential housing subsidies for developers
Karen Argenti
10:07:51
Okay.
10:07:52
But consider that environmental injustice occurs when certain communities are disproportionately affected by pollution, unhealthy land uses, climate change flooding, and lack of connections to decision makers.
10:08:04
With 72% imperviousness in New York City, this means land is limited.
10:08:10
The Census Bureau did the housing vacancy survey for HPD.
10:08:17
And their quote was, this was the largest housing stock for New York City in the 58 years since the survey was first conducted in 1965 and continued the trend of growth shown over the past few cycles.
10:08:35
If you build luxury buildings, the remaining areas will be polluted brownfields near trains and highways and in risky floodbanks, exasperating severe health outcomes for affordable housing.
10:08:47
In 1989, the city charter was revised to replace the board of estimate, which did not represent us equally.
10:08:54
In its place, the public was given the opportunity to participate through community boards and Ulerp.
10:09:00
Which is now being diminished.
10:09:02
Environmental justice works to ensure that everyone has meaningful participation in transparent decision making.
10:09:09
These are some of the environmental justice issues that specifically affect the bronx but are not addressed in this initiative.
10:09:16
I urge you to vote no on the DHL.
10:09:19
We need greenet, not concrete.
10:09:21
Ask for a fiscal cost analysis for the potential housing subsidies available to developers tell the mayor and city plan to come back with a plan that will meet the Bronx' needs.
10:09:32
What's good for the Bronx is good for the city too?
10:09:35
Thank you.
Shaun Abreu
10:09:36
Thank you, Karen.
