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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Introduction and personal background of Ahmed Tigani
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ยท
3 min
Ahmed Tigani introduces himself as the acting commissioner of New York City's Department of Housing Preservation and Development. He shares his personal background growing up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and how his experiences shape his commitment to affordable housing in New York City.
- Tigani emphasizes his focus on caring, taking action, and building momentum in his role
- He acknowledges the support his family received from government programs, which allowed them to find community and thrive in NYC
- Tigani expresses gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the city that supported him
Ahmed Tigani
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Thank you.
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Good morning, chair, members of the committee, committee staff.
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We appreciate being invited, myself and the rest of the HPD team, to today's hearing.
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It's a privilege to discuss the critical work we're doing at HPD and our shared responsibility to ensure every New Yorker has access to safe, affordable housing.
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I'm here today as acting commissioner of New York City's Department Of Housing Preservation Development.
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It's a new title, but at its core, the job has not changed.
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When I walk through the doors of HPD each morning, I focus on three things.
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First, my job is to care.
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To believe deeply that housing isn't a privilege, it is a necessity.
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To treat everyone who needs our help like they could be your parents, our friends, or even my son.
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Second, my job is to take action.
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Not just to talk about solutions, but to deliver them.
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Every single day so that more New Yorkers can find stability, security, and a real path forward.
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Third, my job is to build momentum.
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Because this work doesn't happen overnight, and the progress we make today is what will put more families into homes tomorrow.
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My focus comes from being a New Yorker through and through.
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I was born and brought up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
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And while my mother might disagree, I often feel that I was raised by the entire city.
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I need to say I hate talking about myself.
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Because this moment, when so much is at stake, I'm not what matters.
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But my story, how I ended up in this seat, in this building, at this hearing, is the story of so many New Yorkers.
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Our city made space for family with government support including rental assistance, allowing us to find community and create incredible lives where now we have the chance to give back.
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And I get to raise my own family in New York City.
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To be clear, I'm not here because it's my obligation to give back to the city that gave me so much.
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I'm here because it is an honor.
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And speaking of honors, I worked alongside many of you for years, some of you for decades.
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We've debated, collaborated, and pushed each other.
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That's resulted in better product and better outcomes for New Yorkers.
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So it's my intense joy to say that today my job is about making a commitment to you and your constituents.
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After all, our budget is a commitment to taking action.
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My commitment, HPD's commitment, is to not just set ambitious goals, but to deliver real lasting results that makes this city more livable, more affordable, and more just.
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I know firsthand the decisions we make in this room don't, do not just live on paper.
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They shape real lives just as they once shaped mine.
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But this job, this agency, and this hearing isn't about me.
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Aren't about you.
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They're about people who are counting on us.
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The families on the brink, the seniors trying to stay in their communities, the kids who just need a fair shot.
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And our responsibility, my responsibility, is to make sure we don't let them down.
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That's why HPD's commitment is unwavering.
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With uncertainty, fear, and confusion wane, now is the time to turn ideas into action.
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And finally, before I begin the overview, I just want to take a moment on behalf of the agency to thank Deputy Mayor Carrion for his steadfast leadership of HPD over the last three years.
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His commitment to community and housing equity has been crucial to HPD's recent successes.
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And we only expect more success to come under his direction in his new role as deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce.