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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Larry Nickens, Harlem Resident
1:18:46
·
170 sec
Larry Nickens, a 60-year Harlem resident, testifies in support of the One45 for Harlem development project. He emphasizes the importance of addressing objections while moving forward with development, highlighting the potential for job creation and economic growth in the community.
- Argues that development is necessary despite objections, urging leaders to address concerns but not let fear of change halt progress
- Emphasizes the need for creating opportunities for residents to earn higher incomes, rather than solely focusing on current affordability issues
- Calls for putting objections on the table, addressing them, and then moving forward with the project, stating that the current state of 145th Street is unacceptable
Larry Nickens
1:18:46
Good afternoon, family.
1:18:49
I wanted to say thanks for the invite to the councilman, of course, who I'm forever grateful for.
1:18:57
Number one, being a legitimate Harlem citizen, and now as a councilman putting his best foot forward, and just wanted to you know, you're always supported, you know, by true Harlemites, so I wanted to get that out the way.
1:19:09
I've been a resident in Harlem for sixty years, like a legitimate stakeholder.
1:19:13
I lost my brother here in Harlem.
1:19:17
My testimony is we call it a development, right?
1:19:21
So as leaders, there's always gonna be objections.
1:19:25
Our job is to make sure that the objections are addressed and that we have development.
1:19:31
Because it's never going to be a % what we may perceive it to be.
1:19:35
Setting all the other details aside, that's important.
1:19:40
Then we want to look at what you said is important.
1:19:44
The set amount of one bedrooms versus I'm sorry, studios versus one, two, three bedrooms.
1:19:51
That's an objection.
1:19:53
So Bruce has demonstrated an ability to develop, has demonstrated a willingness to make those adjustments.
1:20:02
Of course, we're gonna hold them to that, but again, it's about development and not being afraid to come out of status quo.
1:20:11
Because for some reason, some of us as residents, it's really not about objections, it's just about us being afraid of moving forward.
1:20:20
Also, I want to look at something that was said in terms of the jobs, etcetera, etcetera.
1:20:25
The collateral upside associated with these type of opportunities we need to look at, because again, that's development.
1:20:35
Part of what we come across in terms of public safety, quality of life, it has a lot to do with an inability or the lack of opportunities to earn income.
1:20:47
So what we have to do is, okay, we know that the median income is x y and z, but we also wanna create an atmosphere where people can start earning more.
1:20:55
Because if we keep saying it's not affordable, what do we do to create a stimulus where people can start affording versus just using that as an excuse to not develop.
1:21:06
So I just wanna say, let's be true leaders, let's put the objections on the table, and if the objections are met, we gotta move forward because what we see now at one four five is totally unacceptable.
1:21:18
So let's speak for the collective and not for a small group, and use the noble motive that the project is driven by gentrification, etcetera.
1:21:30
Let's be genuine.
1:21:32
Let's put the objections on the table.
1:21:34
Let's move forward.
Kevin Riley
1:21:35
Thank Larry.
1:21:35
Thank you.