REMARKS
Council Member Williams advocates for City of Yes housing plan with community protections
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Council Member Nantasha M. Williams delivers remarks in support of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal, emphasizing the changes made to address community concerns and protect neighborhood character. She highlights the housing crisis and the need for action, while detailing specific amendments made to the plan based on community feedback.
- Williams discusses key amendments such as maintaining parking requirements in transit deserts, scaling back accessory dwelling units, and refining transit-oriented development near low-density areas.
- She emphasizes the $5 billion secured for housing-related investments, including $2 billion for infrastructure improvements.
- The council member frames the plan as a balanced approach to growth that considers both the need for housing and community preservation.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:41:27
Thank you.
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Today, we face a defining moment for our city, a moment to choose bold action to address a housing crisis that is squeezing families, stifling opportunity, and holding New Yorkers back.
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Let me start by saying this, I heard you.
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I heard the concerns about maintaining the character of our neighborhoods and balancing growth incrementally with fairness.
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That's why I've worked tirelessly with speaker Adams, the admin, community leaders, and my colleagues to ensure that the city of YES for housing opportunity is not just a policy, but a promise.
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This promise says we can tackle a housing crisis that has left us with a rental vacancy rate of just 1.41%, the lowest since 1968, and half of renters burdened by skyrocketing rents.
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But it also says we can do it responsibly with our communities at the heart of every decision.
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Over the past months, I convened many focus groups in Southeast Queens to to dig into the original proposal.
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Based on that feedback, we fought for and secured key amendments to protect the character of our neighborhoods.
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For example, parking requirements for larger buildings and lower density districts of my council district will remain unchanged because cars are a necessity in our transit desert.
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Accessory dwelling units have been scaled back ensuring the detached ADUs don't overwhelm our communities, and any homeowner adding 1 must live on-site to maintain our home ownership culture.
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We even refined the scope of town centered and transit oriented development near low density neighborhoods to avoid overburdening infrastructure near Long Island Railroad Stations.
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These revisions matter.
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They show that the city of yes doesn't mean yes at any cost.
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It means yes to thoughtful, balanced growth.
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And with the council securing $5,000,000,000 for housing related investments and homeownership opportunities, including $2,000,000,000 for sewer infrastructure, public space, and other infrastructure improvements.
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This plan is not just about zoning changes.
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It's a comprehensive strategy to meet the needs of New Yorkers.
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The families of Southeast Queens and all of New York New York deserve thriving communities that aren't overburdened.
0:43:35
Thank you so much to the land use division, for all your hard work.