MSCC, Sharon Jasprizza,Event: October 7, 2025, Posted: October 23, 2025

NOTE ABOUT THIS RECAP: This meeting recap, based on summaries generated by CHATGPT, has been revised for clarity and reformatted to adhere to the established style of MSCC, including edits and additional information that CHATGPT did not provide.  

SUMMARY

• Katy Lasell, Policy Associate for New Economy Project, represents the New Economy Project and the New York City Community Land Trust Initiative. Its mission is to build a just economy rooted in cooperation, neighborhood, and racial equity, with a focus on ecological sustainability. Community Land Trust (CLT) is a model where residents control their buildings, and the CLT owns the land underneath with a 99-year ground lease, ensuring permanent affordability.
• Kasey McNaughton, Organizer for Youth Alliance for Housing (YAH), y4h.org. YAH is involved in the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), seeing it to allow people who grew up in New York to stay and for young people to live independently. YAH supports COPA to remove housing from the speculative market dominated by the financial, insurance, and real estate (FIRE) industry.
• Paul Graziano, urban planning and zoning expert, and founder of Save 1 Family NY: Explained the charter revision process, highlighting how the mayor convened a new Charter Revision Commission focusing on housing just days after City of Yes passed, catching the council off guard. Detailed the five charter questions, with a focus on questions 2, 3, and 4, which he described as “City of Yes on steroids.” Question 2 targets the bottom 20% of community boards for affordable housing development, removing the City Council and community boards from the decision-making process and allowing direct appeals to the Board of Standards and Appeals, which is appointed by the mayor. Question 3 introduces ELERP, an expedited land use review procedure that bypasses the council and reduces the influence of community boards, allowing for 45-foot-tall apartment buildings in one- and two-family neighborhoods and a 30% increase in density and height in high-density areas. Question 4 proposes to eliminate member deference, effectively recreating the Board of Estimate, a powerful body that can overturn council decisions, giving the mayor and borough presidents significant control over land use decisions.

CHAIR: John Mudd

MINUTES: Sharon Jasprizza

WELCOME / INTRODUCTIONS

John Mudd welcomed the community and outlined the agenda.

POLICY MEETING UPDATES

There were no policy updates. 

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

• The MSCC Urban Farm Program in 2025 has been very successful. John Mudd noted the program has produced more than 3,000 pounds of organic food this year, surpassing last year’s harvest. This food was distributed to various shelters and community centers, addressing food and nutrition deprivation.
• On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM on Living for the City at https://wbai.org/archive/program/episode/?id=60810 on Radio 99.5fm, Sam Turvey, Viren Brahmbhatt, and John Mudd were interviewed on development in New York City. Listen to their ideas for community development rather than a city built for the few.

• Communities Together Fest on Sunday September 21, 2025, was bigger and better than last year. The bands, speakers, and activities addressed critical issues such as healthcare, public housing, and developer practices, and included tabling events and arts and crafts. Video Clips and Videographer Clips
• Leonard Polletta provided an update on the fundraising efforts for the Chelsea Public Defense Fund, aiming to raise $75,000. They have already secured $27,000 and an additional $15,000 from a matching grant. Caitlin Cahill announced the exciting fundraising opportunity with a dollar-for-dollar match until October 15th. Donate to address housing issues. https://www.gofundme.com/f/hnwyzz-chelsea-public-housing-legal-defense-fund?attribution_id=sl:19c3938b-c730-490e-96df-
• The following media bites illustrate the great work our communities are doing to ensure people are housed and safe: Rob Robinson Criminalizing the homeless discussion, Viren Brahmbatt discusses development policies Keith McHenry, Food Not Bombs founder interview. Protesting in front of Erik Bottcher’s residence

Seniors confront Erik Bottcher about his support for the demolition of their homes

SPECIAL INTRODUCTION(S) AND OR UPDATES: 

• Kasey McNaughton represents the Youth Alliance for Housing – YAH
• Alex Yong, MSCC: Maya Chait, a major New York landlord was charged with tenant harassment for failing to maintain rental apartments. Alex highlighted the community’s efforts to support tenants facing harassment and displacement, emphasizing the need for justice and fair housing practices.
• Miriam Fisher announced that a parade for disability awareness is scheduled for Sunday, October 19th, starting at Madison Square Park and ending at Union Square Park. The event will feature tables from various disability groups and involve participation from elected officials who advocate for accessibility. She mentioned receiving a response from Tony Simone and is waiting to hear back from Brad Hoylman Siegel. Participation and support from the community are essential.  Other elected officials will also be speaking at the event, including, Brad Lander, whose participation is expected.

