PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Vienna Levitan, Member of Ridgewood Property Owners Civic Association
5:50:15
·
132 sec
Vienna Levitan, representing the Ridgewood Property Owners Civic Association, testifies in opposition to the City of Yes proposal. She argues that the plan will cause irreversible damage to her neighborhood and much of the city, benefiting developers at the expense of residents and cultural heritage.
- Levitan claims the city has lost 800,000 residents since the pandemic, questioning the need for increased density.
- She raises concerns about crumbling infrastructure, lack of affordable housing, and potential environmental impacts.
- The testimony criticizes the plan for prioritizing profit over addressing real affordability needs and maintaining neighborhood character.
Vienna Levitan
5:50:15
Dear city council, my name is Vienna at Levaten, and I'm here to testify as a resident of Ridgewood on behalf of Ridgewood Property Owners Civic Association and thousands of others in my community to oppose city of yes.
5:50:28
I have already testified before this council back in May and against and again in August before Queensboro president.
5:50:35
Outlining irreversible damage, this agenda will cause to my neighborhood in much of our city.
5:50:40
The city of yes was crafted by developers for developers.
5:50:44
You were elected to represent us the voters, not those driven solely for profit by profits.
5:50:49
Over the years, many historic structures in New York City have been demolished due to rezoning showing that cultural architectural heritage is repeatedly sacrificed for profit.
5:51:00
This latest plan is being pushed by mayor Andre Duignan seeking to repay his most powerful donors in the development industry.
5:51:07
Let's consider the fact since the pandemic, New York City lost over 800,000 residents bringing us back to the population levels from the sixties.
5:51:17
Many buildings across the city have over 30% vacancy rate.
5:51:20
Why does my neighborhood and others like it need 500% plus increase in density?
5:51:26
Our infrastructure is crumbling.
5:51:28
The city is already struggling to maintain it.
5:51:30
Developers have no interest in affordable housing because it reduces their profits and who will ensure fire safety and compliance when we're already behind on these issues.
5:51:40
Are in for infrastructures over 30 years out of date, and moving forward with this plan will drag us back to 19 century deplorable conditions.
5:51:49
The environmental impact will be disastrous since this 1960s more than 80 800,000 housing units have been added with another 150 k approved this year.
5:52:02
Current zoning can already accommodate 16 to 200,000,000 people.
5:52:06
So why we handle handing over our neighborhoods to developers on a silver platter.
5:52:11
The problem is not the number of housing but affordability.
5:52:15
My new most new developments are market rate luxury pushing out long term residents and work families instead of addressing the real need for affordability housing
Charles Ny
5:52:24
Thank you.
Vienna Levitan
5:52:24
Developers of prioritizing private.
5:52:25
We ask you to vote now, please.
Kevin C. Riley
5:52:27
Thanks, Miss Levinton.
