REMARKS
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams supports ADU and basement apartment legalization bills
0:21:24
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123 sec
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams expresses support for two bills (Intro 2764 and 2765) aimed at legalizing and regulating accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and basement apartments in New York City. He emphasizes the importance of these units in addressing the housing crisis while highlighting the need for safety improvements, especially in flood-prone areas.
- Williams notes that an estimated 400,000 people live in basement and smaller dwellings across NYC.
- He references the tragic deaths during Hurricane Ida as a reason for urgency in passing these bills.
- The Public Advocate calls for collaboration with state partners and addressing neighborhood concerns to successfully implement these changes.
Jumaane Williams
0:21:24
Thank you, madam chair.
0:21:25
As mentioned, my name is Jumaane Williams, public advocate for the city of New York.
0:21:29
I wanna thank chair Sanchez and the members of the committee on housing and buildings for holding this very important hearing.
0:21:33
There are a number of bills being heard today, but I'd like to talk about 2 in particular requested by the mayor.
0:21:39
Intro number 2764 would require the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate rules around flood risk areas and further set eligibility and design requirements for new ancillary dwelling units, also known as ADUs, in these flood risk areas.
0:21:53
Similarly, intro number 2765 tackles the issue of converting existing basement apartments by establishing a legalization pilot program under the Department of Buildings.
0:22:03
ADUs are a critical component of our housing stock with an estimated 400,000 people living in basement and smaller dwellings across the 5 boroughs.
0:22:11
Despite this, many units still remain illegal, out of cold, and at risk of flooding, putting countless New Yorkers at countless New Yorkers at risk.
0:22:18
We saw the devastating impact that hurricane Ida had on families living in these basement apartments when it stormed to the lives of, 13 New Yorkers.
0:22:25
The efforts of these bills, in my opinion, are long overdue, but it's never too late to make these critical policy changes.
0:22:31
It's also important to note, however, the city cannot alone, alone cannot make these changes.
0:22:37
We know this much from the basement legalization pilot program.
0:22:39
We saw only 5 out of 8,000 potential units apply able to participate.
0:22:45
Despite high interest, many landlords were unable to join the program due to restrictive zoning and lack of financial support from the city and state to facilitate the conversions.
0:22:53
Look forward to seeing the passage of these bills and work working with our state partners to legalize, regulate, and protect these units and the countless tenants who call them home.
0:23:01
But if we are truly to solve our city's core housing crisis, efforts also must go hand in hand with, preserving units that we have and construction of new, and deeply affordable housing.
0:23:11
I also know that there are concerns about these units in different neighborhoods.
0:23:14
My hope is that we can work with those units, neighborhoods to figure out how best to do this, not that we can't do this.
0:23:20
If we do not get the housing we need and preserve the housing we already have, we would have failed, future generations.
0:23:26
Thank you.
