Opinion: Communities' Power in Development Decisions Helps Our Neighborhoods

"Many of the resources that our neighborhoods enjoy today-from parks to truly affordable housing and schools-were secured by the Council exercising power on behalf of residents to negotiate with the city and developers for the public good. One year ago, a neighborhood rezoning to promote housing development in the East Bronx surrounding newly slated Metro-North train stations yielded nearly $500 million for local parks, schools and streets."

"That power is now at risk from Mayor Eric Adams' misleading Ballot Proposals 2, 3 and 4, which would take away this voting power and give it to the mayor and their unelected appointees. These changes would eliminate the ability for neighborhoods to secure critical improvements for their parks, schools, streets and public transit, as well as housing that is affordable for local residents."

"Fortunately in the coming election, voters throughout the city will have the opportunity to use their ballot to decide whether to keep or give away that power. Voters need to make sure they understand the proposals, because the ballot language describing them hides their real impact in an effort to mislead voters. In the Bronx, we understand the consequences of when decisions are dictated by powerful political interests outside of our communities without any local input."

Community negotiation through City Council votes secured parks, truly affordable housing, schools, and other neighborhood benefits. A rezoning in the East Bronx around newly slated Metro-North stations generated nearly $500 million for local parks, schools, and streets, enabled about 7,000 new housing units, and secured up to 500 homeownership units for residents. Those outcomes depended on neighborhood influence over land-use decisions exercised by democratically elected Council members. Ballot Proposals 2, 3, and 4 would transfer that land-use voting power to the mayor and unelected appointees, eliminating local input and endangering funding for infrastructure and affordable housing. Misleading ballot language obscures these consequences. Centralized past land-use decisions caused segregation and greater asthma and environmental harms, motivating community power.

Read at City Limits