PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Vishnu Reddy from Sunnyside, Queens on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
8:03:25
·
116 sec
Vishnu Reddy, a resident of Sunnyside, Queens, expresses strong support for the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal with minimal changes. He emphasizes the urgent need to address the housing shortage in New York City, which has led to skyrocketing rents and negatively impacted all but the wealthiest residents.
- Reddy argues that the housing crisis threatens New York's reputation as a welcoming city for vulnerable populations, including those seeking reproductive healthcare, LGBTQ+ individuals, and immigrants.
- He stresses that City of Yes is just a starting point and calls for continued pro-housing zoning reforms, as well as support from Albany for affordable housing funding.
- Reddy commends Council Member Riley for his dedication to the hearing process.
Vishnu Reddy
8:03:25
Hi.
8:03:25
My name is Vishnu Reddy, and I live in Sunnyside Queens.
8:03:29
I'm here to express my unequivocal support for the city of Yes for Housing Opportunity with as few changes to the proposed plan as possible.
8:03:36
In my neighborhood of sunny side, asking rents have skyrocketed over the last few years, and this story has repeated itself all over the city because our region is facing a dire housing shortage that is decades in the making.
8:03:48
The runaway increases in housing costs, this shortage has caused has harmed all but the most wealthy New Yorkers and especially the most vulnerable.
8:03:56
We don't have to live like this and it's time we do something about it.
8:04:00
I want our city to welcome people seeking reproductive healthcare in the post Roe era.
8:04:05
I want our city to be a refuge for queer folks to find safety and community at a time when the rights of gender and sexual minorities are under attack all across the country.
8:04:14
I want our city to be a beacon of hope for immigrants seeking opportunity and a better life.
8:04:19
In the face of some truly evil and vile rhetoric rhetoric towards our immigrant neighbors.
8:04:24
We can't have that city if only the wealthy can afford to live here.
8:04:28
New York has long had a reputation as a safe harbor for the most vulnerable, but we are quickly losing that reputation.
8:04:34
We're displacing people to states like Texas and Florida that constantly attack the rights of others because those states build housing and we don't.
8:04:44
I also want to emphasize that city of yes is just a start.
8:04:48
It's a step in the right direction, but it's not nearly enough to make up for decades of underbuilding.
8:04:53
We need the city to continue to pursue pro housing zoning reforms beyond city of yes.
8:04:58
We also need help from Albany to help fund affordable housing and ensure the suburbs are pulling their weight in housing creation.
8:05:05
I can't wait to see what more we can do to get us out of this mess.
8:05:08
Thank you for your time and and for listening to why I support the city of yes for housing opportunity.
8:05:15
And I also wanna commend Mister Riley here for sticking it out for so long and being so excellent on this.
8:05:21
Thank you.
