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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Pamela Herrera, Land Justice Coordinator of Western Queens Community Land Trust
6:08:22
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127 sec
Pamela Herrera, representing the Western Queens Community Land Trust, testified on the importance of funding for Community Land Trusts (CLTs) to address the housing affordability crisis in New York City. She requested $3 million in funding for the CLT initiative in the FY26 expense budget to support growth and community efforts.
- The Western Queens CLT has used previous funding to hire staff, host community events, and work towards providing over 50 units of deep affordability in Elmhurst.
- CLTs are described as a way to invest in community health, well-being, and future by putting people before profit and protecting against real estate speculation and displacement.
- The testimony highlights the success of the Cooper Square CLT in preserving affordable housing and storefronts since 1994.
Pamela Herrera
6:08:22
Good afternoon committee chair Sanchez, Yaya, and members of the housing committee and thank you for the opportunity to testify.
6:08:28
My name is Pamela Herrera and I am the land justice coordinator at the Western Queens Community Land Trust.
6:08:34
The Western Queens CLT is a nonprofit organization made up of activists, small business owners, professors, artists, students, and community members who fight for democratic and equitable land use in Western Queens.
6:08:44
We asked the city council to ensure enhanced funding of 3,000,000 for the CLT initiative in this year's f y twenty six expense budget as speaker Adams committed last year.
6:08:55
This urgently needed funding will support the growth of our CLT among many others in the other boroughs.
6:09:01
We are so thankful for the funding we have received in prior years.
6:09:04
With this funding, we have been able to hire a full time staffer, host town halls, workshops, and events for the community.
6:09:11
We hope to be able to add to our staff and continue the growth of our organization to promote deep affordability and preservation of public land.
6:09:19
The CLTs funded the CLTs funded are organizing across the city to address our worsening affordability crisis.
6:09:26
The the city is facing a housing crisis that has engulfed thousands of people in unstable conditions at their in their survival.
6:09:33
Our CLT has expanded our work and is addressing this concern in Elmhurst by potentially providing over 50 units of deep affordability.
6:09:41
Thanks to the city council's funding, we have been able to pave the way to find properties, partners, and community members that believe in the CLTS mess measure to address the housing crisis.
6:09:51
In short, funding is not just about buying land.
6:09:54
It's about investing in the health, well-being, and future of our entire neighborhoods.
6:09:57
It's an investment in the more equitable, just, and resilient way of living that puts people before profit, ensuring that the benefits of land ownership are shared by the community rather than concentrated in the hands of a few.
6:10:10
By bringing land and housing into community ownership, CLTs serve the neighborhood and protect it against real estate speculation and displacement.
6:10:17
Since 1994, the Cooper Square CLT on Manhattan's Lower East Side has preserved more than 320 deeply affordable apartments and two dozen affordable storefronts in 21 buildings and is now expanding