Public (Zoom): Sam Zimmerman supports Mangin, urging confirmation without delay
Zimmerman, a lower Manhattan resident, supports Mangin, noting the BSA chair will determine whether the city carries out the voter-approved fast-track mandate or continues to let affordable housing die in process. He says 'housing delayed is housing denied' and urges confirmation without delay.
Sorry, is this me?
Am I unmuted?
Yes.
Can you identify yourself?
Yes.
Hi.
Good afternoon, chair members of the committee.
My name is Sam Zimmerman, and I'm testifying today in support of John Mangin's nomination to chair the Board of Standards and Appeals.
I am a resident of lower Manhattan.
And John has served our city for more than a decade, where he led, among other things, City of Yes for Housing Opportunity.
He served as Director of Policy and Research for the 2025 Charter Revision Commission, which produced the most significant changes to the city's land use review process in decades.
Very few people in New York understand both the mechanics of zoning and the human stakes of housing scarcity as well as he does.
New York City's residents recognize we're in a housing crisis and overwhelmingly approved the affordable housing fast track last year, giving BSA the power to approve certain 100% affordable projects on an expedited timeline.
That means...
The person chairing the board will determine directly whether the city rises to the moment and carries out the mandate granted by voters, or if it continues to allow affordable housing to die in process, as we've done for decades.
We need someone who understands both the legal terrain and the urgency of this moment.
John Manchin is that person.
Housing delayed is housing denied, and I urge this committee and the full council to confirm John Manchin without delay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And now we are moving back to in-person panels.
So again, what I
For your name, please come up.
And when you finish speaking, the next panelist could start speaking.
First, we have Christopher Leon Johnson.
We have Howard Slackin.
We have Joshua Robles.
And we have Revlon O'Connor.