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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of Urban Upbound, on Queen's Future/Metropolitan Park Project
1:34:12
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170 sec
Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO and Co-Founder of Urban Upbound, strongly supports the Queen's Future/Metropolitan Park project, emphasizing its potential as an economic engine for Queens and New York City. He highlights the project's commitment to creating good-paying union jobs and promoting inclusive economic growth.
- Urban Upbound is partnering with employers and unions to connect community members with job opportunities and provide necessary training.
- The project includes a minority and women-owned business enterprise lending program to support historically marginalized entrepreneurs.
- Taylor mentions that the Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union plans to provide small business loans related to the project.
Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor
1:34:12
Well, well, good morning councilman Riley and council member Moya and council member Lynn Schulman.
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It is my privilege to be here on today to test ify between before the subcommittee on zoning and franchise.
1:34:30
Let me say before I usually give my remarks exseparaneously because this is a very passionate project for me.
1:34:37
I'm gonna read today because I don't wanna miss anything that has to be said.
1:34:41
This is that important.
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My name, of course, is Bishop Mitchell Taylor.
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I'm the CEO and cofounder of Urban Upbound.
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Urban Upbound is a nonprofit organization that works to break cycles of poverty and catalyze economic mobility through business innovation, career development, financial empowerment, and key wraparound supports, particularly in public housing neighborhoods and other low income neighborhoods around the city Of New York.
1:35:05
Urban Upbound strongly supports Queen's future aka Metropolitan Park, which we believe will serve as a powerful economic engine and public realm upgrade for Queens and for our city as a whole.
1:35:19
The Metropolitan Park project addresses a critical need for economic revitalization.
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Stagnant wages have created profound challenges for working families, especially as housing costs and other expenses continue to rise.
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This project will help bridge the gap creating 23,000 good paying union jobs throughout its construction operation phases, offering stability to local families and enhancing our community's economic resilience.
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At Urban Upbound, we've already begun partnering with employers and unions to connect community members with these opportunities and setting them up for success through a mix of career planning, soft skills, hard skills training.
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Central to this project's design is the commitment to inclusive economic growth.
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Metropolitan Park's minority and women owned business enterprise lending program is a bold step to provide historically marginalized entrepreneurs and access to contracting opportunities.
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This commitment reflects Urban Upbound's mission as well as our commitment with the Urban Upbound Federal
Kevin C. Riley
1:36:29
Credit if you could start wrapping it up for me, please.
1:36:31
And as
Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor
1:36:32
we wrap up, we are looking forward to, as the Urban Upbound Federal Credit Union, providing small business loans to people that will connect to this project.
1:36:41
And I would like to say anyone that wants to see this this project not go forward must must reconsider common sense.
1:36:52
Thank you so much for this opportunity to testify in support of this project.
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Thank you.
Kevin C. Riley
1:36:58
There being no questions for this panel, this panel is excused.
1:37:00
Thank you so much for your testimony.
Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor
1:37:02
Thank you.
Kevin C. Riley
1:37:02
Our next panel will consist of former New York City Comptroller William Thompson, Sene Hong Jung, Karen Wang, and Kai Shum.