Borough President Mark Levine - Tackling our city's affodability crisis one project at a time

 

At the start of this year, my office made a firm commitment to make Manhattan's housing affordability crisis our top policy priority with the release of our Housing Manhattanites report.  The centerpiece of this multifaceted blueprint identified 171 potential sites for new affordable housing in Manhattan. Our plan also listed recommendations to dramatically increase the pace at which New York City creates new housing at those sites and across our borough, including a plan for my office to cut back the time it takes us to approve projects from 30 days to under 5 days.  In short, we pledged not just to identify opportunities but to act on them quickly. I'm thrilled to share that we've taken a strong step forward in making good on our promise.  Last week, my office expedited the approval of a significant project to be developed on one of the target sites on our list. This project, which was greenlit in just four days – a stark contrast to the usual 30-day review process – will create 452 new apartments, including 113 affordable units and space for community use.

In a city where time is of the essence, especially for addressing our housing crisis, we've demonstrated that we can move swiftly and decisively to build the type of housing hundreds of Manhattan families desperately need. We must continue to move aggressively to address the affordability crisis in our borough to ensure that low-income and working-class families have a future here in the most exciting and dynamic place on earth. If you agree, I encourage you to sign our Petition for More Housing to show your support for every New Yorker to have access to safe, affordable, quality housing. Warm regards, Mark

Read more about our Housing Manhattanites plan HERE

Congestion Pricing Update

The Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) overseeing congestion pricing’s implementation in New York just released a detailed report that has outlined recommended toll rates, credits, discounts, and exemptions.  Now that the TMRB has made its recommendations to the MTA, there will be a 60-day public comment period that will begin later this year and will include four hybrid public hearings. The MTA will post the public comment period and hearing dates here: new.mta.info/project/CBDTP.  There are still important steps ahead before the congestion pricing program will begin, including starting the public comment process and resolving ongoing litigation. The MTA will need your input to ensure that this program meets the needs of all New Yorkers and is able to realize enormous benefits for our streets, our air and our public transit system.  Submit Testimony About Hybrid Open Meetings  When the pandemic started, New York State’s Open Meeting Law was amended to temporarily allow public bodies to hold hybrid meetings.  However, that rule is set to expire in July. Ahead of this statute expiring, the NYS Committee on Open Government will issue a report to the governor and state legislature on the application and implementation of hybrid meetings, as well as recommendations related to the use of videoconferencing moving forward after July 2024. On December 14th at 11 am, we’re holding a hybrid public hearing to give Manhattanites the chance to testify about the benefits, strengths, challenges and shortcomings of videoconferencing and hybrid meetings, as well as recommend how to improve access, participation, and overall engagement in local public meetings. Register to testify and make your voice heard here. Sign up to Testify