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TESTIMONY

Council Member Vickie Paladino on concerns about the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal

1:23:04

·

3 min

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Council Member Vickie Paladino expresses strong opposition to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal, citing concerns about its rapid implementation and potential negative impacts on residential areas. She calls for a more cautious approach, suggesting a pilot program or postponement of the initiative.

Paladino represents District 19 in Northeast Queens, where community boards have voted against the proposal.
She argues that the city is not ready for the City of Yes initiative and criticizes the 'one-size-fits-all' approach.
The Council Member draws parallels with other hastily implemented policies, such as the legalization of marijuana, which led to unintended consequences.

The initiative is being pushed through too quickly without proper consideration
Community boards in her district have voted against the initiative
There are thousands of underused or unused buildings in New York City that could be used for housing
The initiative is not a one-size-fits-all solution for all districts
Suggests implementing a pilot program to test and refine the initiative before full implementation
Concerns about the impact on residential areas
Argues that the city is not ready for the City of Yes initiative
Draws parallels to other initiatives that were rushed and led to problems (e.g., legalization of pot)
Calls for more thorough consideration and planning before implementation

[EXPERIMENTAL]

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

I was not able to tie quotes from the testimony back to specific elements of the proposal. Check out another testimony here.

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?

Vickie Paladino

1:23:04

Am I up?

Dan Garodnick

1:23:06

You're up, and we can hear you.

Vickie Paladino

1:23:08

Oh, that's good news.

1:23:09

How about you?

1:23:09

Can you see me?

Dan Garodnick

1:23:12

We can't.

1:23:12

Yeah.

1:23:12

Now we can.

1:23:13

Now we can.

Robert Poole

1:23:14

We can see

Vickie Paladino

1:23:14

you standing here.

1:23:15

Very good.

1:23:16

Good morning, everybody, and I want to say thank you very much.

1:23:21

For doing this much needed meeting, and there needs to be a lot more.

1:23:28

I I, as you know, represent District 19, which is Northeast Queens.

1:23:34

My community boards have of course, vigorously voted against this, listening to the testimony that I've been listening to thus far this morning.

1:23:45

I I think we're all kind of on a lot of us are on the same page.

1:23:50

The biggest thing for me and my district, I think for a lot of council members in general, is the fact that this is being pushed through like a freight train It's we understand the housing crisis.

1:24:03

I also know that there are thousands of buildings in New York City.

1:24:08

That are underused or not being used at all to come into residential areas as we've seen or 1 past or 2 past with the economic development, which is also spelling a lot of problems with very residential areas.

1:24:26

So to have this thrown in the mix so quickly, I really think the city needs to take a breather on this.

1:24:34

Perhaps thought a pilot program on this, figure out, get the wrinkles out before we put it in full steam, Not every district is not a one size fits all yet.

1:24:47

The city is determined to make it a one size fits all.

1:24:53

The idea that member our our ability to Europe and otherwise are going to be denied.

1:25:03

This needs to go before the city council, but We all know that.

1:25:07

I think a majority of us know that.

1:25:10

Let me bring and stick to this.

1:25:12

Do a pilot program.

1:25:16

Experiment first or yank it for now because this city is not ready.

1:25:25

For the city of yes, just yet.

1:25:28

We absolutely are not.

1:25:31

We pushed it through 1 and 2, Let's see how economic development works out because I'm gonna tell you right now.

1:25:39

It's not.

1:25:41

It's not for so many reasons.

1:25:42

It's not.

1:25:44

So on behalf of my district and the entire 51 districts in the city of New York, We deserve a pilot program.

1:25:54

We need to see how it's gonna work out.

1:25:56

We saw so many things go wrong.

1:25:59

When we put pushed through the legalization of pot, okay, and how smoke shops popped up, We've seen so many things go into become law and pass through the city council and then have regrets that it ever happened because it wasn't thought through properly.

1:26:21

This is not being thought through probably.

1:26:25

And that's what I have to say.

1:26:26

Thank you very much, everybody.

Follow-up discussion/remarks

QUESTION

Chair Garodnick questions Council Member Paladino on affordable housing in her district

1:26:29

·

5 min

Chair Dan Garodnick challenges Council Member Vickie Paladino on the lack of affordable housing production in her district, which ranks 50th out of 51 in the city. Paladino disputes the data and argues that her district primarily consists of middle-class residents living in co-ops and condos, with rentals mainly in two-family houses.

