Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
REMARKS
Commissioner Shams DaBaron on his personal journey and the urgent need for housing
0:37:24
·
4 min
Commissioner Shams DaBaron shares his personal story of experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, which motivates his work on the commission.
He stresses the importance of the commission's proposals to create more housing and urges New Yorkers to stay engaged and vote in favor of them.
He also apologizes to New Yorkers that the commission was unable to advance a proposal on open primaries, an issue he was educated on by the public.
Shams DaBaron
0:37:24
I'm literally speechless.
0:37:28
I think I'm a attempt to say a few words.
0:37:32
So first, I'd like to thank my fellow commissioners, chair, vice chair.
0:37:38
I'd like to thank the commission staff, Alec, who answers his phone on the weekends, 1AM in the morning.
0:37:46
It doesn't matter.
0:37:48
I'd like to also thank mayor Adams, former FDM Maria, former FDM Randy Mastro, chief of staff Camille, all the deputy mayors, commissioners, agency heads, and other civic people that I engage.
0:38:14
As someone who, I don't win any of the fancy titles or anything like that, but I am a person who is impacted have been impacted by housing insecurity, homelessness, starting with housing insecurity as a foster kid, going from home to home, starting experiencing homelessness at 10, permanently discharged from the foster care system at 12, sleeping on streets, subways, buildings, unsafe places.
0:38:47
I know what it's like not to be able to access home.
0:38:53
Rising as an advocate during the Lucerne controversy in the during the pandemic, I felt like at my age, I just had to change things.
0:39:05
And so I dealt with it from the outside, and under this administration came, as they say on the inside, to learn to grow, but also to make change.
0:39:17
And so having the opportunity to be a part of this commission, is giving me the ability to, and and us the ability to, dress something that is basically impacting so many New Yorkers, and that's being able to bring more housing.
0:39:42
And I don't want, the work that we have done to be missed.
0:39:46
I want New Yorkers to stay engaged and to vote, in favor of these proposals.
0:39:54
This is very important, and it affects all New Yorkers, rich, poor, white, black.
0:39:59
It doesn't matter.
0:40:00
We have to be engaged.
0:40:02
I'm gonna end by saying, one, I I do wanna apologize.
0:40:08
I think I can do that to my kids.
0:40:11
I have six of them, and I think three of them or four of them are all independents.
0:40:16
They don't claim a party affiliation.
0:40:21
I wanna say to New Yorkers across the city, young, old, many who have spoke to me and educated me on the idea of open primaries.
0:40:33
And I do want us, as a city, to really look into that, so that we can create a more democratic and truly democratic city.
0:40:44
But I'm thankful to be here, and I appreciate the opportunity.
0:40:49
I've learned a lot from all of you.
0:40:51
I've learned a lot from New Yorkers, and and I do wanna end by saying do I've seen so much in New Yorkers.
0:41:00
A reporter had asked me that in previous commissions, there wasn't a large turnout.
0:41:09
And I think here, you see the numbers speak for themselves.
0:41:14
I've seen some people, attempt to weaponize or politicize this commission, and I've always, taken that and said, you are also looking at all of these public servants and people who've been around for many years doing good.
0:41:36
You gotta appreciate the fact that people are sacrificing their time to come and make significant change, historic change so that New Yorkers can be housed.
0:41:50
And thank you.