Jamel Henderson testifies in support of pied-à-terre tax for public services
Jamel Henderson of Citizen Action of New York supports the tax, citing New York's extreme economic inequality. He argues the revenue could fund after-school programs, public schools, senior services, NYCHA, and immigrant communities, and urges the council not to let millionaires dictate policy.
Good afternoon, Chair Brewer and the members of this council and this important committee.
My name is Jamel Henderson, and I am honored to be of service as a New York City Regional Council Chair of Citizen Action of New York, which is a proud grassroots organization that is fighting for the everyday New Yorkers as well as building community and political power.
Citizen Action of New York supports the fair and timely implementation of the PA to tear tax and urges the council to support the city's efforts to ensure the tax is implemented.
As you all know, the New York State suffers from the greatest economic inequality in the entire country.
The data shows it time and time again.
And despite having one of the largest economies, the New York State has a long history of under-investing in state programs and services, which has disproportionately hurt working class
communities, more explicitly black and brown communities.
New York State is home to the highest concentration of wealth in the country.
and the deepest economic inequality.
New Yorkers worth over 30 million, which is fewer than 0.4% of the population, collectively own $6.7 trillion in wealth.
In this particular tax, we are focusing on the second home, not the primary home, and this particular revenue can bring up to $500 million.
Think about the youth and young adults that are getting ready to go back to school that have little to no after school programs.
Think about our public schools in our communities that are still waiting for funding to help improve the lives of our young people.
Think about our seniors who are no longer looking for trips and food, but looking for prescription drug policies and resources to help them to get by.
Let's think about the infrastructure of those who, like myself, live in NYCHA and are proud to live in NYCHA and are part of the moving, shaking economic foundation of this city.
Let's think about all of those who are proud immigrants who call this city home and are working tirelessly.
To make sure that they are able to make ends meet.
This tax revenue will help the everyday New Yorkers that are in your district.
And I want to close with this.
We, the people of New York and members of the council who you represent in us, you cannot allow the few
millionaires and billionaires in our city to dictate over the 8 million plus everyday hard work
educated people of this city.
We're tired of it.
Please stand with the people.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Next.