REMARKS
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers explains her vote on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
1:23:34
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119 sec
Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers explains her decision to vote in favor of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal. She highlights the modifications made to address community concerns and the potential benefits of the plan for working-class families and homeownership opportunities.
- The final proposal excludes ground floor and basement ADUs in flood-prone areas, limits transit-oriented development near LIRR stations, and preserves parking requirements in most of her district.
- Negotiations secured commitments for investments in infrastructure and climate resiliency.
- Brooks-Powers acknowledges the work of Speaker Adams and her team in crafting a plan that better reflects diverse community needs.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:23:34
Permission to explain my vote.
Lynn Schulman
1:23:36
Permission granted.
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:23:37
The city of yes for housing opportunity has led to meaningful and much needed conversations around housing disparities in our city.
1:23:45
My community members have fought to protect the characteristics of the communities they have come to love and safeguard them from the climate risk and vulnerable infrastructure we see today.
1:23:56
Thanks to their advocacy, the final proposal excludes ground floor and basement ADUs in coastal and inland flooding zone, limits the transit oriented development radius near Long Island Railroad stations, and preserves full parking requirements in nearly all of our district, key safeguards for our community.
1:24:17
This proposal will enable more working class families to access homeownership opportunities and therefore build generational wealth.
1:24:26
It will help New Yorkers preserve their homes through homeownership assistance and access more affordable units across our city.
1:24:34
Importantly, these negotiations have also secured much needed commitments for investments in infrastructure and climate resiliency.
1:24:41
For a district like the one I represent, which faces chronic flooding and crumbling infrastructure, These commitments will be important for ensuring that any future development is sustainable and equitable.
1:24:53
These concessions were important to get me to where I am today.
1:24:57
I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of speaker Adams in her office, especially Jeremy John, Faiza Ali, Parastrada, and the entire land use division throughout this process to craft a plan that better reflects the diverse needs of communities across our city.
1:25:13
Today, I will vote yes, recognizing that while no plan is perfect, this amended version represents a step towards addressing our city's housing crisis while prioritizing the needs of our community.
1:25:26
Thank you.
1:25:31
And if it wasn't clear, I vote aye.
1:25:33
Thank you.
UNKNOWN
1:25:34
Thank you.
