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Council Member Restler criticizes mayor's administration for inadequate HPD staffing and resources
1:16:18
·
92 sec
Council Member Restler delivers a pointed critique of Mayor Adams' administration, arguing that it has failed to prioritize the affordability crisis and adequately support HPD with necessary resources and staffing.
- Restler highlights that it was the City Council, not the mayor, who pushed for adding 94 new positions to HPD through the City of Yes initiative
- He expresses frustration that the mayor has not made the affordability crisis a priority
- Restler argues that the administration has 'starved' HPD of resources over the past three and a half years
- He emphasizes the unusual step of the City Council advocating for staff positions rather than specific projects, underscoring the critical need for increased HPD capacity
Lincoln Restler
1:16:18
So I, you know, I just think it's notable that you all have been trying and grinding and fighting it out with OMB at every step of the way to help address the vacancies in your agency and and make sure that you have a bare minimum of staff in place.
1:16:36
But it's the city council that when it came when City of Yes came to our doorstep, thanks to leadership of chair Sanchez and speaker Adams, they said, we need HPD to be able to do their jobs.
1:16:48
You can't do it by starving them, which is what mayor Adams and director Jeeha have done at every step of the way over the last three and a half years.
1:16:54
And it was this city council that said we need to add 94 headcount to HPD so that we can actually get this backlog under control, that we can ensure that it doesn't take a year to respond to applicants who want to pursue housing opportunities in our communities.
1:17:08
We can that that we can actually move forward on affordable housing at scale.
1:17:13
I am so frustrated that this mayor has not made the affordability crisis a priority and has failed HPD, in my opinion, for the past three plus years.
1:17:22
You're not gonna say any of that.
1:17:23
I'm saying it.
1:17:24
But it was this city council that fought for nearly a hundred new jobs.
1:17:27
It's an unusual thing that we wouldn't say we need new parks investments or infrastructure investments or fancy affordable housing projects in our district.
1:17:34
We said we need staff at HPD because we understand that for good things to happen across our neighborhoods, you all need head count.
1:17:41
And you don't have enough today, and we're trying our best, but we need a mayor who's an actual partner.
1:17:46
I have other questions, but I imagine I will I'll shut up now and try and come back for a second.