On Wednesday, October 16th, Assemblywoman Jaime Williams stood with community leaders and concerned residents in Marine Park, leading the opposition to Mayor Eric Adams’ controversial “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity.” The proposed initiative aims to relax zoning laws to increase housing opportunities across New York City.
Critics argue that the plan would lead to overdevelopment and fundamentally alter the character of residential neighborhoods, while benefiting real estate developers at the expense of long-established communities. Addressing the crowd, Williams made her stance clear: “Our community is not for sale. The City of Yes initiative would destroy our neighborhoods, turning them into something unrecognizable. We will not allow this overdevelopment plan to steamroll our homes and lives.”
In a united front across the city, communities gave an adamant “NO” to what one sign mocked, “City of Mess.” The Marine Park rally was part of a larger, coordinated effort to halt the City of Yes. From October 15th to the 22nd, a series of press conferences were scheduled to culminate in testimony at City Council hearings. To livestream the hearings, visit https://council.nyc.gov/livestream/ (registration is not required).
Williams was joined by several civic leaders, including representatives from Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach and other neighborhoods to express their key concerns.
Steve Barrison, a long-time civic leader, said this entire plan only enriches one group. “The mayor and the Department of City Planning know this, and they think it’s great because it benefits the real estate developers,” saying that REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) wields overwhelming influence into shaping these policies. Barrison emphasized that the proposal, if passed, would lead to the construction of high-rise apartment buildings in low-density neighborhoods, drastically changing the face of these areas.
Paul Graziano, an urban planning, land use zoning and historic preservation consultant, described the City of Yes as a “wish list” written by real estate developers. He urged the public to show up at the upcoming hearings, emphasizing that this is a crucial moment to push back against what he described as an “extinction-level event for our communities.” Graziano stated, “This plan is not about creating affordable housing. It’s about getting rid of owner-occupied homes and replacing them with market-rate and luxury rentals.”
Assemblyman Michael Novakhov declared, “I live in a two-family house, surrounded by other small homes. The idea of high-rise buildings being forced into our neighborhood is unthinkable.” Furthermore, he expounded, “Our communities are different from Downtown Brooklyn or Manhattan.”
“We came to this neighborhood for a reason. We chose to live in a place where we could enjoy the park, see the skyline. The City of Yes would strip away the character of our community and doesn’t reflect who we are or what we want for our future,” said Marine Park Community Association President Rob Mazzuchin, who has lived in the area since he was one year old.
In a call to action, Williams and other leaders stressed the importance of community involvement in the coming days. “We need to show up at the hearings, we need to email, call and put pressure on our elected officials. This is not a done deal,” she urged. “If we stand united, we can stop this.”
Public testimony is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22nd. If you wish to testify in person or virtually, you must sign up in advance at https://council.nyc.gov/land-use/.
Those attending in person will have a chance to speak first, followed by those virtually. You can prepare a two-minute testimony. Written testimony can be submitted 72 hours after the City Council hearing is completed at landusetestimony@council.nyc.org.
“We need 26 votes to kill this,” Barrison explained, referring to the 51-member City Council. “If they vote for this, they’re out of office. That’s the message we need to send.”
Community opposition is growing, with over 200 organizations across the city rallying to preserve their neighborhoods. As Williams concluded, “This is about the future of New York City. We are fighting for the right to keep our homes, our communities and our way of life.”
Residents are also urged to contact their local councilmember to tell them to vote “NO” to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, at SpeakerAdams@council.nyc.gov.
