PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Marlene Vaccaro, Resident of 496 Prospect Avenue
4:59:20
ยท
95 sec
Marlene Vaccaro, a long-time resident of 496 Prospect Avenue, testifies against the Arrow Linen redevelopment proposal. She emphasizes the financial struggles of homeowners like herself and criticizes Arrow Linen's lack of community involvement.
- Vaccaro advocates for a maximum of 7 stories and at least 40% affordable housing in the proposed development
- She calls on Council Member Shahana Hanif to support the community's wishes
- Vaccaro invokes Abraham Lincoln's concept of government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" to emphasize community representation
Marlene Boccato
4:59:20
Okay.
4:59:21
My name is Marlene Vaccaro.
4:59:22
I've been a resident at 496 Prospect Avenue for over 40 years.
4:59:28
I have 2 tenants.
4:59:29
They live in, 5 bedroom 5 room apartments.
4:59:34
They each pay 18.50 a month.
4:59:37
That's $1,850 a month.
4:59:40
One raise of $50 several years ago.
4:59:44
We're not all wealthy, homeowners like other people would like us like you to believe.
4:59:52
I wonder where all that lobbying money went.
4:59:56
Arrow Linen has done nothing to this neighborhood.
4:59:59
Not one baseball team or any other support.
5:00:04
Why should we adhere why should we give in to their outrageous, money grabbing, request?
5:00:15
We owe them nothing.
5:00:16
They owe us a lot.
5:00:18
I again, I agree with everybody who is against the proposal.
5:00:23
The 7 story max 40% or more affordable housing.
5:00:30
I'd like to just say something that I recently heard about Abraham Lincoln.
5:00:38
He stressed government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
5:00:45
Shahana Hanif, we are the people.
5:00:48
We supported you.
5:00:50
Support us.
5:00:52
And that's about all I have to say.