Statement from Speaker Adams on Scheduled Council Public Meetings on City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity Proposal and Continued Need for an Actionable Housing Plan to Address City’s Housing Crisis

 

On Monday, October 21 and Tuesday, October 22, the New York City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises will hold two days of public meetings on the Department of City Planning’s “City of Yes Zoning for Housing Opportunity” citywide zoning reform proposal. October 21 will be reserved for testimony from Administration officials and October 22 will be a public hearing reserved for testimony from the public. Announcing these public meetings, Speaker Adrienne Adams released the following statement.

“New Yorkers in every community need access to safe, stable, and affordable housing to remain in our city and succeed. As the Council approaches its upcoming public meetings on the mayoral administration’s City of Yes: Zoning for Housing Opportunity proposal, we recognize that zoning reform is one important component to address the housing shortage facing New York City. Yet, zoning reform alone is not a housing plan and cannot address the wide-ranging housing needs of New Yorkers. Addressing the housing crisis requires more than just changes to zoning – it demands holistic solutions to make homes affordable, strengthening tenant protections, removing barriers to housing vouchers, expanding pathways to affordable homeownership, strengthening agencies’ capacities, and investing in neighborhoods. While reviewing the Administration’s zoning proposal, the Council will put forward a thorough housing action plan for our city that matches the scale of the housing challenges facing New Yorkers. We will pursue a full range of solutions that meets the diverse needs of our constituents to ensure that our city helps New Yorkers access the safety and stability we all deserve. We encourage all city residents and stakeholders to participate in the Council meetings and provide specific input that can help shape a housing plan with concrete actions and investments for New York City.”

Members of the public who wish to testify at the public hearing on Tuesday, October 22nd can sign up in person, or online, in advance by visiting council.nyc.gov/landuse. Written testimony may be submitted up to 72 hours after the hearing has been adjourned to landusetestimony@council.nyc.gov. If you need non-English language interpretation, please email translationservice@council.nyc.gov or call (212) 788-6936 at least five days in advance of the hearing, and include the name and date of the hearing, your full name, telephone number, and email address.