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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Annie Levers from the Office of the New York City Comptroller on housing emergency and comprehensive planning proposals
1:40:12
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177 sec
Annie Levers testifies on behalf of NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, focusing on charter revisions for housing.
Lander proposes empowering the mayor to declare a temporary housing emergency, triggering a citizens' assembly to create density/transit-oriented plans aligned with fair housing goals.
These plans would go to council (needing 2/3 vote to reject), and compliant projects would get a streamlined 90-day ULURP with no council review.
This emergency process would be supplanted by a mandated comprehensive plan within two years, making the streamlined ULURP permanent.
Annie Levers
1:40:12
Good evening, everyone, and thank you for the opportunity to testify.
1:40:15
My name is Annie Levers, and I'm testifying this evening on behalf of Brad Lander, New York City controller and mayoral candidate.
1:40:22
I'd like to thank chair Burry, the commissioners, and the commission staff for convening this hearing.
1:40:27
Over the last several years, Brad Lander has proposed a robust set of charter revision proposals ranging from strengthening the city's fair share rules to modernizing its fiscal framework.
1:40:37
Given the commission's emphasis tonight on land use reforms, my testimony in this evening will focus exclusively on proposals for tackling the city's housing crisis.
1:40:46
To boost New York City's housing supply, build political consensus for growth, and ensure that expansion is backed by critical investments in infrastructure, Brad's housing plan proposed revisions that would allow the city to immediately expedite rezonings for increased density while laying the groundwork for a long term comprehensive plan, a best practice that Brad has championed for decades but that the city has failed to implement.
1:41:08
These recommendations are aligned with proposals from ANHD, the Thriving Communities Coalition, and Open New York to make the city's fair housing framework enforceable.
1:41:16
The charter should be amended to empower the mayor to declare a temporary housing emergency alongside mechanisms to streamline and fast track new development.
1:41:24
Under this framework, the mayor would convene a citizens' assembly to address the housing crisis, the affordability, and homelessness crisis no less than one hundred days after the declaration of the emergency.
1:41:35
The citizens' assembly would be a group of randomly selected diverse New Yorkers who are unencumbered by the entrenched interests and political dynamics that too often stall out growth.
1:41:44
The assembly would be required to develop and adopt plans for increased density and transit oriented growth that fulfill the targets and mandates of the city's fair housing framework.
1:41:53
These plans would provide New Yorkers with more detailed land use and infrastructure visions for their neighborhoods.
1:41:58
The citizens' assembly plan would be sent to the community boards, borough presidents, and the New York City Council requiring a two thirds council vote to reject the plan altogether.
1:42:08
For rezoning actions that the city planning commission determines comply with the citizens' assembly plans, the charter would establish an alternative streamlined ninety day ULURP review and public comment period.
1:42:18
That would bring the ULURP clock from roughly seven months to ninety days.
1:42:22
Rezoning actions that comply with the citizens' assembly plan would not be subject to council review or approval.
1:42:28
To supplant the emergency process, the charter should then be amended to require the development of a comprehensive plan no less than two years since the start of the housing emergency.
1:42:38
The adopted comprehensive plan in place, the charter would be amended to make permanent that ninety day streamlined streamlined ULURP process.
1:42:48
Additionally, I strongly encourage the commission to put the original city of yes proposal on the ballot to New Yorkers to deliver the additional 20,000 units that were lost after negotiations.
1:42:57
Thank you for the opportunity to testify this evening.
1:42:59
I've attached more details to my written testimony, which you'll all receive, and I would be happy to meet with each of you and the staff to discuss these in more detail.
1:43:08
Thank you.