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TESTIMONY

Arlene Shlesinger from Hollis Hill Civic Association on opposition to City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative

1:45:29

·

117 sec

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Arlene Shlesinger, representing the Hollis Hill Civic Association in Eastern Queens, voices strong opposition to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative. She argues that the proposal would negatively impact their community of 1400 homes and 6000 residents, threatening their chosen lifestyle and community characteristics.

  • Emphasizes the community's right to maintain single-family home living and the importance of respecting community board decisions
  • Raises concerns about overcrowding in local schools, potential for businesses operating out of homes, and negative impacts on local commercial areas
  • Claims the initiative benefits developers and realtors at the expense of current residents, and calls for elected officials to represent community interests
  • The initiative ignores community board decisions
  • The community has the right to maintain single-family home lifestyle
  • Local schools are already overcrowded
  • The initiative would benefit developers and realtors at the expense of residents
  • The plan would devastate local commercial areas
  • The initiative would transform suburban areas into high-density mixed-use zones
  • The initiative would undermine community stability
  • Introducing renters could lead to businesses operating out of homes, causing problems

[EXPERIMENTAL]

Which elements of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity were discussed in this testimony?

  • Town Center Zoning
  • ADU

The following are AI-extracted quotes and reasoning about which elements of the proposal were discussed in this testimony.

This is a quick, close approximation. Occasionally, the connection between a testimony's transcript and specific elements of City Planning's proposal is tenuous.

Read about this AI-generated analysis here.

Town Center Zoning

"This plan would devastate our local commercial areas leaving store months empty as some 3rd world countries look."

This quote suggests that the speaker is concerned about the impact of the proposal on local commercial areas, which is related to the Town Center Zoning element that aims to create mixed-use neighborhoods with businesses and housing.

"The city of yes is attempting to transform our suburban areas into high density mixed use zones."

This statement directly refers to the proposal's aim to create mixed-use zones, which is a key aspect of the Town Center Zoning element.

ADU

"While living costs are many families here have to up or live with parents or grandparents to manage the expenses."

This quote indirectly relates to the ADU element of the proposal. The speaker mentions multi-generational living arrangements, which is one of the scenarios that ADUs are designed to address.

"Introducing renters into the area would lead to businesses operating out of their homes, exacerbating power synergies and plugging chaos."

This statement suggests the speaker is concerned about introducing new housing types into single-family areas, which could be referring to ADUs, as they are often used as rental units on existing single-family properties.


About this analysis:

This analysis is done by AI that reasons whether or not a quote from the testimony discusses a particular element of the proposal.

All the prompts and data are open and available on Github.

You can search for testimonies that mentioned a specific element in the table on the main meeting page.

When an element is explicitly stated in the testimony (e.g. "Universal Affordability Preference" or "UAP"), the analysis is accurate.

But the connection between a quote from the testimony and an element of the proposal is sometimes implicit.

In these cases, the AI might eagerly label a testimony as discussing a proposal when the connection is tenuous, or it might omit it entirely.

↗ Why are there transcription and diarization errors?
Arlene Shlesinger
1:45:29
Sorry.
1:45:29
My name is Arlene Slachinger, and I'm here to represent the Hollis Hill Civic Association, which encompasses over 1400 homes in a small area of Eastern Queens.
1:45:40
This represents more than 6000 people living in a very compact community.
1:45:46
Where each family chooses to live as a deeply personal decision.
1:45:49
Many of them have worked all our lives to afford to live simply but still in a single family home.
1:45:55
We have the right to maintain this choice.
1:45:58
Our community boards have voted against this housing initiative on our behalf.
1:46:03
Ignoring their decisions and passing this initiative would be an affront to our rights.
1:46:08
The city seems to overlook that small communities are comprised of diverse epic backgrounds when many multi money are multicultural.
1:46:18
While living costs are many families here have to up or live with parents or grandparents to manage the expenses.
1:46:25
We have the right to preserve our homes, a lifestyle, safety of our communities.
1:46:30
Our local schools are already overcrowded.
1:46:32
This housing initiative would further harm our children's education.
1:46:37
Introducing renters into the area would lead to businesses operating out of their homes, exacerbating power synergies and plugging chaos.
1:46:45
Who benefits from this?
1:46:47
Developers, realtors, and those who are looking at the profit at the expense of our residents.
1:46:52
When will our elected officials start representing us instead of pursuing their own agendas?
1:46:58
This plan would devastate our local commercial areas leaving store months empty as some 3rd world countries look.
1:47:05
The initiative would incentivize paying off a mortgage over paying rent and undermining the stability.
1:47:11
Of our commercial sectors.
1:47:13
The city of yes is attempting to transform our suburban areas into high density mixed use zones.
1:47:20
We say stop and listen to the people who are saying no to the city of yes.
1:47:24
Thank you.

