Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lydia Andre, Representative of Chelsea Neighbors Coalition, on Western Rail Yards Modification Proposal
3:02:35
·
125 sec
Lydia Andre, representing the Chelsea Neighbors Coalition, strongly opposes the Western Rail Yards modification proposal. She criticizes the developers for prioritizing profits over community needs and argues for a return to the 2009 plan, which she considers better for the community.
- Expresses concern over the lack of affordable housing, with only 7% affordability in the current proposal
- Criticizes the potential inclusion of a casino and its impacts on the community
- Calls for maintaining public spaces, sunlight, and open air accessibility
- Urges City Council members to stand up for the community and demand a better plan
Lydia Andre
3:02:35
I'm Lydia Andre from the Chelsea's Neighbors Coalition and three hundred West twentieth Block Association.
3:02:41
I want to add my voice against this proposal.
3:02:46
Because here we are again, for the crumbs to fall off the table while developers feast on our city.
3:02:54
And let's let's be honest, developers are casting the kind of shadows most of us in the city don't wanna live with.
3:03:02
I'm always confused by the way this process works.
3:03:05
I don't recall that Related is tasked with making the city a better place or creating more affordable housing or creating a more equitable city with better community access to public spaces or protecting our present resources of light and air in the highline.
3:03:19
Yet here they are in the driver's seat deciding how much housing we can have, how our tax dollars are spent, or whether we have a casino foisted on us.
3:03:29
How does that work?
3:03:32
Do we not see what's in front of us?
3:03:34
Related stands to reap enormous profits from gaming, yet what is really going on here is the gaming of the system.
3:03:41
One speaker claimed that the 02/2009 plan was no longer realistic.
3:03:45
Realism isn't the problem.
3:03:48
Greed is.
3:03:50
One speaker
3:03:53
One speaker mentioned that no one gets a % affordability.
3:03:57
Yep.
3:03:57
Should we be satisfied with 7%?
3:04:00
Related is not the only game in town.
3:04:02
This is an historic once in a lifetime development site and development opportunity.
3:04:08
They can come back with a better plan just like they tried to do on Friday.
3:04:12
They can go back to the 2,009 plan, which is a better plan.
3:04:16
We absolutely can and must do better.
3:04:19
Let's insist on it.
3:04:21
City council members, thank you for this opportunity to speak, but please do your job and stand up for us.
3:04:28
We must honor our commitments to the community.
3:04:31
We must build more affordable housing.
3:04:33
We must maintain our public spaces and make sunlight and open air accessible.
3:04:38
That is minimal.
3:04:39
Thank you.
Jacob Dickson
3:03:49
Do you wanna be
UNKNOWN
3:03:51
Take care.