REMARKS
Council Member Kamillah Hanks expresses concerns about City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan
0:56:51
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130 sec
Council Member Kamillah Hanks voices her opposition to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan, citing its failure to address the unique needs of Staten Island. She expresses concerns about infrastructure, flood-prone areas, and limited public transportation in her borough, while acknowledging the efforts made for affordability and homeownership incentives.
- Hanks suggests she could provide an alternative plan for 5,000+ housing units with over 30% affordable units
- She emphasizes the importance of respecting individual district needs in addressing the housing crisis
- Hanks concludes by stating her intention to vote no on the proposal, representing her constituents' wishes
Kamillah Hanks
0:56:51
Thank you, majority leader.
0:56:54
I'd like to also to associate my comments with my colleague, council member Banks.
0:56:58
The city of YES for housing opportunities set out to be a solution for our city's housing and zoning changes.
0:57:04
However, it falls short of achieving its stated goals in boroughs like Staten Island as it fails to adequately address the unique needs of boroughs like my own.
0:57:14
So if you ask me to come up with a plan that provides 5,000 plus units of housing, which includes over 30% of affordable units, I can provide that to you.
0:57:24
It's not a matter of not doing our part.
0:57:27
It's a in this housing crisis, it's about doing our part with respect of our districts and our individual needs.
0:57:34
And so I you know, our borough's unique infrastructure, flood zone, prone areas, limited public transportation, a lot of this plan just doesn't go far enough.
0:57:46
And I wanna express my gratitude to the Civic Associations, Urban Planters, Builders, Advocates, or, you know, Builders Associations that added their invaluable insights and make sure that Staten Island's voice is heard.
0:58:01
I was 27 years old when I purchased my home.
0:58:05
27.
0:58:07
I have 2 children living at home, regrettably, over the age of 23 that I would love to move out making over $55,000 a year.
0:58:16
Does the city of YES address the affordability issues so we can we can produce the next generation of homeownership?
0:58:26
But homeowners should not be discriminated against because we've we've purchased our homes or we live in boroughs that are not Manhattan, not the Bronx, and not Brooklyn.
0:58:36
So I wanna commend the affordability and homeownership incentives that the speaker, Adrienne Adams, has done with our leadership in ensuring that the the affordable housing modifications were made in this proposal.
0:58:51
But as I am 2 parts an advocate, I am a representative and this is what my constituents asked me to do.
0:59:00
So vote no.
