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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ted Teng, Representative of Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, on Queen's Future/Metropolitan Park Proposal
1:20:56
ยท
132 sec
Ted Teng, representing the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of the Queen's Future/Metropolitan Park proposal. He challenged the opposition's claim to represent the community voice, emphasized the project's potential for job creation, and defended the land use aspect of the proposal.
- Highlighted that 80% of the community board voted in favor of the project
- Argued that the project would address affordable housing issues by providing jobs
- Countered criticisms about "giving away" parkland, noting the land is currently asphalt under lease
Ted Teng
1:20:56
Hi.
1:20:57
So my name is Ted Tang.
1:20:59
I'm representing the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce.
1:21:01
First of I wanna say thank you for allowing me to speak with the honorable board.
1:21:07
I had a whole speech right now, but I kinda wanna change it up because some of the comments are made earlier.
1:21:12
I also am not a paid representative of any sort with Queen's chamber Queen's future or whatnot.
1:21:19
I had an issue with the previous speakers who kind of positioned themselves as the voice of the community despite the fact that over, I believe, 80% of the community board voted in favor of this project, despite the fact that if you even if you don't like gaming, the proposition was voted and passed upon.
1:21:36
So for them to position themselves in that manner kinda draws a lot of questions.
1:21:41
And I think the board will see the ratio of people who are here in opposition versus the people here for this project will show you who the actually has the voice of the community.
1:21:52
Furthermore, they were talking about the concepts of no displacement.
1:21:58
And when we think about affordable housing, really, there's really two ways.
1:22:01
There's a supply and demand issue.
1:22:03
Alright?
1:22:04
You either if we're running out of the resources, you either increase the supply, which means constantly building more affordable housing or decreasing the demand by providing jobs like queen this project is gonna do.
1:22:16
So by providing those jobs, you are, in a sense, attacking those issues.
1:22:21
I will also like to point out that the the large minority does not represent the majority.
1:22:27
Okay?
1:22:27
Just because they're loud doesn't mean they're the majority.
1:22:30
I want to point that out.
1:22:32
Okay?
1:22:33
Furthermore, I wanna say that when it comes to these these issues in terms of giving away the park, which we hear all the time, it's not giving away.
1:22:42
This is a park this is a land, not even a park.
1:22:45
This is asphalt that's already in under a lease.
1:22:48
It's not giving anything away in addition.
1:22:51
Alright?
1:22:52
This some people keep saying giving it away.
1:22:54
And then we hear this word billionaire being thrown around like it's a dirty word.
1:22:58
Okay.
1:22:58
Here's the thing.
1:22:59
You need contact.
1:23:01
You need networking.
1:23:02
You need resources to do a project of this size.
1:23:05
Find me a mom and pop person who can do this.
1:23:07
Fantastic.