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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Diana Blackwell, President of Resident Association of Frederick E. Samuel Partners NYCHA
2:18:33
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129 sec
Diana Blackwell, a longtime Harlem resident and President of the Frederick E. Samuel Partners NYCHA Resident Association, testifies in support of the One45 for Harlem development project. She emphasizes the need for new housing, job creation, and private investment in the neighborhood.
- Blackwell highlights her extensive community involvement, including roles in NYCHA, waste management, and low-income housing advocacy.
- She argues that Harlem needs help in various areas, including building new housing, preserving existing stock, creating better-paying jobs, and improving public infrastructure.
- Blackwell suggests that relying solely on government assistance is not enough, implying support for private development initiatives like the One Forty Five project.
Diana Blackwell
2:18:33
Good afternoon, councilmember Salam.
2:18:36
My name is Diana Blackwell.
2:18:37
I am a longtime resident of Harlem, and I currently live on the block behind the 145 project site at the Frederick e Samuel Partners, NYCHA.
2:18:45
That's the RAD Complex, where I'm president of the resident association.
2:18:50
So I am very familiar with the project and what it means for me and my neighbors.
2:18:55
I also serve on the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board where I co chair the NYCHA recycling committee, and I am a board member of the national low income housing coalition as well as having served as president of the police service area six community council.
2:19:09
That's the housing bureau police for over ten years over 18 NYCHA developments.
2:19:15
My community and civic activist activism gives me a unique perspective about the challenges we face in Harlem.
2:19:23
So while I speak for myself, I am very familiar with the pulse of the neighborhood, and I believe that my perspective is in reflection of what a lot of neighbors think also.
2:19:34
Harlem, and in particular, my neighborhood is a wonderful community, but it needs help.
2:19:40
We need to help build more new housing.
2:19:41
We need help to preserve and fix up the current housing stock.
2:19:45
We need to help to create better paying jobs and train our young people for good careers.
2:19:50
We need help to attract private capital and investments who are investors who are willing to invest their money in Harlem.
2:19:59
We need help to improve our public infrastructure.
2:20:02
We need to help make Harlem a better place for young families to raise their families, for older folks to enjoy the fruits of their labor, and for everyone in this community to live a better life.
2:20:15
My question is how do we do all that?
2:20:17
Well, to start, for this final round, we should consider the future impact on the community individually and collectively in the times that we have entered into.
2:20:28
I believe that this offer can be restored and we can rebuild our neighborhood which would benefit us all.
2:20:36
For too long, we have relied
UNKNOWN
2:20:38
on the government for help.
Kevin Riley
2:20:39
Thank you.
2:20:39
Time's expired.
2:20:41
Thank you so much for your testimony.