Follow-up discussion/remarks

QUESTION

Commissioner Douek queries speaker on ADU component of City of Yes proposal

1:47:33

·

80 sec

Commissioner Joseph Douek engages with Arlene Shlesinger from the Hollis Hill Civic Association about the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) component of the City of Yes proposal. The exchange clarifies the voluntary nature of ADUs and seeks to understand the speaker's stance on individual homeowner decisions.

  • Shlesinger expresses skepticism about ADUs, citing concerns about taxes and the definition of supportive housing
  • Commissioner Douek emphasizes that ADUs are not mandatory but optional for homeowners
  • The conversation concludes with a clarification that ADUs would be allowed 'as of right' if the proposal passes
  • The initiative ignores community board decisions
  • The community has the right to maintain single-family home lifestyle
  • Local schools are already overcrowded
  • The initiative would benefit developers and realtors at the expense of residents
  • The plan would devastate local commercial areas
  • The initiative would transform suburban areas into high-density mixed-use zones
  • The initiative would undermine community stability
  • Introducing renters could lead to businesses operating out of homes, causing problems

[EXPERIMENTAL]

Which elements of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity were discussed in this testimony?

  • Town Center Zoning
  • ADU

The following are AI-extracted quotes and reasoning about which elements of the proposal were discussed in this testimony.

This is a quick, close approximation. Occasionally, the connection between a testimony's transcript and specific elements of City Planning's proposal is tenuous.

Read about this AI-generated analysis here.

Town Center Zoning

"This plan would devastate our local commercial areas leaving store months empty as some 3rd world countries look."

This quote suggests that the speaker is concerned about the impact of the proposal on local commercial areas, which is related to the Town Center Zoning element that aims to create mixed-use neighborhoods with businesses and housing.

"The city of yes is attempting to transform our suburban areas into high density mixed use zones."

This statement directly refers to the proposal's aim to create mixed-use zones, which is a key aspect of the Town Center Zoning element.

ADU

"While living costs are many families here have to up or live with parents or grandparents to manage the expenses."

This quote indirectly relates to the ADU element of the proposal. The speaker mentions multi-generational living arrangements, which is one of the scenarios that ADUs are designed to address.

"Introducing renters into the area would lead to businesses operating out of their homes, exacerbating power synergies and plugging chaos."

This statement suggests the speaker is concerned about introducing new housing types into single-family areas, which could be referring to ADUs, as they are often used as rental units on existing single-family properties.


About this analysis:

This analysis is done by AI that reasons whether or not a quote from the testimony discusses a particular element of the proposal.

All the prompts and data are open and available on Github.

You can search for testimonies that mentioned a specific element in the table on the main meeting page.

When an element is explicitly stated in the testimony (e.g. "Universal Affordability Preference" or "UAP"), the analysis is accurate.

But the connection between a quote from the testimony and an element of the proposal is sometimes implicit.

In these cases, the AI might eagerly label a testimony as discussing a proposal when the connection is tenuous, or it might omit it entirely.

↗ Why are there transcription and diarization errors?
Joseph Douek
1:47:33
Thank you for your testimony.
1:47:35
You mentioned living with parents or grandparents, would you be are you opposed to the ADU component of the city of Yes.
1:47:44
Proposed.
Arlene Shlesinger
1:47:44
I think I think the ADU, okay, for the people who I know who have grandchildren or their parents living with them is not really an alternative.
1:47:56
Also, people don't realize that the taxes that they would be paying on this money that they're earning Okay?
1:48:02
It's another financial game for the city.
1:48:07
Alright?
1:48:07
They use the word supportive housing.
1:48:09
Am I gonna have a supportive I would love somebody to go over the definition on your own website.
1:48:14
It's supportive housing.
1:48:16
Alright?
1:48:17
But, no, it should not be.
1:48:19
Something that should be considered in certain areas.
1:48:21
If somebody wants it, that's up to them.
1:48:24
That is totally up to the homeowners.
Joseph Douek
1:48:29
But but that is the proposal.
1:48:30
It it's not mandatory.
1:48:32
It's up to the homeowner if they feel an ADU
Arlene Shlesinger
1:48:34
If a homeowner in how it feels, Okay?
1:48:37
We're surrounded by coops and condos.
1:48:39
But if a homeowner and house sales decided that they wanted an ADU, that is their decision.
Joseph Douek
1:48:45
And you and you would be fine with that.
Gail Benjamin
1:48:49
As of right.
Joseph Douek
1:48:50
As of right?
Raul Rivera
1:48:51
As of right.
1:48:53
Thank you.

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