PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Salvatore Franchino from East Williamsburg on City of Yes Proposal
11:26:58
·
113 sec
Salvatore Franchino, a resident of East Williamsburg, expressed strong support for the City of Yes proposal, emphasizing its potential to address homelessness and reduce housing costs. He advocated for lifting parking mandates, implementing the Universal Affordability Preference, and embracing change to improve affordability and stability in New York City.
- Highlighted the current homelessness crisis, with 100,000 people in shelters, and how City of Yes could potentially create 100,000 new homes
- Argued that removing parking mandates could significantly reduce construction costs and lower rents, citing community support in Brooklyn's Community Board 1
- Praised rent stabilization and expressed hope that Universal Affordability Preference would extend similar protections to more residents
Salvatore Franchino
11:26:58
Hello.
11:26:59
I'm Salvatore Franchino of East Williamsburg, and I support the city of yes, full stop.
11:27:04
Status quo is a 100,000 people in our shelter system.
11:27:07
So why don't we just build a 100,000 homes instead as projected by city of yes?
11:27:12
I hear those of you that have some resistance to change, but keep in mind that without change.
11:27:17
Our homelessness problem is just going to persist, and we're all gonna continue to live in an obscenely expensive city.
11:27:24
I know parking mandates make buildings more expensive, especially in my neighborhood, and it's reflected in the rents.
11:27:31
Parking space can cost as much as a $150 to build.
11:27:34
And also in my community board, 1 in Brooklyn people have actually complained that there are mostly empty parking lots in these new buildings and community board 1, it will be delighted if we can get rid of parking mandates.
11:27:46
So let's lift parking mandates and make building cheaper.
11:27:50
I'm also rent stabilized, and I want everyone to have the same protections that I have.
11:27:55
And universal affordability preference will help create more income restricted rent regulated homes that come with the rent stabilized lease like I have.
11:28:03
You know, like my rent went up like 2% this year, which is it's a beautiful thing and I wish more people could have it.
11:28:09
So I I do believe that universal utility affordability preference will give people the stability and the security that I currently enjoy.
11:28:19
And if you do want more affordability than what the universal affordability preference provides, I absolutely hear you, and I absolutely agree.
11:28:26
And I would love it if you could help find more city subsidy, use a different tool in the arsenal to help, you know, bolster and increase the efficacy of universal affordability preference.
11:28:37
So let's say yes to universal affordability preference.
11:28:40
To.
11:28:40
So, yes to lifting parking mandates, yes to more neighbors, yes to affordability, yes to stability, let's say, yes to city of yes.
11:28:50
Yes, please.
