Joshua Santiago (Norwood Cares) on housing affordability for future generations

Thank you so much.

Extra points for you right on time.

Thank you to the City Council and to you, Ms.

Sanchez, for being here in this lovely day.

My name is Joshua Santiago.

I'm a lifelong Bronxite and resident of Norwood, Bronx, New York.

I am a member of my community through Norwood Cares, and I've been invited graciously by our Bronx to speak today.

I was recently selected as a voting member of Community Board 7, and I'm actually on the Parks Committee, though I have a huge commitment to housing.

Though I am not yet a renter in New York City, when my time finally comes,

I'd like the opportunity to gain an apartment and hopefully be able to hold on to it for a long time.

Because the chances...

That I would be likely staying in that apartment for a good amount of my life, as many renters in the city are bound to be.

Because the point of rent is, of course, to be able to detain anything for a short amount of time.

Though, if we were to take a look at the housing prices and the ongoing payments of rent, if we were to continue...

Spending all our money on rent, you could see that New Yorkers would be able to buy their apartments no less than twice over.

So the option for renting to buy should be a no-brainer for the city council.

I'm someone who would like to spend the rest of my life in the city and not have to

move out in order to continue my life, especially when I contribute so much to my community and so many New Yorkers contribute to their communities as well.

The ongoing push outside of the ongoing push for renters, or rather the ongoing pushing of renters outside.

of the city is a major concern of mine.

And so I'd like to advocate for all New Yorkers to be able to stay in their homes for as long as possible.