FIRST ON amNY | 100 NYC clergy members urge congregants to vote in favor of affordable housing ballot proposals | amNewYork

"A group of 100 clergy members urged their congregants in a letter dated Monday to approve four measures appearing on the general election ballot, which they say would make it easier for the city to quickly build desperately needed affordable housing, amNewYork has learned. In the missive, shared with amNewYork ahead of its release, the clergy members argue the measures are a sure-fire way to stem the ever-increasing cost and dwindling supply of housing across the five boroughs."

"Three of the measures — Ballot Proposals 2 through 4 — would implement significant changes to the city's land use process, currently known as the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The letter was authored as part of the Yes on Affordable Housing coalition pushing for the proposals' approval. The group includes outgoing City Comptroller Brad Lander, his likely incoming replacement, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and numerous community and pro-housing groups."

"However, measures 2-4, which were drafted with public input by Mayor Eric Adams' most recent Charter Revision Commission, have received significant pushback from outgoing City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, along with other leaders of the body. They argue that the proposals are misleadingly worded and would significantly shift land-use decision-making power away from the council to the mayor. Of the three mayoral candidates, independent former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is the only one who supports the measures so far, while Republican Curtis Sliwa opposes them."

A coalition of 100 clergy members urged congregants to approve four ballot measures intended to make it easier to build affordable housing quickly. Three proposals (Ballot Proposals 2–4) would change the city's land-use process, known as ULURP, to speed approvals. The Yes on Affordable Housing coalition includes outgoing City Comptroller Brad Lander, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and various community and pro-housing groups. The measures drew criticism from outgoing City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and other council leaders who say the changes would shift decision-making power toward the mayor. Mayoral candidates are divided on the measures.

Read at www.amny.com