Olympia Kazi testifies urging commercial rent stabilization legislation
Olympia Kazi, testifying in a personal capacity as an urbanist and former Nightlife Advisory Board vice chair, urges the Council to reintroduce and hear commercial rent stabilization legislation. She echoes disappointment that Resolution 496 was not discussed and notes the issue has been raised for over 50 years.
Up next, Olympia Kazi.
You may begin.
Thank you.
Can you hear me?
Yes, hello.
Oh, perfect.
Thank you.
Thank you.
My name is Olympia Kazi, and I'm justifying my personal capacity.
But I am an urbanist and an arts and culture education advocate in the city.
I served as the vice chair of the Nightlife Advisory Board, and I have passed several legislation.
In fact, I worked a few years ago with Council Member Stephen Levin and Brad Lander when we introduced Intro 1796, that is a commercial and stabilization bill, that it's high time that we pass.
I want to thank Gail because even when she was a borough president and I was a community board member and over the years, she has been a stand advocate for small businesses and all the council members who did great questions today.
But I want to highlight that Gail's mentor, Ruth Messenger, over 50 years ago started talking about how unquestionable, how...
Crazy it is, frankly, that there is no commercial tenant protection.
And when we're talking about commercial tenants, we're talking also about nonprofits that often services for our children, for education, for artists, for a lot of, you know, great things that make New York great.
I am disappointed and I want to echo the comments by Kat Mertzik and Whitney Hu about the fact that you didn't discuss the result today about the state bill.
And I want to stress how important it is for the bill to be reintroduced.
And to be heard in this committee.
Because you're going to see we're talking about a common sense protection that New Yorkers need, the real New Yorkers, that we have our kids in the public school from which I just picked them up.
So sorry about the message for testifying while on the road, but this is a very important issue.
Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony.
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