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Q&A
Debate over the necessity of RAD/PACT conversions versus resident decision-making power
2:16:11
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123 sec
Brian Honan and Chair Chris Banks engage in a debate about the necessity of RAD/PACT conversions versus the importance of resident decision-making power. The discussion highlights the fundamental disagreement between NYCHA's approach and the Council's position.
- Honan argues that the conversions were necessary to make the developments habitable and ensure their long-term sustainability
- He compares the decision to other public infrastructure projects that don't involve resident voting
- Chair Banks maintains that residents should have a real say in the conversion process
- The debate underscores the tension between NYCHA's perceived urgency to address capital needs and the Council's emphasis on resident empowerment
- Both sides express a desire for continued engagement on the issue, despite their disagreement
Brian Honan
2:16:11
I went I I attended many of those meetings myself.
2:16:13
In fact, I led some of them, myself.
2:16:16
And I will say that it was something that had to be done.
2:16:21
The risk of those, two developments being habitable was real.
2:16:29
And, you know, anybody who was at Boulevard or Linden before versus now, there is no way you could say it was better before.
2:16:39
And, and I think what is really important is to make sure that residents have decision making when it comes to what the repairs are going to look like, who are they going to be the new partners, you know, be engaged as much as they possibly want.
2:16:54
But there's no other, you know, there's no We don't decide, you know, on the BQE, are we gonna have a vote of people who live in Downtown Brooklyn whether we're gonna have a, you know, a new highway.
2:17:05
We don't decide, you know, in a community, are we gonna have a vote if we're gonna invest in the school?
2:17:11
These are, you know, these investments need to be done.
2:17:15
We have an obligation, you know, as the housing authority, to be stewards of a property, and we need to make sure that these properties are there for this generation, for the generation afterwards, and the generation following that.
Chris Banks
2:17:30
I respect that.
2:17:32
And, we disagree to disagree on how we go about informing and bringing the residents.
2:17:40
And I hope that the authority comes around to really a real true engagement with the residents of NYCHA when it comes to the RAD PAC converted developments, and I hope we can get to a point where the residents are really truly a part of that process, and it's not something that's just being forced down their throats to have to accept.
2:18:05
We we we look forward to continue engagement on this, and hopefully we can get to that point.
2:18:12
Councilman Bacha, did you have any questions?