Brandon Valderrama (Nos Quedamos) on COPA for South Bronx preservation

Good evening, good evening, acting chair Wilson, good evening, committee council.

Thank you for extending me the opportunity to testify today.

My name is Brandon Valderrama.

I'm a resident and campaign organizer with We Stay Nos Quedamos, a community-based organization in the South Bronx with a penchant for preservation.

And not just preservation, but now housing affordability as it steps into its role as a CDC.

As a Bronx native, we've experienced many of the things that have been discussed today, whether it be the capital issues around the building more generally, rats, rodents, you name it.

That's been the major topic of discussion today.

And so with that, there's a growing sense of unaffordability and just preservation issues throughout the city.

That's the whole reason behind my role, is to bring capital improvements through a coordinated and thorough campaign.

And that's why I'm here today, urging you to pass Intro 905, the Community to Purchase Act, or COPA.

COPA creates a qualified list of mission-driven nonprofits, including CLTs, that can step in when certain at-risk...

multifamily buildings are put up for sales.

It gives the organization a meaningful opportunity to compete for these properties with a clear timeline and affordability framework.

At the heart of COPA is the rights of first refusal, giving qualified nonprofits the skin to stay in the game when it comes to the private market.

This is especially important because more than one-third of New Yorkers are rent-burdened, and more than half alone are in the South Bronx.

Families are pushed out, and the fabric of the communities change entirely.

COPA is a targeted tool that only targets certain buildings that house tenants that are at risk of displacement and only when an owner chooses to sell.

And I just want to leave off to keep it short.

I urge the city council to pass Intro 905 and give New Yorkers a tool to preserve affordable housing and combat displacement.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

And thanks for waiting it out to testify.

Thank you.

Appreciate you.

Okay, we will now turn to remote testimony.

Once your name is called, a member of our staff will unmute you and the sergeant at arms will give you the go ahead to begin.

Please wait for the sergeant to announce that you may begin before delivering your testimony.

So the first person on the panel online is Ann Korczak.

You may begin.