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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ife Adelona, Volunteer from High Line
2:46:20
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115 sec
Ife Adelona, a Hudson Yards resident and High Line volunteer, testified against the Western Rail Yards modification proposal, citing concerns about job concentration, impact on the High Line, and obstruction of views. She urged the city council to vote no on the application.
- Argued that adding jobs in Manhattan would hinder job creation in other areas of New York
- Expressed concern about the proposal's impact on the High Line, including increased dark and windy spaces
- Emphasized the importance of preserving Hudson River views and the "magical sensation" of the High Line experience
Ife Adelona
2:46:20
Hi.
2:46:20
My name is Ife Adelona.
2:46:22
I live in Hudson Yards and have lived there for seven years since the inception.
2:46:27
I'm also a volunteer of the High Line and I wanted to get to the first two points that were very stark to me.
2:46:36
Job growth currently is concentrated in Manhattan and other neighborhoods continue to experience higher unemployment, so adding jobs within this area will only further hinder other areas of New York from job creation.
2:46:53
The many available positions that this proposed development plan is suggesting are mostly lower wage service jobs rather than middle income careers that would support living in an expensive city such as New York.
2:47:08
The High Line is a special place for our community and over the last fifteen years it has become one of the city's prized jewels and an increase in dark windy spaces and loss of connectivity to the surrounding areas would really make it bad for people who live in the community.
2:47:30
We want to continue to support a vibrant welcoming and accessible part of the city and this proposal does the opposite of that.
2:47:39
I believe that views of the water of the Hudson River are essential to the experience on the High Line, and living in Hudson Yards, a lot of the buildings that have since gone up really block these these important views.
2:47:53
So adding to this corridor, most what's in this proposal would continue to block the cityscape and skyline views that create the magical sensation of floating in the city, and ultimately, the buildings being built close to the park would ruin the magic of the Highline experience.
2:48:11
So, I urge the city council to vote no on this application.