TALES OF COMMUNITY BETRAYAL!!!
RESERVE OUR COMMUNITIES! RESERVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE!
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THE CITY OF YES/ALL
VOTED ON & PASSED!!!
THE CITY OF YES/ALL REPRESENTS A “QUALITY OF LIFE” BETRAYAL FOR RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHO PANDER TO DEVELOPERS, LARGE CORPORATIONS, LOBBYISTS, AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. THESE ENTITIES REAP THE BENEFITS, OFTEN AT THE EXPENSE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, EVEN AS THEY MAKE USE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS!
STOP THE CITY OF YES HOUSING PROPOSALS
RESERVE OUR COMMUNITIES!
CITY HALL RALLY 11/14/24
On this day, community members and representatives from all five boroughs of New York City came together to protest the third component of the City of Yes initiative, which is aimed at benefiting developers, large corporations, and special interest groups, for profit, instead of communities that will be impacted by this initiative. These communities’ opposition have been silenced, disregarded, and disrespected regarding quality of life issues that is harming and destroying residential communities and mom-and-pop small businesses..
FOR THE RECORD … CITY COUNCIL ROLE & DISCRETIONARY FUNDING
THE CITY COUNCIL ROLE
The 51 Council districts throughout the five boroughs are each represented by an elected Council Member.. The Council monitors the operation and performance of city agencies (DOE, DOT, NYPD, etc.), makes land use decisions and has sole responsibility for approving the city’s budget. It also legislates on a wide range of other subjects. The Council is an equal partner with the Mayor in the governing of New York City (council.nyc.gov).
A city council’s MAIN GOALS are to set a vision for the city, create policies, and MAKE DECISIONS THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY (council.nyc.gov).
New York City Council members receive discretionary funding (leftovers to be applied towards non-profits, schools, community needs, etc.). These funds are largely comprised of federal funding [tax payers’ dollars] (council.nyc.gov).
🚫THE Heritage Foundation released Project 2025, a roadmap for a presidential administration to enact far-right policies. Project 2025, the sweeping right-wing blueprint for a new kind of U.S. presidency, would sabotage science-based policies that address climate change, the environment, abortion, health care access, technology and education. your company’s blog posts to opine on current industry topics, humanize your company, and show how your products and services can help people.
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THERE ARE 3 PARTS TO THE CITY OF YES 1) “CARBON NEUTRALITY” (SUGGESTING MODERNIZATION OF CITY’S ZONING REGULATIONS TO SUPPORT CLIMATE GOALS). THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT IS UNFAMILIAR TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED, UNKNOWINGLY, AND WAS PASSED BY “THE CITY COUNCIL” (LEADERSHIP ELECTED TO SERVICE OUR COMMUNITIES) ON DECEMBER 6, 2023. THE SECOND PILLAR, (2) “ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY” (IMPLEMENTS. TEXT AMENDMENT THAT REMOVES OUTDATED LIMITATIONS ON BUSINESSES). THIS SEGMENT WAS ADOPTED BY “THE CITY COUNCIL” ON JUNE 6, 2024(council.nyc.gov)
THE FINAL PUZZLE TO THIS CITY YES INITIATIVE IS: (3) “HOUSING OPPORTUNITY” (THAT ALLEGES A HOUSING CRISIS). According to NYC.gov, NYC’s population was approximately 8.26 million July 1, 2023, a decrease of 78,000 since July 1, 2023, and of 546,000 since the April 1, 2020 Census enumeration of 8.80 million. In 2024, the NYC population continues to decrease. Despite a broken migrant crisis system, this decreasing pattern remains in constancy (nyc.gov).
THERE IS A “UNAFFORDABLE” HOUSING CRISIS, as developers use statistical data that does not consider the medium income of the communities they erect their building, getting tax breaks using our tax dollars, and profiting through harming communities. This disconnect between the statistical data and the real needs of the community has led to a growing discontent among residents. While the city touts its initiatives under The City Yes program as solutions to a housing crisis, many locals argue that the focus should be on creating “truly affordable housing” options that are accessible to the average citizen, not just luxury developments that benefit developers.
The “Housing Opportunity” pillar of the City Yes initiative was put forth with the intention of addressing these concerns, yet it has been criticized for failing to genuinely represent the needs of the community. Residents have been vocal about their desire for a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the creation of housing that reflects the income levels and living conditions of current residents, rather than relying on misleading statistical analyses that paint an overly rosy picture of the situation.
Furthermore, the recent population decline in NYC raises additional questions about the sustainability of the current housing market and the effectiveness of The City of Yes initiatives. As more people leave the city, the demand for new housing developments should be re-evaluated, and the focus should shift towards ensuring that existing residents have access to affordable and quality housing.
While the City of Yes initiatives are already APPROVED by the New York City Council that alleges to tackle climate goals and economic opportunities, the housing aspect must be carefully reconsidered. A genuine commitment to affordable housing that truly meets the needs of the community is essential. Without such a commitment, the City Yes initiative risks becoming another example of top-down policymaking that fails to engage and benefit the very residents it purports to serve. The future of New York City depends on its ability to listen to its residents and prioritize their needs over the interests of developers and statistical convenience.
In Solidarity!
Dr. Vera Daniels
Candidate for City Council D27 2025 – United Solutions