Garodnick cites that nearly half of the renters in Paladino's district are rent-burdened
Paladino expresses concern about the potential impact of the City of Yes initiative on her district's residential neighborhoods
The exchange highlights disagreements over housing data and the appropriateness of the proposed zoning changes for different areas of the city

The initiative is being pushed through too quickly without proper consideration
Community boards in her district have voted against the initiative
There are thousands of underused or unused buildings in New York City that could be used for housing
The initiative is not a one-size-fits-all solution for all districts
Suggests implementing a pilot program to test and refine the initiative before full implementation
Concerns about the impact on residential areas
Argues that the city is not ready for the City of Yes initiative
Draws parallels to other initiatives that were rushed and led to problems (e.g., legalization of pot)
Calls for more thorough consideration and planning before implementation

[EXPERIMENTAL]

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

I was not able to tie quotes from the testimony back to specific elements of the proposal. Check out another testimony here.

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

1:26:29

Let me just pose one one question to you.

1:26:31

And, you know, obviously, we look very closely at this housing tracker data for the amount of units that are being created citywide.

1:26:42

The 19th Council District is the 2nd to last in terms of the amount of affordable housing that's being produced for the city.

1:26:50

So 50th of 51 Council District.

1:26:53

And about half of the renters in your district our rent burden.

1:26:59

So I guess my question for you and I understand your point is, you know, pilot something or perhaps yank it or not proceed here, But with the district that is second to last in affordable housing production and almost half of the renters being rent burdened, what would you recommend that we do here for the residents of your district who are struggling?

Vickie Paladino

1:27:22

First of all, I don't know what you mean by rent burdened.

Dan Garodnick

1:27:27

I'll tell you.

1:27:28

It means that it means that they are paying more than a third of their rent, their income on rent, a third of their income goes directly to rent.

1:27:38

And the the the

Joseph Rosenberg

1:27:42

That is

Gail Benjamin

1:27:43

significant that way.

Dan Garodnick

1:27:44

There's no there's no there's no need to differ on facts, but it's okay.

Gail Benjamin

1:27:47

You can you can not project.

Joel Siegel

1:27:49

It's not gonna it up by fax.

Vickie Paladino

1:27:51

You fax it wrong.

1:27:52

You fax it wrong.

1:27:53

Okay.

Dan Garodnick

1:27:54

We'll we'll let the we'll let the world fax it.

Vickie Paladino

1:27:56

All my life.

1:27:56

Let let let let it stop.

1:27:59

First of all, my district right now as it sits, I have got An amazing amount of coops and condos.

1:28:09

An amazing amount of coops and condos.

1:28:12

My rentals are in 2 family houses.

1:28:15

So if that's what you're referring to, well, the rents may be high, but they're not $5000 or $6000 a month.

1:28:23

The way they are in the city and the way they are and when I say the city, I mean, the ball of Manhattan, certain areas of Brooklyn, My my district here does not have any rentals that are $5000 and more.

1:28:41

Okay?

1:28:42

You know, yes, I just got a note.

1:28:44

The reflect inflation is affecting everybody here.

1:28:48

There's no question about it.

1:28:49

But let's stick to what you're saying.

1:28:51

You are you are claiming to know in my district that we pay upwards of $57,000 like they do in these high end districts.

1:29:03

My district is middle class, my friends, These are people get up every day and go to work.

1:29:09

And what you're doing with this is you are, 1st of all, creating what you consider to be affordable housing.

1:29:20

I have yet to see this city really create serious affordable housing.

1:29:25

It hasn't done it yet.

1:29:27

Affordable housing thus far is $25100 a month and up.

1:29:33

Okay, which in my condos and coops, which I have, oh, between Linda Lee and myself are 2 districts over a 100 1000 residents who rent in Kalops and condos, which by the way are being killed with local law 97.

1:29:53

So what I this is not something that fits all districts, and I know there's a target on our back.

1:30:01

Because we have the least density here.

1:30:04

We have the most 1 and 2 family homes in district 19.

1:30:10

And people worked very, very hard to live here to purchase a home, and they do not wanna see their residential neighborhoods.

1:30:20

Built up.

1:30:21

I've got the Long Island Railroad on Bell Boulevard.

1:30:24

I've got the Long Island Railroad in Aubendale.

