Squeaky Chairs And Stubborn Hearts: The City Of Yes Hearing

Delayed Post _ October 24, 2024 / NYC Government & Politics / NYC Real Estate & Business / News & Analysis / Gotham Buzz NYC.

Editor's Note. We're publishing this two and a half weeks after the fact, as the 2024 federal elections consumed our time and attention. But it has come time again to refocus our attention on one of the most important legislative efforts in decades, which is working its way through the NYC Council, in what appears to be a major effort by international investors, developers and billionaires - aided and abetted by Mayor Adams and the Department of City Planning - to strip away a lot of local voters' rights to make meaningful comments about any new real estate developments or major construction efforts proposed in ALL NYC neighborhoods. The bill is expected to come up for a vote before the end of the year, and possibly as soon as this month.

By Layla Law-Gisiko, President of the City Club of New York.

Another epic hearing wrapped up Tuesday evening [10.22.24], a few minutes short of midnight. This was the grand finale of public hearings on the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. At 9:37 AM, Council Member Kevin Riley, chair of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Variances, called the hearing to order. He solemnly announced that over 600 people had registered to speak.

In the course of the long day, approximately 320 people spoke. Though the split between supporters and opponents was fairly even, the strong presence of special interests and developers highlighted that most regular New Yorkers opposed the proposal.

When the doors of the City Council chamber opened at 9 AM, the room quickly filled, as the public bravely endured the torment of those infamous plastic squeaky chairs—perfectly designed to make you question all your life choices.

They could have enjoyed glorious fall weather and comfortable seating, but New Yorkers took time off their busy schedules to speak up. Renters, homeowners, public housing tenants, and SRO residents—New Yorkers from all walks of life and from all boroughs— voiced their fears about why they believe the plan will fall short of its promises and will hurt them. Overall, the mood was serious, and at times even anxious. New Yorkers expressed fear of displacement and gentrification, fear of a city ever more driven by real estate profit, fear of deregulation in the name of a laudable goal that many fear the proposal will never reach.

• CLICK here to view the rest of our report on the NYC Council City of Yes hearing on Zoning Text Amendment Changes.

The chamber was full of public members, and sparse with council members. Council members came and went in a calm ebb and flow. The few who managed to stick around for most of the day included Council Members Marte, Brewer, Narcisse, Joseph, Osse, and Abreu, proving that endurance isn’t just for runners. And the marathon champion title went to the ever-calm Chair Kevin Riley, who somehow managed to steer a 14-hour hearing without losing his cool—or his sense of humor.

The City Club of New York voiced its opposition to the text as currently drafted. https://www.youtube.com/live/9E4Q2P6OyRY?t=10223s

We reminded Council members, with unwavering firmness, that the intricacies of housing economics defy simplistic solutions; research shows that mere supply does not mend the rift of affordability.

Council Member Brewer challenged the supply/demand dogma, asking: “I want affordable housing. We got the schools we got the transportation and I'm just tired of been told over and over again just market [rate housing], because I'm all for rezoning. I've been doing this for a long time, I got the rezoning but why are we doing it if we're not getting to the affordable housing.”

The City Council will accept written testimony until end of day Friday [10.25.24]. It can be sent to landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov

Now, the negotiations begin. There is no deadline to write or call your council member.  The City Council is expected to vote in mid-November.

To learn more about City of Yes, watch our webinar with Council Member Chris Marte. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z1WFQ25RNU

The "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" is the Adams Administration zoning proposal aimed at increasing the housing supply by easing rules on development and encouraging new construction, all over New York City. The initiative seeks to address the city's ongoing housing shortage, making it easier to build a wider variety of housing
types, such as smaller units and mixed-use buildings, with the hope of accommodating more residents. While supporters argue that the plan is necessary to increase the overall housing stock and help alleviate the affordability crisis, critics are concerned that the proposal doesn't sufficiently guarantee affordable units and may lead to unchecked development, displacement, destruction of historic buildings and strain on infrastructure in certain neighborhoods. The proposal emphasizes the city's push for a more flexible zoning framework but has sparked debate about the best approach to balance growth with affordability and quality of life.

This report was written and contributed by Layla Law-Gisiko who is the President of the City Club of New York, which is a non-profit civic organization that evolved out of a social club, founded decades ago.