Angel Garcia testifies on Project Esencia

It's also called settler colonialism is what that is.

Siguiente.

Hi, thank you.

My name is Angel Garcia, and I'm a resident of the South Bronx.

First, I want to speak in support.

I want to make sure that it's clear that I give full support to all four resolutions under consideration by the City Council.

I want to focus a couple of my points today on Resolution 494 concerning the Essencia project.

And I'll speak first from a personal perspective, like my colleague here.

I was born in Cabo Rojo.

And I've gone back there a number of times over the years and have several family households and homes scattered throughout Cabo Rojo.

That is, uncles and aunts living in different homes there.

That's their homeland.

Speaking of home, I'm also a co-heir to a house in Cabo Rojo, which my brothers and I hope to sell at some affordable price to a working class Puerto Rican family

that will make it their long-term home.

The point is that we are heirs because my mother and father achieved a dream that's common to many Puerto Ricans who migrated to the United States.

Get a job, work, and save enough to buy a house in Puerto Rico where they could retire and live in peace in the homeland.

and they were able to do that.

Puerto Rico must continue to be a homeland where the homes are affordable to those here in New York City

and elsewhere in the United States who want to return and make their life there, and to those in the motherland who are renting.

Time expired.

And want permanent, long-term home.

The other point I'll make here is, in addition to supporting the resolutions that the council has considered today, is to consider taking action regarding JPMorgan Chase,

the key funder in the $2.3 billion luxury project for homes ranging from $2 million to $20 million.

In current prices.

The City Council should seriously investigate the possibility of suspending or terminating the City Government's financial relationships, both banking and pension fund investments,

with Chase.

This is a funder of environmental destruction and the deprivation of water and power from a people suffering through waves of blackouts and power outages.

As well as drought conditions recently declared disasters by the United States and the island government just last month.

Again, I speak in support of all the resolutions today, and thank you for your time.