1:30:27

I got the Long Island Railroad in Murray Hill.

1:30:30

And you have in your in your form of housing there that these areas that are within a certain radius of these railway stations are going to be allowed to be built up.

1:30:45

Where I'm sitting right now is in a strip mall.

1:30:50

And that means they are going to be able to put a three story building on top of where I'm sitting right now.

1:30:57

No, you're not.

1:30:59

So think long and hard about what you're doing.

1:31:02

It is in the best interest of this city that this city thinks over the city of, yes, housing.

1:31:09

And let's see how the economic development of the city of housing works out first before we tackle this.

1:31:17

Don't take too many bites out of the apple because you're gonna be sorry that you did.

1:31:22

It's not gonna work out.

1:31:24

Thank you very much, and

Dan Garodnick

1:31:25

Thanks, counselor.

1:31:26

Before I go to counselor, I'm sorry, commissioner Benjamin, I just will also note that 40% of the homeowners in your district are also burden by housing costs.

1:31:34

But let me just go to to commissioner Benjamin.

1:31:36

Go ahead.

Vickie Paladino

1:31:38

I don't know whether they give them information.

QUESTION

Commissioner Benjamin questions Council Member Paladino about transit and ADUs in District 19

1:31:41

·

5 min

Commissioner Gail Benjamin engages Council Member Vickie Paladino in a discussion about public transportation options and housing development near transit in District 19. The exchange reveals tensions surrounding the proposed City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative.

Benjamin inquires about commute times and costs for various transportation options in Paladino's district
Paladino strongly opposes Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in her district, stating a "definite hardcore no" from her community
The council member emphasizes the existing housing diversity near transit stations and urges for a more cautious approach to implementing the City of Yes initiative

The initiative is being pushed through too quickly without proper consideration
Community boards in her district have voted against the initiative
There are thousands of underused or unused buildings in New York City that could be used for housing
The initiative is not a one-size-fits-all solution for all districts
Suggests implementing a pilot program to test and refine the initiative before full implementation
Concerns about the impact on residential areas
Argues that the city is not ready for the City of Yes initiative
Draws parallels to other initiatives that were rushed and led to problems (e.g., legalization of pot)
Calls for more thorough consideration and planning before implementation

[EXPERIMENTAL]

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

I was not able to tie quotes from the testimony back to specific elements of the proposal. Check out another testimony here.

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?

Gail Benjamin

1:31:41

Hi, Councilon.

1:31:42

I was wondering if you could help me with 2 things.

1:31:45

The first is someone who lives in your district one has a job in Manhattan.

Carol Marian

1:31:52

Right?

Gail Benjamin

1:31:52

How long does it take for them to get there by public transportation not including the Long Island Railroad.

Vickie Paladino

1:31:59

Long Island.

Gail Benjamin

1:32:00

And how much how long would it take them on the Long Island Railroad?

Vickie Paladino

1:32:03

Long Island.

Gail Benjamin

1:32:05

How long if they take the bus to

Christie Peale

1:32:09

maybe

Vickie Paladino

1:32:10

Now it's 15.

1:32:11

Maybe or not.

1:32:12

We got we have the transportation here with the q 15, q 76, q 44, q 15a, q 16, q 12.

1:32:22

We've got Massive buses here.

1:32:25

Okay.

Gail Benjamin

1:32:26

But you have to go to the train station.

Carol Marian

1:32:28

Yep.

1:32:29

What does that matter?

1:32:30

What is it?

Gail Benjamin

1:32:31

I'm just talking about something overall.

1:32:33

You can't take the train and the bus into Manhattan.

Vickie Paladino

1:32:36

Yes.

1:32:36

You can.

1:32:37

Of course, you can.

Gail Benjamin

1:32:38

There's an express spot.

Vickie Paladino

1:32:39

You block your car, you get on the train.

1:32:42

Why is this no of a

Vanessa Gibson

1:32:43

we've been doing this?

1:32:44

That's what

Latanya Harris

1:32:45

I Excuse me.

1:32:46

Excuse me.

1:32:46

That's what

Gail Benjamin

1:32:47

I just said.

1:32:48

That you don't take the bus into Manhattan.

1:32:50

You take the bus into the transport, and you take the crane.

Vickie Paladino

1:32:53

We've got 2 express buses here.

