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Q&A
Explaining the Gowanus community oversight task force model
2:49:09
·
93 sec
Commissioner Shams DaBaron asks Michelle de la Uz to explain the community oversight task force she proposed.
De la Uz describes the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning task force as a volunteer group that monitors the city's adherence to commitments made during the rezoning process.
This involves regular reporting from city agencies and ongoing dialogue, which she characterizes as a uniquely productive relationship fostering trust between the community and government, though currently requiring private funding.
Shams DaBaron
2:49:09
I just wanted to know because I've never heard of it, but what what is a community oversight task force and how would that work?
Michelle de la Uz
2:49:20
The experience that that we have in Gowana, so as part of the 2,021 neighborhood rezoning of 82 blocks that is bringing 8,500 units of housing, 3,000 of which are deeply and permanently affordable.
2:49:34
It also included the commitments that were negotiated.
2:49:39
It also included $200,000,000 to invest in repairs at NYCHA locally and another $250,000,000 in other things.
2:49:46
So we have a volunteer group of about 30 people that have gone through a process, basically raised their hands and said, we would like to be part of ensuring that the points of agreement that the city committed to are adhered to.
2:50:05
And the number one point of agreement that the city of New York agreed to in 2021 was that the city would report to the community controlled task force and have public meetings on a quarterly basis.
2:50:17
But in between then, there are conversations that are going on between task force members and staff at the agencies of the city of New York in the mayor's office.
2:50:28
It's a very productive relationship.
Shams DaBaron
2:50:31
And that's city that's citywide?
Michelle de la Uz
2:50:34
No.
2:50:34
That's only something that we secured as part of the Gowanus rezoning, and we had to raise our own money privately for our third party facilitator.