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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Hiba Seager, Volunteer at The High Line
2:17:47
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115 sec
Hiba Seager, a volunteer at The High Line, testified against the Western Rail Yards modification proposal, particularly opposing the casino and resort plan. She argued that the development would negatively impact small businesses, quality of life, and the unique character of the High Line.
- Criticized the casino and resort plan for not benefiting local small businesses
- Expressed concerns about the massive size of the proposed development and its impact on sunlight and views from the High Line
- Emphasized the importance of green and open spaces for mental health and the unique value of the High Line to New York City
Hiba Seager
2:17:47
Hi.
2:17:48
Yes, Hiba.
2:17:48
Hiba?
2:17:49
Yes.
2:17:49
I'm Hiba Seger.
2:17:50
I'm a volunteer at the Highline and I wanted to first talk about the small business impacts.
2:17:56
So the developers talk about how small businesses are going to flourish once this proposal goes through.
2:18:03
They use the words both casino and resort.
2:18:06
The two things those have in common is everything is in house.
2:18:11
What people will do is they'll gamble, they'll eat and drink at the restaurants, they'll go back to their hotel or call an Uber and go home.
2:18:19
There's little or no interaction with the community.
2:18:25
And in regards to the quality of life, I live about a ten minute walk from a Costco and it takes up two blocks and one full avenue.
2:18:36
It's huge.
2:18:37
And the size of this casino is six of those warehouses on top of each other.
2:18:43
So when we're about shadows, we will lose so much sunlight and just visual interest from the High Line.
2:18:51
We're so it's such a unique situation because it's elevated.
2:18:56
And Councilman Badger said earlier that New Yorkers are proprietary about their space.
2:19:03
And I couldn't agree more.
2:19:05
And we are that way for a reason.
2:19:08
Green spaces and open spaces are so beneficial to mental health.
2:19:13
And it doesn't get more New York than the High Line.
2:19:16
We started off with the railroads coming in.
2:19:20
It gets deserted.
2:19:20
Almost was going to be destructed.
2:19:23
And then the community came together and said, why don't we actually repurpose this?
2:19:27
And now we have this going on till today.
2:19:30
And we're not I'm not against development, and the Highlands Commission is not against development.
2:19:34
It's that this proposal in particular does not help the community.
2:19:39
It's gotta be something else.
2:19:41
Thank you.