NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.
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New York City Council
Lisa Garcia, Land Bank
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff welcomes attendees to the Committee on Rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards, and Ethics vote meeting, asks everyone to silence electronics and not approach the dais.
Chair Sandra Ung opens the meeting, introduces herself, and recognizes the committee members present including Krishnan, Lee, Banks, Williams, Carr (remote), and Abreu, as well as committee staff.
Chair Ung outlines the three items being voted on: M-87 for Lisa Garcia to the NYC Land Bank, M-88 for Dr. Dave Chokshi to the Board of Health, and M-89 for John Mangin as chair of the Board of Standards and Appeals, all previously heard on September 1st.
Chair Ung calls for the roll call. Clerk William Martin begins calling the roll with items coupled, recording votes from Chair Ung and other members as they respond.
Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams explains her aye vote on John Mangin's nomination as BSA chair, discussing her concerns about his writings on homeowners and neighborhood character, his commitments to proactive community engagement, and how her Jamaica Neighborhood Plan reflects balancing housing growth with protecting existing communities.
Council Member Linda Lee clarifies that she votes yes on Garcia and Chokshi but abstains on Mangin, correcting her earlier abstain vote.
Council Member Chris Banks explains his abstention on Mangin, discussing the importance of the advice and consent power, Mangin's role in advancing City of Yes and ballot proposals that altered the Council's land use role, and arguing the Council was already pro-housing before those changes.
Banks continues his remarks, focusing on reservations about Mangin's perspective on community engagement and community boards, the importance of member deference for negotiating affordability and benefits, and the need to protect the Council as an institution for future members. He announces he will abstain on Mangin and support the other two nominees.
Minority Leader David Carr explains his votes, starting with support for Commissioner Lisa Garcia's appointment to the Land Bank despite his opposition to the land bank's creation, noting her qualifications as DEP Commissioner given the agency's role in placing liens.
Carr opposes Dr. Chokshi's appointment to the Board of Health, calling him a leading architect of the city employee vaccine mandate that caused workers to lose their livelihoods, and arguing his stance that the mandate saved lives sets a dangerous precedent for public health mandates on the Board.
Carr opposes John Mangin's nomination as BSA chair, criticizing his role in ballot referenda to fast-track housing by removing the Council from land use, his derision of homeowners as cartels, and his dismissal of community benefits agreements. Carr states he will not consent to giving Mangin broad land use powers, voting yes on Garcia and no on the other two.
Clerk William Martin announces the final results: Lisa Garcia approved 9-0, Dr. Chokshi approved 8-1, and John Mangin approved 6-1 with two abstentions. All items are approved by the committee.
Chair Sandra Ung adjourns the meeting.