The City Council yesterday passed a key government tracking bill stemming from the city approving rezoning plans, which were achieved with promises to local communities that sometimes never see the light of day.
The bill was borne out of the April 2016 East New York Rezoning Plan, the first of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s citywide Mandatory Inclusionary Housing rezoning plans, which allows for developers to build with more density as long as it includes more affordable housing.
In negotiating the plan, City Council Member Rafael Espinal (East New York, Ocean Hill-Brownsville, Bushwick), who respresnts the area, was able to get a comprehensive set of investments totaling over $267 million, strategically allocated to support housing, infrastructure, education, and economic development.
Following the the city’s commitments, Public Advocate Letitia James, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Espinal and Land Use Committee Chair David Greenfield (Boro Park, MIdwood, Bensonhurst), along with several other council members sponsored the bill, Intro 1132.
The local law requires the Administration to establish and maintain a publicly accessible, searchable online list of written commitments made by the Mayor to the Council or a Council member in connection with most ULURP applications.
“Our word as government officials should be our bond to the New Yorkers we serve, especially when it comes to community benefits,” said James. “Today, we passed legislation that will ensure our City is held accountable for the commitments we make to our communities, creating the first publicly available tool to track projects. I am proud to partner with Speaker Mark-Viverito and Council Member Espinal on this important legislation to ensure that our neighborhoods can be strong and vibrant places to live.”
“As we look to make long-term investments that will build our city and improve its vibrancy, we must ensure proper follow-through on these promises,” said Espinal. “I am proud to be a co-prime sponsor of this legislation; an overdue tool in ensuring transparency and public accountability for major city projects. Gone must be the days when commitments are not met, and communities are left wondering why their government has left crucial work unfinished. As the first Council Member to undergo a major rezoning under the de Blasio administration, I look forward to the efficiency this bill will inspire and thank my colleagues, Public Advocate James, Speaker Mark-Viverito, and chair Greenfield, for their partnership on this issue.”
“In the 2016 State of the City, I affirmed our goal of ensuring that communities are informed about the land use decisions that impact them by announcing the Neighborhood Commitment Plan,” said Mark-Viverito. “Establishing a publicly accessible, searchable online database for land use applications ensures that we continue building on this commitment. Our focus is always set on increasing government accountability and establishing dialogues with the neighborhoods impacted by these rezoning efforts. We need to make sure that promises made to these neighborhoods are promises kept and this bill helps us to do that.”
“As we look to make long-term investments that will build our city and improve its vibrancy, we must ensure proper follow-through on these promises,” said Espinal. “I am proud to be a co-prime sponsor of this legislation; an overdue tool in ensuring transparency and public accountability for major city projects. Gone must be the days when commitments are not met, and communities are left wondering why their government has left crucial work unfinished. As the first Council Member to undergo a major rezoning under the de Blasio administration, I look forward to the efficiency this bill will inspire and thank my colleagues, Public Advocate James, Speaker Mark-Viverito, and chair Greenfield, for their partnership on this issue.”
Greenfield said the new law will enhance transparency in government and ensure that elected leaders are held accountable for the promises they make to the public.
“I commend Councilmember Espinal for his courage and tenacity in seeing this legislation through to the finish line. I would also like to thank the Public Advocate and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for their vision and leadership on this important matter,” said Greenfield.
