citymeetings.nyc

Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Thomas Diana, Rental Property Owner

5:48:05

·

123 sec

Video Player is loading.

Current TimeÂ 0:00

DurationÂ 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream TypeÂ LIVE

Remaining TimeÂ 0:00

Â

Thomas Diana, a rental property owner for 35 years, testified against the proposed housing changes, citing concerns about the impact on property owners and the effectiveness of current regulations. He emphasized the challenges faced by landlords, including issues with long-term non-paying tenants and rising costs.

Highlighted the problem of a squatter who hasn't paid rent for 8 years, driving up costs for other tenants
Argued that building more houses doesn't address the base costs for fuel, maintenance, insurance, and transportation
Expressed concern that proposed changes would destroy parking, overwhelm schools, and increase noise and crime
Suggested building small, naturally inexpensive apartments in commercial areas with mass transit instead of altering existing neighborhoods

Thomas Diana

5:48:05

Yes.

5:48:06

Thank you.

5:48:07

As a rental property owner of 35 years, I see the history of impulsive regulations that accomplish little at great cost.

5:48:15

With an underemployed squatter of 8 years like mine, owners and tenants alike are reluctant to rent out apartments and spare rooms, which would naturally increase inexpensive housing options for single adults.

5:48:31

Free loaders have become one of my top expenses driving up rents for the real tenants.

5:48:39

Building more houses does not change my base cost for fuel, maintenance insurance, and, yes, transportation.

5:48:46

You keep trying to create subsidized housing instead of truly affordable house homeowners like me worked for 40 years at 2 real jobs to to afford our homes along with other people who did the same.

5:49:02

That should be respected.

5:49:04

812 Unit Apartments on all corners of blocks plus garage attic and basement conversions will destroy the parking we need, overwhelm the schools, and increase the noise and crime.

5:49:19

Just like Levittown and Hicksville, you need to build small and naturally inexpensive apartments in the correct commercial areas with mass transit.

5:49:31

Okay?

5:49:32

Because nothing changes my cost.

5:49:34

My squatter has become one of the largest costs of maintaining my building because she has not paid rent in 8 years.

5:49:45

Yes.

5:49:46

8 years.

5:49:48

Alright?

5:49:48

And unfortunately, some of the city council members who know about that aren't here.

5:49:53

Bob Holden, Vicki, Linda Lee.

5:49:57

Okay?

5:49:57

And this drives up the cost of my other tenants plus all the defensive work I've had to do, plus paying my lawyer.

5:50:06

And this is driving up my tenant's cost.

← Previous Chapter

Testimony by Jack Bolembach, Member of Civic Associations against the City of Yes

Next Chapter →

Testimony by Vienna Levitan, Member of Ridgewood Property Owners Civic Association