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Q&A
Commissioner Savino discusses member deference and housing development with former Council Member Steve Levin
0:37:32
·
3 min
Commissioner Diane Savino asks former Council Member Steve Levin for his current perspective on member deference, a practice where the full council typically follows the local member's stance on land use matters in their district, particularly in relation to the housing crisis.
Levin suggests it's a balance, valuable when the local member negotiates in good faith but not an absolute rule.
He reflects that his views on development evolved after leaving office, recognizing the need for housing supply addressed by initiatives like City of Yes, and notes the growing YIMBY movement.
Savino acknowledges the local member's connection to the community but points out how deference can hinder development and lead to unequal burdens across the city.
- Savino raises the issue of member deference potentially hindering housing development.
- Levin views deference as a balanced tool, important for local negotiation but dependent on good faith.
- Levin notes the shift in perspective towards needing more housing supply (City of Yes, YIMBY movement).
- Savino highlights the tension between local control and citywide needs, leading to uneven development.
Diane Savino
0:37:32
On a completely different topic, former councilman.
0:37:35
So as you know, this Charter Revision Commission has been charged with we're required to look at the entire charter, but we were asked to make a particular focus on housing and to address the housing crisis that we face in New York City.
0:37:47
And one of the things that comes up often in these discussions is the issue of member deference by the local council member, which can, you know, approve a project or kill it.
0:37:57
And so I'm just curious.
0:37:59
Now that you're no longer a council member, if you if you could do it if you could do things differently, would you have?
0:38:07
Particularly, I think the district that you represented has grown tremendously compared to other parts of the city.
0:38:12
Just out of curiosity, now now that you no longer have to worry about going before the voters, what do you think about member deference?
Steve Levin
0:38:19
I think it's a there's a a good balance to be struck.
0:38:22
You know, it was not 100% rule when I was there.
0:38:26
There were times when I think my my second rezoning that I I had about 45 rezonings in the in the district when I was a council member.
0:38:35
And the second one that we had, I, you know, I I, I opposed up until couldn't really oppose it anymore, you know, probably an hour before the vote was scheduled.
0:38:46
So, you know, within reason, think that it's it's important to be able to maintain that there's one council member who's who's negotiating in their district.
0:38:56
And I think, often they're very familiar with the issues at play that others might not be, familiar with.
0:39:05
But, you know, it certainly be should be within within reason.
0:39:08
And if if that council member is operating in good faith, I think it's important to be able to allow them to to negotiate.
0:39:15
But, everything's a, you know, a balance, I think.
Diane Savino
0:39:19
Yeah.
0:39:19
No doubt.
0:39:20
I mean, I I've said to the group and to the people internally that the local elected official is the closest person to that community.
0:39:27
People trusted that person to help make decisions about the future of that district, but it is quite challenging, when you know, nobody likes change.
0:39:36
Everybody wants change, but nobody wants it next to them.
0:39:38
We all want more housing, but we don't want it in our block.
0:39:41
We all want more development, but we don't want it in our neighborhood.
0:39:43
Should be over there, over there, or over there.
0:39:45
But it there's no doubt that, you know, the councils over the years, and it's not just this council or the one you served in, where you give so much deference to that member and nothing ever gets done.
0:39:57
So we've seen over the past twenty five years, some communities are bearing the burden of the entire development of housing and others, none.
0:40:04
And how do we how do we plan for the future of a city that continues that practice?
Steve Levin
0:40:09
I think the city of Yes was really inspiring to see.
0:40:12
I mean, being out of government, being able to see, I think in the last few years, a real shift in terms of, the perspective that I think a lot of elected officials have recognizing, you know, there's a whole Yimbi movement about, you know, saying we need the housing.
0:40:28
Everybody recognizes we need the housing.
0:40:29
We need we need we need that supply in order to continue to grow as a city.
0:40:34
And so, you know, I I as a council member, I kinda largely made my peace with development happening in my district and and needing to be there.
0:40:43
And, you know, now five years or, you know, three years out, but years down the line, I've I'm starting to see the benefits of it, I think that those outweigh, in many cases, outweigh the impacts.
Anita Laremont
0:40:56
That's good to know.
Diane Savino
0:40:57
Thank you.