Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dale Burnett, Managing Director of Big Equity, on Western Rail Yards Proposal
1:34:38
·
130 sec
Dale Burnett, Managing Director of Big Equity, expresses strong support for the Western Rail Yards proposal, highlighting its potential for community building, job creation, and inclusive economic development. Burnett emphasizes the role of his minority-owned, woman-led investment firm in providing opportunities for traditionally excluded groups to invest in and benefit from the project.
- Praises Related Companies for increasing housing units to 4,000 in response to community feedback
- Highlights the project's creation of 30,000 jobs, 5,000 permanent jobs, and new public green spaces
- Emphasizes the importance of allowing minorities and women to invest in the project through Big Equity, promoting wealth-building opportunities
Dale Burnett
1:34:38
My name is Dale Burnett, managing director of big equity and affiliate of the Basis Investment Group.
1:34:43
I'm honored to express my support for the Westside Real Yards proposal and to spotlight my firm's groundbreaking role.
1:34:50
We are a minority owned woman led investment manager and I believe we'll play a transformational role in this development.
1:34:58
Our leadership is comprised of men and women, black, white, and brown people, people who grew up in public housing like our CEO, those that grew up in inner city neighborhoods here in New York like myself, lifelong New Yorkers as well as immigrants that came in to achieve the American dream.
1:35:12
We all support this project because it's not just about economic development.
1:35:16
It's about community building at scale with intentionality in providing community benefits that will ripple across the city.
1:35:23
It's not all perfect, but the creation of 30,000 jobs, 5,000 permanent jobs, pathways to long term careers for New York families, the fact that thousands of affordable housing units have been delivered across the city by Related and that continues here.
1:35:38
I must say I've been personally impressed to sit alongside Related as they've reconstituted the project to up the number of units to 4,000 in response to the community.
1:35:47
Nobody gets a % of what they want, not the community, not related.
1:35:51
But this shows you what I know, that they are a partner that actually listens.
1:35:55
The proposal includes acres of new green open public space in a part of the city that urgently needs it, and lord knows that the MTA needs those upgrades for people like myself and our team that ride the subways every day.
1:36:08
And then there is us.
1:36:09
Through our investment in the project, the door will be open for qualified minorities, women, New Yorkers of all stripes, background, and colors to invest in the project through us, giving people traditionally excluded from major developments the opportunity to build wealth and invest in their own city.
1:36:25
What is more important, this is not new.
1:36:26
We've done this with related and other cities.
1:36:29
We did this without fanfare.
1:36:30
We did it because it was the best thing to do.
1:36:33
The project will create an economic engine that does not leave people behind.
1:36:37
It's a blueprint for how New York can create economic development rooted in community that drives opportunity and creates benefits that are not perfect but are shared by all.
1:36:46
I urge you to support the proposal.