Public Advocate Jumaane Williams testifies on Block by Block plan and bills

Thank you so much, Madam Chair.

It's just great to be here.

And I just, I'm sitting here across the desk from people that I used to organize with.

So that's pretty amazing, except it just shows that we're a lot older than we used to be.

But it's just an honor to be here.

Good morning again.

My name is Jermaine Williams, Public Advocate of the City of New York.

I want to thank Chair Sanchez and the members of the Committee on Housing and Buildings for holding this hearing and for the administration for being here.

Block by Block, the administration's premier plan for tackling the housing crisis in New York City, is a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach that emphasizes tenant empowerment, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, reducing and preventing homelessness, and stabilizing homeownership.

With more than $22 billion committed for the next five years, this plan seeks to deliver 200,000 new affordable units and further preserving 200,000 existing homes.

A dedicated $1 billion will be allocated towards supportive housing in the next two years, shoring up vital resources at a time when federal cuts threaten to close doors and destabilize housing for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers.

Block by Block also spotlights new investments.

in the Bronx where housing quality and stability issues have been exacerbated by a series of devastating fires and partial collapses.

The Bronx has historically had the highest eviction filings per month, a trend that's held true from before the pandemic through today, paired with persistent housing maintenance problems which increased citywide in the first four months of FY26, according to the preliminary mayor's management report.

These trends convey the inequity of housing needs that exist in our city.

I look forward to seeing the work that comes out of the new Bronx Planning Coalition expected to form this fall.

The streamlining procedures to expedite equitable development or speed task force established under Executive Order 5 will not only ensure we are building off the success of City of Yes, but also going back and identifying where we can do better and be more efficient.

Decades of underbuilding have left New York City with a dire housing shortage, and while construction has picked up and new opportunities such as office to residential conversions and accessory dwelling units are providing some relief, inflation and ongoing

international conflicts continue to impact the supply chain.

Pursuing new innovative approaches to lowering construction costs will help bridge this gap in housing needs.

Finally, there's a lot of great bills.

I want to briefly uplift Intro 904 and Intro 717, for which I am a proud co-sponsor.

Intro 905, the Community Purchase Act, COPA, would allow qualified entities the first opportunity to submit a statement of interest and purchase certain properties.

Until 7-17, we require the Department of Buildings to inform property owners of permit sign-on.

of requirements.

Together, these bills serve the purpose of strengthening the administration's goal of preserving affordable housing, advancing racial equity, and further supporting homeowners.

I look forward to working with the administration implementing this plan and ensuring that New Yorkers have access to deeply affordable, quality housing.

I'm also hoping, and I like the part that's in there about NYCHA, but I would like to know how that money is going to be spent to fix the problems and what we're going to do to make management much better because it's a two-pronged approach.

We need the money.

We also need better management.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, public advocate and former chair of the Committee on Housing and Building.