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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anita Lee, Member of the Public, on NYC Food Infrastructure
1:50:44
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Anita Lee, a first-time testifier, addressed the NYC City Council on the topic of food infrastructure, focusing on the accessibility and diversity of food distributors at Hunts Point Market. She emphasized the need for a framework to ensure diverse representation and fair access to the market for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Lee suggested considering the Brooklyn Terminal as an additional food hub
- She proposed expanding the model of city-owned public markets like Essex Market, rather than city-owned grocery stores
- Lee recommended setting aside a percentage of space at Hunts Point for small and medium-sized distributors, similar to affordable housing requirements in new developments
Anita Lee
1:50:44
Hi.
1:50:45
My name is Anita Lee.
1:50:46
This is my first time testifying for city council so excuse anything I don't do right.
1:50:52
I applaud m f MOFDs and this council's effort in creating a more resilient food infrastructure system, one point I would like to make is to ensure to create a framework so that these hubs, Hunts Point, are accessible to a diverse set of food distributors and producers as reflective of the demographics and needs of the New York City.
1:51:09
From my understanding, anyone can pay a daily rate to enter Hunts Point, but in order to rent space in the Hunts Point hub, you need to be approved by the existing members and pay duties to be a member.
1:51:19
Members being anyone, even companies as large as Costco.
1:51:22
And like apartment coops, becoming a member is very political and complicated since votes are involved, which may discourage diversity.
1:51:29
In this vein, building a new public product a produce hub at Hunts Point using city funds while keeping the rental entry system the same feels like concentrating opportunities to just a select few which limits the opportunities for other competitors.
1:51:43
Concentrating power to a few players does not reduce food prices, it does the opposite.
1:51:48
Second point, has there been any movement to develop the Brooklyn Terminal as a food hub as well?
1:51:53
Third point, regarding city owned grocery markets, Essex markets in Lower Manhattan is owned by New York City and leases its space to various accessible purveyors, meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, and finished foods for a diverse set of consumers.
1:52:06
So the idea of a city owned grocery market in the model of a publicly traded grocery market chain should be expanded to city owned public markets that lease spaces to various independent family run businesses, which might avoid avoid the over complication of a city owned supermarket.
1:52:20
If you want to consider successful city owned public markets, food markets, I feel Essex Market and Lower Manhattan might be one to look at for learning lessons.
1:52:28
In conclusion, please consider creating a set of rules to ensure that this taxpayer funded Hunt's Point project maintains easy access to a diverse set of small medium food distributors and producers so that we don't fund a project just for big players who already have a seat at the table and increase their power to set prices.
1:52:44
Perhaps we should consider something similar to how a certain percentage of affordable housing is set aside and new housing develops in exchange for city financial support with for Hunts Point and its food distributors produce tenants.
1:52:56
Thank you for the opportunity to speak.