PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sade Falebita, Managing Director of Downtown Community Television Center (DCTV)
13:21:47
·
119 sec
Sade Falebita, Managing Director of Downtown Community Television Center (DCTV), testified in support of Council Member Marte's proposed amendment to allow nonprofit cultural institutions in landmark buildings to transfer unused development rights within an expanded radius. She emphasized the critical importance of this amendment for DCTV's future and its ability to continue providing community services.
- DCTV has 75,000 square feet of development rights shared 50/50 with the city, but currently has no reception sites available under existing and proposed zoning rules.
- The organization has provided affordable and free filmmaking training and resources to over 75,000 New Yorkers since 1972.
- Falebita argued that the proposed expansion of air rights transfers would create income for the city, support community services, and contribute to the creation of affordable housing.
Sade Falebita
13:21:47
Hi.
13:21:47
Can you hear me?
Kevin C. Riley
13:21:48
Yes.
13:21:48
We can.
Sade Falebita
13:21:50
Well, good evening, and thank you for taking the opportune for giving the opportunity to speak.
13:21:55
My name is Shadi Palupita, and I'm managing director of Downtown Community Television Center, also known as DCTV.
13:22:02
I asked that you consider supporting the proposed amendment being offered by a council member, Marte, to allow nonprofit cultural institutions
James Dill
13:22:10
Excuse me.
Sade Falebita
13:22:11
Who own and are housed in landmark buildings to transfer their unused development rights within an expanded radius.
13:22:18
For DCTV, this is a critical matter.
13:22:21
DCTV's building has 75,000 square feet of development rights shared 5050 with the city.
13:22:27
However, under the current and proposed city of yes zoning rules, there are no reception sites available.
13:22:34
In 1972, our landmark firehouse was saved from collapse and transformed into a center for documentary education, production, and exhibition.
13:22:45
Our mission is to use filmmaking as a tool to catalyze, inform, and empower our communities.
13:22:50
And since that time, we provide provided over 75,000 New Yorkers with affordable and free filmmaking training and resources.
13:22:58
Every year's teens and adults in our programs create award winning original films that document the critical social issues of our time.
13:23:06
And we serve many filmmakers in our new cinema that was open, firehouse cinema, and these screen over 100 independent documentaries every single year.
13:23:18
And this is work that we hope to continue far into the future, but the rising costs and declining production income really have endangered our existence in our social services.
13:23:29
Council member, Marte, proposed expansion of air rights transfers for landmarks, creates income for the city, it supports our community services, and the creation of desperately needed affordable housing.
13:23:40
And so we hope that We will explore and endorse this proposal, and thank you for your time.
