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Q&A
The roles of Borough President and Council Member in the ULURP process
1:04:17
·
152 sec
Commissioner Carl Weisbrod asks Council Member Gale A. Brewer, based on her experience as both Borough President and Council Member, about the balance of power between the two roles in the ULURP process.
Brewer explains that the Borough President's review, aided by dedicated land use staff, plays a crucial role in vetting controversial projects and potentially modifying them before they reach the council.
She suggests this provides political cover for the council member, though acknowledges the limitations of staffing and expertise across all levels involved in land use.
Carl Weisbrod
1:04:17
I I have a I I do have a question for you, council member, which is you've been both the borough president and Yeah.
1:04:23
And a council member.
1:04:24
And I just do you think that the balance of the roles of the borough president and the council member with respect to Europe and the land use process is about right, or do you think it should be modified in some way?
Gale A. Brewer
1:04:41
It's a good question.
1:04:42
Way on the controversial projects, it's easy on the ones that are not.
1:04:47
But on the controversial projects, the community goes to the community board, and then the borough president, which has a land use staff, right, that helps, between the two of them, if it's a controversial project, they make changes.
1:05:05
The council makes change.
1:05:06
I mean, the borough president makes changes.
1:05:08
The community board makes changes.
1:05:10
So by the time it gets to the city council, hopefully, there's enough cover.
1:05:15
Because when it's really controversial, it's rough to have to say yes to a very tall building or a very in an area that people don't want housing or they don't like poor people or whatever the hell it is.
1:05:27
Then so I do think that the city council member gets some cover from the borough president, to answer your question, because there is the borough president doesn't have to vote.
1:05:38
They just have to recommend.
1:05:40
Now you can the borough president, when you're there, you feel kind of powerless.
1:05:44
Like, why the hell does the city council get to vote on this?
1:05:48
But if it's controversial, you might be pleased.
1:05:50
It's a political process.
1:05:52
But I do think the relationship, if the borough president has a good land use staffand the city council has one, toobut it's not just focused on that council member.
1:06:03
So borough president, you lean heavily on what they have to say, and they lean on the community board.
1:06:10
Along the way, to be honest with you, no matter how good staff is, there's not a lot of it.
1:06:15
And it probably could all use some more intelligent thinking about what really is needed.
1:06:23
We're really lacking in thoughtful consideration of what really could be built.
1:06:31
I'm struggling right now.
1:06:32
I'm trying to figure out ABC, XDell, Gary Barnett.
1:06:35
You know, that's a big challenging situation, and we're trying on every level to think outside the box.
1:06:43
It's hard.
1:06:44
There aren't a lot of people who really know land use in the city of New York, to be honest with you.