Thanks for updating us on this. Adams is even worse than I expected he'd be. Is there a path for a candidate to challenge him? Brad Lander seems very present these days - would he run?
Articles often reference the high job vacancy rate at HPD as the ultimate roadblock towards fighting the affordability crisis. HPD is really only part of the effort.
A much bigger issue is the lack of staffing at the Department of City Planning - who control the City's overall density and map the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program. For instance, the addition of 5,000 private dwelling units to the city would generate at minimum 1,250 affordable dwelling units for incomes at 60% AMI under MIH. Rezoning applications require MIH and no one is there to process them.
City Planning is a skeleton crew. The queens borough office alone only has 3-4 people to process hundreds of new private rezoning applications. The Adams administration is fully aware and just doesn't seem to care. They aren't even allowed to make any new hires until 2023.
Reportedly he's already calling for city agencies to prepare for more cuts in lieu of potential economic headwinds, instead of trying to raise taxes or looking to the work the state legislature to address potential budget shortfalls. Nope Adams is just ready to make more cuts, ignore brain drain, and avoid all public scrutiny. At least BDB would sit on WNYC and take actual feedback from New Yorkers; Adams is too busy spending "his own" money on bougie Manhattan dinners and nightclubs to be caught doing such a thing.
I think this is spot on. Many on the left have also failed miserably to move him, or even his base. Partially from a refusal to make adjustments to the current landscape.
He has graduated from being the Borough President of Brooklyn to the Borough President of five boroughs. Since the charter change after Howard Golden, borough presidents are little more than figureheads. The actual story here would to discover who he is the figurehead for. First I thought it was Frank Carone, but now I’m not sure.
Thanks for updating us on this. Adams is even worse than I expected he'd be. Is there a path for a candidate to challenge him? Brad Lander seems very present these days - would he run?
Articles often reference the high job vacancy rate at HPD as the ultimate roadblock towards fighting the affordability crisis. HPD is really only part of the effort.
A much bigger issue is the lack of staffing at the Department of City Planning - who control the City's overall density and map the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) program. For instance, the addition of 5,000 private dwelling units to the city would generate at minimum 1,250 affordable dwelling units for incomes at 60% AMI under MIH. Rezoning applications require MIH and no one is there to process them.
City Planning is a skeleton crew. The queens borough office alone only has 3-4 people to process hundreds of new private rezoning applications. The Adams administration is fully aware and just doesn't seem to care. They aren't even allowed to make any new hires until 2023.
Reportedly he's already calling for city agencies to prepare for more cuts in lieu of potential economic headwinds, instead of trying to raise taxes or looking to the work the state legislature to address potential budget shortfalls. Nope Adams is just ready to make more cuts, ignore brain drain, and avoid all public scrutiny. At least BDB would sit on WNYC and take actual feedback from New Yorkers; Adams is too busy spending "his own" money on bougie Manhattan dinners and nightclubs to be caught doing such a thing.
Question: how many people living in NY city are non-citizens ? Are they eligible for jobs with the NY city/county/state ? (Just asking.)
I think this is spot on. Many on the left have also failed miserably to move him, or even his base. Partially from a refusal to make adjustments to the current landscape.
He has graduated from being the Borough President of Brooklyn to the Borough President of five boroughs. Since the charter change after Howard Golden, borough presidents are little more than figureheads. The actual story here would to discover who he is the figurehead for. First I thought it was Frank Carone, but now I’m not sure.
Great piece.