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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Anthony Ortolano, Member of SEIU 32BJ

1:33:44

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Anthony Ortolano, a member of SEIU Local 32BJ and a public school handy person, expresses strong support for the City of Yes Housing Opportunity proposal. He shares his personal struggles with housing affordability in Brooklyn, emphasizing the need for more affordable housing options.

Ortolano has moved three times in four years due to rising rents and lack of affordable options
He argues that the housing crisis is rooted in a significant housing shortage
Ortolano believes the City of Yes proposal will help create tens of thousands of new housing units, benefiting families like his and the 70,000+ SEIU 32BJ members in New York City

Anthony Ortolano

1:33:44

Good morning, Chair Riley and committee members.

1:33:46

My name is Anthony Or Tolano.

1:33:48

I'm a member of SCIU Local 32 BJ, and I work as a handy person in the public school system.

1:33:54

I am pleased to be here today to express my support and my union support for city of yes housing opportunity.

1:34:01

In addition to being an 11 year member of this great union, I'm a lifelong Brooklyn resident who knows the housing crisis firsthand.

1:34:09

Currently, I rent an apartment in Bensonhurst with my wife and young daughter.

1:34:13

In the last 4 years, we have moved three times.

1:34:16

And because there was nothing else available at an affordable rent, our current home is both more expensive and smaller than the apartment we rented in 2020.

1:34:25

Moving at the fragile ages of 13 and 4 has meant that my daughter doesn't get to experience the peace of mind that comes with having a stable home.

1:34:34

And as my wife and I struggle every month to pay rent, We can't say for the American dream we share with millions of families to one day purchase our own house.

1:34:43

I know that I'm not the only person with this experience and that my story is shared by thousands of my 32 BJ Brothers And Sisters.

1:34:51

The raises that we win in every union contract are hard fought victories, but it's hard to celebrate as our wallets are squeezed by skyrocketing housing costs.

1:35:01

Earlier this year, my union joined many others in urging the state to pass legislation to kick start development and bring new homes onto the market.

1:35:09

Because as countless experts have shown, the housing crisis is rooted in a huge housing shortage.

1:35:15

Now it's the city's turn to act.

1:35:17

City of Yes is a common sense proposal to unlock tens of thousands of units of housing across the city.

1:35:24

These will go a long way towards shrinking the housing shortage so that families like mine might be able to find comfortable and affordable housing options in the communities we lived in our entire lives.

1:35:35

On behalf of my family and 70,032 BJ members who call New York City Home, I urge you to support city of yes for housing opportunity.

1:35:44

Thank you.

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Testimony by Barbara Larkin, Vice President of Queens Civic Congress