REMARKS
Crystal Hudson explains her vote in favor of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
0:08:10
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121 sec
Council Member Crystal Hudson explains her support for the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal, highlighting her district's efforts in affordable housing production and emphasizing the need for citywide participation in addressing the housing crisis. She votes in favor of all items.
- Hudson's district has produced nearly 1,000 new housing units and is working on 4,000 more through a community-led rezoning
- The City of Yes proposal creates opportunities for more affordable housing, including options like Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
- Hudson commends the speaker and staff for securing $5 billion for housing, infrastructure, and agency staffing
Crystal Hudson
0:08:10
I know it's late, but I would like permission to explain my vote.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:08:14
Councilman Batson, to explain my vote.
Crystal Hudson
0:08:15
Thank you, and good evening.
0:08:17
Since entering office, I've brought nearly 1,000 new units to my district.
0:08:21
I'm now working to bring another 4,000 through a community led rezoning of Atlantic Avenue or AMUP.
0:08:27
In fact, my district is 8th out of 51 for producing the most affordable housing units across the past decade, and that's a record I'm proud of.
0:08:35
Yet some parts of our city haven't produced anywhere near this amount of housing.
0:08:38
There are some neighborhoods that have barely seen one new building go up in recent years.
0:08:42
It's clear some communities are doing their part to address the housing crisis and others are not.
0:08:47
While every neighborhood and district is different, we can't keep relying on the South Bronx or Northern and Central Brooklyn to build us out of this crisis.
0:08:54
We need everyone to do their part.
0:08:56
This first of its kind citywide text amendment does the bare minimum in creating more opportunities to build housing, including the deeply affordable housing this body so passionately cares about.
0:09:03
It gives communities and communities to anything considered in this zoning text amendment requires developers or homeowners to build anything.
0:09:20
There's still significant opportunity for input through the EULARP process to ensure any project delivers what communities actually need.
0:09:28
But with City of YES, we create an option for more affordable housing units via universal affordability preference or UAP, an option to remove unnecessary and costly parking mandates that could create a financially feasible pathway to increase affordability beyond MIH, and an option to build ADUs that can provide older family members the opportunity to age in place.
0:09:49
If we don't maximize our opportunities to build, rents will only continue to rise and push out long time community residents, especially older black and brown New Yorkers who live on fixed incomes.
0:09:58
I urge my colleagues to stand up for all New Yorkers and do the bare minimum in addressing our housing crisis by voting for this proposal.
0:10:01
And I'd like to minimum in addressing our housing crisis by voting for this proposal.
0:10:03
And I'd like to commend the speaker, her staff, and especially the planning and land use division for securing $5,000,000,000 for more housing, infrastructure, and headcount for critical agencies.
0:10:10
I vote aye on all.
0:10:11
Thank you.
