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TESTIMONY

Bobbi Barnett from Manhattan Community Board 4 on supporting the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning amendment

13:41:12

·

3 min

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Bobbi Barnett, a lifelong New Yorker, Manhattan resident, and Manhattan Community Board 4 member, testifies in support of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning amendment. She urges the City Planning Commission to approve the amendment in full, citing the need to address the housing shortage and update outdated zoning codes.

  • Highlights specific aspects of the proposal, including the reduction of the dwelling unit factor and the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP)
  • Emphasizes the benefits of shared housing models for young people and those exiting shelters
  • Argues that the benefits of additional affordable units outweigh concerns about modest height increases in buildings
  • Encourages approval of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
  • Supports reduction and elimination of dwelling unit factor
  • Supports universal affordability preference (UAP)
  • Believes benefits of additional affordable units outweigh concerns about increased building height
  • Appreciates DCP's engagement with community boards
  • Argues for quicker review process to address housing shortage
  • Urges CPC not to exempt any neighborhoods from housing obligations
  • Emphasizes the interconnected nature of New York City's housing market

[EXPERIMENTAL]

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

  • UAP
  • Small and Shared Housing

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.

UAP

"UAP would create new permanently rent stabilized units for those who are increasingly priced out of communities like mine."

This quote directly addresses the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) element of the proposal, discussing its potential benefits in creating affordable housing.

"While I have heard concerns about allowing developers additional height as a part of UAP, I believe that the benefits of additional affordable units are well worth the modest additional height that these buildings may bring."

This quote further discusses the UAP element, acknowledging potential concerns but emphasizing the speaker's support for the benefits it would bring in terms of affordable housing.

Small and Shared Housing

"Eliminating the dwelling unit factor unlocks new housing up opportunity for groups that are currently stuck in place. Creating shared housing can enable young people to afford to live without roommates and free up family sized apartments."

This quote directly addresses the small and shared housing element of the proposal, discussing how it can benefit young people and free up larger apartments for families.

"Shared housing models can also help more of those exiting shelter to move into permanent supportive housing."

This quote further elaborates on the benefits of shared housing models, which is a key aspect of the small and shared housing element of the proposal.


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?
Bobbi Barnett
13:41:12
Are you able to hear me?
Dan Garodnick
13:41:14
We are.
Bobbi Barnett
13:41:16
Hello.
13:41:16
Good evening.
13:41:18
My name is Bobby Barnett.
13:41:20
I am a lifelong New Yorker Manhattan resident.
13:41:24
And community board for member.
13:41:27
I have worked in housing policy issues for the better part of the past decade.
13:41:32
And I am here to encourage the city planning commission to vote to approve the city of yes for housing opportunity, a tax amendment in full.
13:41:40
I do not need to reiterate the meaningful human cost of our failure to create housing to match the existing need nor the way in which failing to meaningfully Update our zoning code in over 60 years has prevented the type of housing that New Yorkers increasingly need from being built.
13:41:57
On a personal level, this lack of available housing has made it more challenging for myself and my peers to remain in one apartment for longer than just a few years.
13:42:07
And ultimately to see a long term future in our neighborhoods and the city overall.
13:42:13
There is a lot to like about the many proposals in the city of and I am particularly excited to see the reduction and elimination of the dwelling unit factor and universal affordability preference in creating more housing and more of the types of housing that our city needs.
13:42:28
Eliminating the dwelling unit factor unlocks new housing up opportunity for groups that are currently stuck in place.
13:42:34
Creating shared housing can enable young people to afford to live without roommates and free up family sized apartments.
13:42:41
In our neighborhoods.
13:42:42
Shared housing models can also help more of those exiting shelter to move into permanent supportive housing.
13:42:48
UAP would create new permanently rent stabilized units for those who are increasingly priced out of communities like mine.
13:42:56
While I have heard concerns about allowing developers additional height as a part of UAP, I believe that the benefits of additional affordable units are well worth the modest additional height that these buildings may bring.
13:43:09
Some here today may have derided the city's one size fits all approach and the lack of input that communities will have in these proposals moving forward as a community board member.
13:43:19
I certainly appreciate the Department of City Planning's engagement on this.
13:43:24
And while I encourage the CPC to consider substantive feedback, to modify these proposals from those who are engaging, cure, and get faith, easing the review process for the types of housing we want to see.
13:43:37
By performing that review upfront has the power to address our dire housing shortage much more quickly.
13:43:43
And as we're falling short literally hundreds of thousands of units today, we cannot afford to lose time in an effort to increase our supply of housing.
13:43:52
Finally, while it is important to focus on proposals that would increase housing in all communities, I urge the CPC to ensure that Its ultimate recommendation does not exempt one neighborhood or set of neighborhoods from their obligations to create housing.
13:44:09
New York City's housing market is just that it's a market.
13:44:12
What affects one neighborhood has an impact on other communities and residents around the city.
13:44:18
I thank you for your time and careful review of these proposals, and hope I managed
Sachi Takahashi-Rial
13:44:22
to sleep this evening.

Follow-up discussion/remarks

REMARKS

Chair Garodnick thanks Barnett for addressing concerns about citywide approach

13:44:24

·

23 sec

Dan Garodnick, Chair of the City Planning Commission, expresses appreciation for Bobbi Barnett's testimony, particularly her comments on the 'one size fits all' approach and the potential negative impacts of individual community board reviews.

  • Garodnick acknowledges Barnett's support for a citywide approach rather than project-by-project reviews
  • He emphasizes the importance of this approach in achieving the city's housing goals
  • The Chair's comments suggest alignment with the overall objectives of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative
  • Encourages approval of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
  • Supports reduction and elimination of dwelling unit factor
  • Supports universal affordability preference (UAP)
  • Believes benefits of additional affordable units outweigh concerns about increased building height
  • Appreciates DCP's engagement with community boards
  • Argues for quicker review process to address housing shortage
  • Urges CPC not to exempt any neighborhoods from housing obligations
  • Emphasizes the interconnected nature of New York City's housing market

[EXPERIMENTAL]

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

  • UAP
  • Small and Shared Housing

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.

UAP

"UAP would create new permanently rent stabilized units for those who are increasingly priced out of communities like mine."

This quote directly addresses the Universal Affordability Preference (UAP) element of the proposal, discussing its potential benefits in creating affordable housing.

"While I have heard concerns about allowing developers additional height as a part of UAP, I believe that the benefits of additional affordable units are well worth the modest additional height that these buildings may bring."

This quote further discusses the UAP element, acknowledging potential concerns but emphasizing the speaker's support for the benefits it would bring in terms of affordable housing.

Small and Shared Housing

"Eliminating the dwelling unit factor unlocks new housing up opportunity for groups that are currently stuck in place. Creating shared housing can enable young people to afford to live without roommates and free up family sized apartments."

This quote directly addresses the small and shared housing element of the proposal, discussing how it can benefit young people and free up larger apartments for families.

"Shared housing models can also help more of those exiting shelter to move into permanent supportive housing."

This quote further elaborates on the benefits of shared housing models, which is a key aspect of the small and shared housing element of the proposal.


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?
Dan Garodnick
13:44:24
Thank you, miss Barnett.
13:44:26
Appreciate your addressing that one size fits all and the comments about doing an individual community board by community board, review or project by project review and the deleterious impact that would have on the ability to actually achieve any of the housing goals that we so desperately need to achieve.
13:44:46
So thank you for that.
13:44:48
Okay.

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