NYC Ballot 2025: What’s at Stake for Public Review in Land Use Decisions?
New York City is made up of strong communities that have substantial expertise about where they live. In the absence of a long term, city-wide plan, community input generated through the public review process is critical to ensuring that land use projects take community needs into account.
How can a robust process for public input help ensure equitable development while also addressing the affordable housing crisis? When voters turn over their ballot this November, they will have the opportunity to decide how community input shapes future affordable housing and land use decisions through a series of ballot proposals to amend the City Charter.
Proposals 2, 3, and 4 include changes to which types of land use applications may be expedited, how affordable housing projects are reviewed, and how different perspectives are balanced in the land use process.
Pratt Center and invited speakers will unpack how these proposals will impact the ability of community members to have a voice in land use decisions.
We’ll also discuss the ways that public review can strengthen efforts to ensure affordability and ensure that land use decisions meet the needs of neighborhoods most at risk of displacement.
Join us and our panel of experts so you can make an informed decision in November.
Confirmed Panelists:
Alexa Aviles, New York City Council Member, District 38 is currently serving in her second term on the New York City Council representing the 38th District neighborhoods that include Red Hook and parts of Park Slope, Sunset Park, Borough Park, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, and Bath Beach. She is a proud Boricua mom, Brooklynite, and democratic socialist dedicated to public service and ensuring all people have what they need to thrive. Council Member Avilés serves as the Chair of the Committee on Immigration and is a member of the Economic Development, Public Housing, Housing and Buildings, General Welfare, Environmental Protections, Resiliency and Waterfronts Committees, as well as, on the Council’s Taskforce to Combat Hate.
Karl-Henry Cesar, Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 14 has lived in Flatbush for over a decade, and is Chairperson of Brooklyn Community Board 14 (CB14). In addition to being Chairperson, he's been a CB14 Board Member for over 6 years. What he loves about CB14 is how much he's always learning from board members, organizations, government agencies, elected officials, residents, and other boards. Therefore, this experience reinforces his belief that consistent, honest, engaged, and respectful community dialogue, while at times spicy and messy, ultimately leads to a higher quality outcome for most parties involved versus the alternative where it is absent.
Brianna Soleyn, Treasurer, East NY Community Land Trust is a lifelong Brooklynite and current Flatbush resident. She has a background in tenant organizing and housing coalition organizing, previously working at IMPACCT Brooklyn and Right to Counsel Coalition. She currently works at in city government and holds a Master's degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College. She is passionate about social housing models and believes in building working class power to take community control over land use and contested urban spaces.
Chris Walters, Senior Land Use Policy Associate, Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (he/him) works with ANHD members and allies to further land use and planning policies and actions that advance equity in NYC, both at the neighborhood and citywide level. Chris received his Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College.
Moderator: Tara Duvivier, Senior Planner, Pratt Center for Community Development