1:32:56

We have 2 express buses.

1:32:58

We have the q m 2, and we've got the other q m 2.

1:33:02

One goes to the Whitestone bayside area, and the other one goes out on bayside, circles around, through flushing, and goes out.

1:33:10

So yes.

Gail Benjamin

1:33:10

And how much do they cost per ride?

Vickie Paladino

1:33:13

You know, I'm gonna say probably, I don't know, 5 in change.

Indiana Porta

1:33:18

Maybe And

Gail Benjamin

1:33:19

the Long Island railroad?

Vickie Paladino

1:33:21

I'm gonna say about the sink.

1:33:23

What are you getting at here?

1:33:24

What are you getting at it?

1:33:26

Because I don't know what

Latanya Harris

1:33:27

I'm getting.

1:33:27

What well, let

Gail Benjamin

1:33:28

me answer the question.

1:33:29

Or are you problem.

1:33:32

Thank you.

1:33:34

What I'm getting at is the transit oriented developments.

1:33:39

And whether in fact you consider because someone is within a 10 minute walking distance of the Long Island Railroad Station whether they should have more development there because it's convenient.

1:33:54

The people That's what I'm getting at.

Vickie Paladino

1:33:56

Want it.

1:33:57

The people do and I'll tell you Alright.

Gail Benjamin

1:34:00

I understand that the people Wait.

1:34:02

Wait.

1:34:02

Wait.

1:34:02

Wait.

Vickie Paladino

1:34:05

If you go to the Bay Terrace, the Bay Side Bell Boulevard, Long Island rail.

1:34:11

I'll take you to every station.

1:34:13

Because that's how much I owe.

Gail Benjamin

1:34:14

And I am trying to get at the TODs, and whether you think that this is reasonable, for the Long Island Railroad Station and for the rest of your district.

1:34:26

If you can just answer that, Melody.

Christie Peale

1:34:28

Thank you.

Gail Benjamin

1:34:28

And my second question is, how your community responded to the ADUs?

Vickie Paladino

1:34:35

0.

1:34:35

No.

1:34:36

A definite hardcore.

1:34:38

No.

1:34:39

And and and let me just say this because I I I really got hot onto the column.

1:34:43

But let me say this.

Phil Koenigsberg

1:34:44

I know.

1:34:45

And I did not mean

Gail Benjamin

1:34:46

to do that, and I hope you don't mind that, like, bonded in kind.

Vickie Paladino

1:34:50

Thank you.

1:34:50

You did.

1:34:50

You really you were you were fine.

1:34:52

I I I wanna apologize.

1:34:54

Here has here's how it goes.

1:34:56

If you go to the bayside station, you will see that around the Bayside Station and the Murray Hill Station and the Aubendale Station, you will see that there are already significant housing, including buildings by bayside.

1:35:16

Right there, there's apartment buildings.

1:35:18

Right there, as well as residential housing, as well as colons.

1:35:24

We've got every type of housing you could possibly think of here.

1:35:28

Between residential, 1 and 2 family, coops and condos, and six story apartment buildings.

1:35:35

That's what's near every single train station Long Island Rail Station that I just mentioned.

1:35:42

As far as bus stops go, they too are situated in very residential, neighbors, as well as our main boulevarts, be it Northern Boulevard, be it Francis Lewis Boulevard, We are we are housing right there.

1:36:01

I did it myself.

1:36:02

I walked to my bus.

1:36:04

I took the bus.

1:36:06

To the I r t 7.

1:36:08

I took the 7 to the double r at that time.

1:36:11

From the double r, I walked up CSF 59 Street came up on on the Bloomingdale's, and I walked to my job.

1:36:18

People here have been commuting to the city.

1:36:21

We have been known as a suburb to the city forever forever and ever.

1:36:27

And we like it that way We've worked very hard to keep it that way.

1:36:33

And this city of yes, all I am saying is this.

1:36:37

Please examine.

1:36:39

What you plan to do to so many every 51 districts.

1:36:45

Look it over.

1:36:47

Create a pilot program if you want.

1:36:50

But please do not push this through like a free train.

1:36:54

Let us recoup and figure out how the economic development is going to play out.

1:37:00

And once we see the aches and pains and iron out the wrinkles of that, Then please, let's do this with logic and sensibility, and let's please figure out the housing of yes.

1:37:15

That's my that's my final statement.

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