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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jordan Wright, Assembly Member from New York State Assembly on Hudson Yards West Development
1:05:45
·
121 sec
Assembly Member Jordan Wright testified in support of the Hudson Yards West development, emphasizing its potential to create jobs, housing, and community benefits for New Yorkers struggling with economic challenges. He highlighted the project's inclusive growth model and public-private partnership approach.
- The project promises 40,000 union jobs with allocated funds for workforce development
- It includes thousands of new homes and a creative funding model for housing at scale
- Wright mentioned a commitment of 1% of gaming revenue (potentially over $200 million in 10 years) for community benefits, regardless of the casino's inclusion
Jordan Wright
1:05:45
Good morning, chair.
1:05:46
Good morning, members of the committee.
1:05:47
My name is assembly member Jordan Wright, and I represent Harlem, a couple miles north of the Western Rail Yards.
1:05:54
Our city is at a precipice.
1:05:55
More and more New Yorkers are having trouble making ends meet.
1:05:58
They're having trouble buying groceries, paying for childcare, and the face of eviction is increasingly the middle class.
1:06:05
Turmoil and uncertainty in Washington only further threatened to slash away the federal programming that so many of us rely on to make ends meet.
1:06:12
As a member of the state legislature working on this year's budget, I know all these challenges all too well.
1:06:19
We can't let this stand.
1:06:20
What New Yorkers really need is bold action to show that it is still possible for the middle class to build a future here.
1:06:26
If we want real change, we need to tap into solutions that harness the power of the private sector to empower the community.
1:06:33
Hudson Yards West offers a prime example of this inclusive growth.
1:06:38
I'm excited about the prospects for housing, jobs and community funding.
1:06:42
Hudson Yards West will provide 40,000 union jobs with funds allocated to workforce development, programming to ensure our local folks can fill these slots.
1:06:51
I'm excited about thousands of new homes and the creative funding model that shows what can happen when public private partnerships come together to create a real way to add housing at scale, not just at Hudson Yards, but other big projects as well.
1:07:05
I'm excited about the community benefits.
1:07:07
Whether you for casino or not, committing 1% of the gaming revenue to go directly back into the neighborhood will benefit the neighborhood in a truly meaningful way.
1:07:15
I imagine over $200,000,000 in the next ten years to fund infrastructure for a new school, childcare center and social services program.
1:07:23
That's real support for the people who live there.
1:07:27
I've appreciated the due diligence and careful consideration given the Hudson Yards West so far during the approval process.
1:07:32
The input scrutiny the input and scrutiny have strengthened the project, pushing it to be more than just another development.
1:07:39
Let's continue to make progress, and I ask that you approve this project so we can keep moving forward as a city.
1:07:45
Thank you all so much.