Chair Ung Q&A: Mangin on philosophy for local concerns and engagement metrics
Mangin describes his approach of meeting with anyone who wants to discuss applications. On engagement metrics, he focuses on making the public interface accessible, training community groups about BSA processes, and ensuring participation infrastructure exists before controversial applications arise.
Can you describe your philosophy for giving meaningful consideration to local concerns while balancing the legal standards governing variances, special permits, and appeals to the board has the power to grant?
Thank you, Chair.
You know, throughout my career, I've been happy to meet and discuss individual applications or broader policy issues with anybody who would like to meet and discuss those issues.
And I would carry that through if I'm at BSA.
As we've discussed, BSA actions are very legally constrained.
Within that, though, I commit to acknowledging, describing, and responding to any feedback that comes from a member of the public all the way up to members of the city council.
And what metrics will you use to determine whether BSA is successfully engaging with the communities?
Thank you for the question.
I'm not sure what metrics would be appropriate.
I do think that, as we discussed, we can make the public interface at BSA more accessible, more legible than it is today.
We can't force people to interact with it.
But I believe first off that if people do want to interact with it as part of an individual application, that should be as easy as possible.
And as I was discussing with Councilmember Epstein earlier as well, wanting to train community groups about what the BSA does, how it works, and how to participate.
So that before an individual application comes around that might be controversial or might get a lot of attention, that system is in place for those groups or those individuals to participate.
And again, that goes back to some of my earliest experience in land use in New York City, and I think it carries through nicely to this role.
Will you support publishing annual reports showing how the community board recommendations compared to the final BSA decisions?
Thank you for that question, Chair.
I certainly can look into it.
You know, at Housing Division at City Planning, my team,
does a fair amount of annual reporting requirements and we do
you want to balance those types of reporting requirements with the pipeline of existing work to do.
It sounds like something to explore, but I don't think I can commit to it at this time.
Okay.