PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kevin LaCherra, 4th Generation Green Pointer
14:01:58
·
80 sec
Kevin LaCherra, a 4th generation Green Pointer and 5th generation New Yorker, expresses strong support for the City of Yes proposal. He emphasizes the historical context of immigration and population changes in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to argue for the importance of maintaining New York City's role as a welcoming place for newcomers.
- Highlights his family's 145-year history in New York, starting with Italian immigrant great-great-grandparents
- Points out that Greenpoint's current population (42,000) is significantly lower than it was when his grandfather was born in 2024 (75,000)
- Frames the City of Yes proposal as a way to preserve New York's identity as a "beacon" and "shining city on the hill"
Kevin LaCherra
14:01:58
Great.
14:01:59
Thank you very much.
14:02:00
Yeah.
14:02:01
Thank you very much.
14:02:02
I'm just here to state my support for the city of yes.
14:02:05
My name is Kevin McChera.
14:02:06
I'm a 4th generation
Joseph Vaini
14:02:08
Green Pointer
Kevin LaCherra
14:02:09
in a 5th generation to New Yorker.
14:02:11
My great great grandparents were Italians who came through Castle Garden.
14:02:16
A 145 years ago next week.
14:02:18
At the time, there were plenty of people in the city who opposed them being here.
14:02:23
And I thank God every day that New York City had a space for them, and I thank God that New York City has a space for me.
14:02:32
I live in Greenpoint.
14:02:33
I'm a proud of Greenpointer.
14:02:36
Greenpoint currently has a population of about 42,000 people.
14:02:40
When my grandpa was born here in 2024, there were over 75,000 people living in Greenpoint.
14:02:47
And, you know, our city has always been a where people have been able to make their home, build their lives, and I think that's what this is ultimately about.
14:02:56
The ability for our city to remain in what it has always been, right, you know, which is that beacon stature liberty, the shining city on the hill, and all that.
14:03:06
So very heavily in sporty city.
14:03:09
Yes.
14:03:09
Thank you all for sticking with this hearing as long as you have.
14:03:12
I I just got in from from a long day, so I'm glad it's still going.
14:03:16
And and and thank you very much.
