Public testimony: Vanessa Leong urges rejection, cites 1LIC plan bypass

Vanessa Leong.

Vanessa?

Hi, everyone.

Can you hear me all right?

We can.

You may begin.

All right.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Councilmember Wan and members of the committee.

My name is Vanessa Leong, and I've been a resident and homeowner in Long Island City for 15 years.

I was a part of the community group that spoke with the developer, and I ask you to reject this application in its current form that, as you've been hearing, drops a tower on a small side street.

One LIC set the terms for how this neighborhood is supposed to grow.

That was done through a two-year community negotiated plan.

This application reaches for one LIC density on a single lot that was left out of this plan without matching the affordability that Councilmember Wan fought to secure.

In 1LIC, you're mapped with MIH option 3.

This application only offers option 1.

This application also exacerbates sewer, stormwater, and public transit overcrowding problems that 1LIC's own materials admit has been underfunded in this development boom.

Approving this tells every developer that the one LIC plan can be bypassed if you just go lot by lot.

You've been hearing the passion from the people fighting this application, and it's because we're the ones who live here.

More than 100 surrounding property owners have signed and notarized a petition.

fighting this.

We've testified in opposition before CB2 and the borough president.

We've called and emailed our city council member.

Our blocks carry some of the least green space per resident of anywhere in the city.

Our children fill schools that are already overcrowded and our streets, basements, and subway platforms take on water when it storms.

Our artists and local businesses continue to be priced out.

This application is asking us to absorb more than 80 new households while putting nothing back into parks, classroom seats, drainage, small businesses.

The developer collects the value of the upzoning and leaves us on these blocks to carry the rest of the costs.

So my ask is simple.

Please keep this lot zoned R6B and deny the application.

If the committee will not, cannot approve, please approve nothing beyond a contextual mid-rise.

Thank you, Vanessa.

We really appreciate your testimony.

Thank you.

This panel is now excused.

The next panel is Jessica Beck.

Last name Wang and Rebecca.

Jessica Beck.

Jessica Beck.

We'll now hear from Rebecca.

Sayonara.

Rebecca.

And the last person is last name Wang.

Wang.