PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Joe Restuccia, Co-chair of Housing Committee at Manhattan Community Board 4, on Port Authority Bus Terminal Project
1:36:12
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77 sec
Joe Restuccia, representing Manhattan Community Board 4, provided testimony on the Port Authority Bus Terminal project. He acknowledged improvements in the project but emphasized the need for concrete commitments on community benefits, particularly regarding open space funding and affordable housing timelines.
- Praised the Port Authority for working with the community board on design changes and avoiding eminent domain
- Criticized the lack of specific commitments for funding open space and community facilities
- Called for immediate action on affordable housing rather than deferring it for 10 years after project completion
Joe Restuccia
1:36:12
My name is Joe Rastucia.
1:36:13
I'm the cochair of the housing committee, community board 4, a member of land use, executive director of Clinton Housing that builds affordable housing in the district, and a 44 year resident of Hell's Kitchen.
1:36:22
The project is much better than when we started.
1:36:24
I commend the Port Authority for working with the community board on major design changes.
1:36:28
It is there is no eminent domain.
1:36:29
However, we have to pin things down.
1:36:32
Never has the city council passed something creating open space without commitments for funding, both capital and for operations.
1:36:39
The it is a 2,100,000 square foot project.
1:36:41
I am very pleased the port authority has increased the community facility from 8,000 to 10,000, and they need to go further.
1:36:47
In a 2,100,000 square feet, it is laughable to say you cannot find a few more 1000 square feet for a community facility.
1:36:54
It is important for us to pin down these funding issues because we must.
1:37:00
To say that we defer affordable housing 10 years after the project happens is not acceptable.
1:37:05
We must work with the city council to get specific time frames because a location for a snowplow is no importance compared to location for affordable housing.
1:37:15
I believe we can work this through with the Port Authority, but to say that every that it benefit, both green space and affordable housing is deferred for 10 years, we'll say that this community gets nothing upfront, and that is a serious, serious issue politically.
1:37:28
Thank you very much.
