PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Virginia Crawford, Rent Stabilized Tenant from West Village
9:56:59
·
121 sec
Virginia Crawford, a rent stabilized tenant from the West Village, expresses concerns about the City of Yes housing plan's lack of provisions for preserving existing rent stabilized units and protecting tenants. She argues that the plan fails to address key issues contributing to the loss of affordable housing in New York City.
- Crawford suggests implementing real estate investor background checks, encouraging homeownership through tax policies, and creating a citywide apartment lease buyout program.
- She emphasizes the need to disincentivize predatory investors alongside incentivizing affordable housing development.
- Crawford calls for stronger tenant protections and measures to address issues like apartment warehousing and illegal Airbnb rentals.
Virginia Crawford
9:56:59
My name is Virginia Crawford.
9:57:00
I'm a rent stabilized tenant in city council districts 3 in the West Village.
9:57:05
I'm concerned that there is nothing in the city of yes housing plan that even acknowledges the need to preserve existing rent stabilized units, strength in tenant protections, or ensures renovations are done safely in tenant occupied buildings.
9:57:21
There is nothing in the plan to address landlord warehousing of apartments, and renting out of units on Airbnb.
9:57:29
And there is no mention of fully funding right to counsel for tenants targeted by private equity real estate investors.
9:57:36
I don't understand how a comprehensive housing plan could proceed this far without addressing how our current affordable housing is lost.
9:57:45
The city of yes plan reduces red tape and increases financial incentives for affordable housing developers.
9:57:51
I'm concerned that these opportunities will reward the very same real estate investors who have grown wealthy by undermining affordable housing.
9:58:00
Here are a few ideas.
9:58:01
1, City of Yale should require real estate investor background checks to weed out developers with a history of anti tenant practices in any and all of their properties.
9:58:12
The plan should encourage homeownership.
9:58:14
Why not implement a tax policy that helps New York renters save for a first time home?
9:58:20
3, why not consider the creation of a citywide apartment lease buyout program?
9:58:26
The city and New York landlords could share the cost of buying out tenants in aging distressed buildings.
9:58:32
Such a program could end warehousing and allow for major renovations to be completed and property values to increase, all without exposing tenants to the asbestos and lead health risks that come with years of dangerous renovations inside these old buildings.
9:58:48
Finally, I just wanna say, incentivizing affordable housing alone will not solve the crisis unless we disincentivize predatory investors.
9:58:59
Thank you for your time.
Shaun Abreu
9:59:00
Thank you.
