As someone who was raised and has lived in South Jamaica, Queens, for almost my entire life, I see the Mayor’s proposed “City of Yes” initiative as nothing short of blatant corruption. This plan is an attempt to sell out our few prestigious residential neighborhoods to large developers, betraying the communities that make our city unique. Residents in my neighborhood have consistently expressed desires for better roads, improved infrastructure to reduce flooding, and better schools to serve our children. Instead of focusing efforts on improving the quality of life for its taxpayers, the Mayor and large developers, in an authoritarian style, are attempting to force neighborhoods where people chose to live in low-density areas to raise children to give up their sovereignty under the guise of “affordable housing.”
The “City of Yes” seeks to eliminate all zoning restrictions in NYC to allow large developers to build apartment buildings with no parking requirements in residential areas, under the pretense of creating affordable housing. However, NYC does not have a space issue; we have an affordability problem. In 1960, NYC’s population was 8.1 million. Today, it is only 8.2 million, despite hundreds of new luxury apartments being built all over the city. We have witnessed this scenario play out repeatedly, leading to the over-development of luxury apartments and so-called “affordable housing” that is not truly affordable. Consider the example of Long Island City, which has undergone massive development over the past decade. Luxury high-rises have sprung up, but the promised affordable housing units have not materialized at the scale needed. Rents have skyrocketed, pushing out long-term residents and small businesses that once defined the neighborhood. The infrastructure, including schools and transportation, has not kept pace with the influx of new residents, leading to overcrowded subways, lack of parking and classrooms.
The plan to allow developers to tear down homes that people own, replacing them with large developments, and to transform all of NYC into a landscape resembling Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn is not just ludicrous; it is fundamentally un-American. Residents in boroughs like Staten Island and Queens have painstakingly saved to own their homes, seeking the stability and pride that comes with homeownership. Now, the Mayor and his developer allies are proposing changes that threaten to diminish this American dream, shifting the landscape towards one where ownership gives way to perpetual renting. This approach not only disregards the aspirations and investments of hardworking families but also jeopardizes the longstanding sense of community and quality of life that define these residential areas.
The “City of Yes” plan neglects critical infrastructure improvements essential for enhancing the quality of life in New York City’s neighborhoods. Areas designated as transit deserts urgently require expanded mass transit options to alleviate congestion and improve accessibility. Schools, police presence, and community services are underfunded and need substantial investment to meet the needs of current residents, let alone accommodate increased population density. The Regional Plan Association’s study highlights that NYC’s public transportation infrastructure requires over $40 billion in upgrades, particularly to modernize the aging subway system. Despite these glaring needs, the “City of Yes” plan prioritizes unchecked housing development, potentially exacerbating congestion and straining existing resources without adequately addressing the city’s infrastructure deficiencies.
Furthermore, the “City of Yes” plan could exacerbate existing issues with squatting due to its lax approach to property rights. Currently, it can take over two years to legally evict squatters in NYC, a process prolonged by cumbersome legal proceedings and under-resourced courts. Under the proposed changes, where zoning restrictions are loosened and homeowners are incentivized to maximize residential density by allowing them to rent out their attics, basements, and garages without adequate oversight, the risk of unscrupulous individuals exploiting these loopholes to occupy properties illegally could skyrocket. This not only poses a threat to homeowners and legitimate tenants but also strains an already burdened legal system, further delaying justice for property owners and perpetuating a cycle of uncertainty and legal entanglements.
A vast majority of community boards across NYC have rejected the “City of Yes,” but the Mayor, the Queens Borough President, and his allies in the City Council continue to force it on the people. One has to ask: what do our elected officials have to gain from this? The opposition is not just from residents but from urban planners and housing experts who warn that the plan could lead to increased displacement and gentrification. The Community Service Society of New York has highlighted that the current approach to affordable housing often results in units that are still out of reach for the lowest-income New Yorkers, exacerbating the housing crisis rather than alleviating it.
This initiative is not progress; it is a rapid and depressing decline. This is beyond unethical. Our elected officials need to be held accountable for selling out the people.
We need a genuine effort to address our city’s issues—one that focuses on improving the quality of life for all residents, not just the interests of large developers. It is time to reject the “City of Yes” and demand a city that works for its people, not against them. Let’s stand up for our neighborhoods, our families, and our future. The “City of Yes” is a misguided initiative that prioritizes developers over the needs of NYC residents. It threatens to erode the character of our neighborhoods, overwhelm our infrastructure, and further marginalize vulnerable communities. We must hold our elected officials accountable and demand a more thoughtful, inclusive approach to urban planning that genuinely serves the interests of all New Yorkers. It’s time to say “No” to the “City of Yes” and work towards a city that prioritizes its people over profit. New York Deserves Moore!