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ACT (COPA) to de-commodify housing and bring properties into community control. COPA allows for community ownership through nonprofit organizations.

Katy Lasell, Policy Associate for New Economy Project, represents the New Economy Project and the New York City Community Land Trust Initiative. Its mission is to build a just economy rooted in cooperation, neighborhood, and racial equity, with a focus on ecological sustainability.

• Community Land Trust (CLT) is a model where residents control their buildings, and the CLT owns the land underneath with a 99-year ground lease, ensuring permanent affordability. There are over 20 CLTs are part of the Nicely Coalition in New York City. They are democratically governed, run by a board representing key constituencies, including residents. They support various uses such as housing, green spaces, and community health centers.
• CLTs help combat the corporate acquisition of buildings and fight corporate acquisitions ensuring that New York City remains a place where residents can stay and thrive. CLTs ensure collective control and permanent affordability of housing. The objective is to stabilize and preserve affordable housing, expand community and tenant ownership.
• COPA has preserved tens of thousands of affordable homes in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
• The process starts when a landlord decides to sell, they must notify the city. The city opens the sale to qualified nonprofits. Nonprofits can match offers from private buyers, ensuring that tenants have a chance to acquire their buildings. Nonprofits working with organized tenants to acquire buildings, ensuring tenant control and acquisition.
• The support for COPA in 2025 is nearly at a veto-proof majority with 32 council members supporting it. Needs 34 to pass. The key targets are Council members Chris Marte, Linda Lee, Dinowitz, Lynn Schulman, and Speaker Adrienne Adams. Over 150 community groups have endorsed the Community Land Act. There are active negotiations with HPD regarding bill language and implementation.
• The call to actions: Email Campaigns where participants encouraged to send emails in support of the Community Land Act, targeting their personal council members and the speaker. A link is shared in the chat for participants to send pre-populated emails advocating for COPA.
• Examples of Successful CLT Projects: Save63Tiffany where residents acquired their building in Brooklyn with the help of the Fifth Avenue Committee. East New York CLT purchased a building and is converting it to permanently affordable tenant-controlled housing. Northwest Bronx CLT is working on acquiring property and de commodifying housing.
• Challenges and concerns include Christopher Marte’s Opposition. He is concerned about a specific nonprofit housing provider in his district and fears they might buy up more properties. Chris Marte could use encouragement and conversations to understand the broader benefits of COPA.
• COPA is at the finish line and needs all hands-on deck to pass. Every email and endorsement count, especially from constituents of key council members. It is necessary to engage in regular meetings and strategize to ensure the successful passage of COPA.

DISCUSSION

• Leonard Polletta asked what the COPA bill does.
• Katy Lasell explained that COPA inserts opportunities for nonprofits to purchase buildings into the sales process, giving them the first chance to make an offer before private buyers.
• Leonard Polletta inquired about connections with financial institutions to provide capital for tenants to purchase buildings.
• Katy Lasell mentioned that while COPA itself does not specifically address funding, there are existing city and state-level funding sources for community land trusts and acquisitions.
• Leonard Polletta raised the possibility of integrating COPA into public housing, especially given the challenges faced by public housing due to funding cuts and the potential demise of Section 8 housing.
• Katy Lasell acknowledged the complexity of this issue and suggested connecting Leonard with organizers who are working on similar projects, such as turning public housing into community land trusts.
• Leonard Polletta proposed a vacancy tax for landlords who drive tenants out of buildings, suggesting a financial penalty to discourage this behavior and address the homeless crisis.
• Katy Lasell agreed with the idea, emphasizing the need for mechanisms to prevent landlords from warehousing affordable apartments.  Katy detailed the COPA process, explaining how it notifies qualified nonprofits of a landlord’s intention to sell, allowing them to submit a statement of interest and potentially match offers from private buyers. While COPA cannot compel landlords to sell to tenants, it ensures that nonprofits have the first opportunity to make an offer.   While COPA does not specifically address funding, there are existing programs like Neighborhood Pillars that support distressed housing. The broader campaign for de commodified housing includes fighting for corresponding funding at the city and state levels. The concept of a public bank would invest public deposits in community projects rather than private banks. The potential of a public bank to support CLTs, green rehab, and other community needs, aligns with the goals of COPA and TOPA. There is interest in integrating COPA with public housing and suggested connecting Leonard with organizers who are working on similar initiatives. An organizer from Ravenswood is involved in turning public housing into community land trusts. Katie will facilitate a connection.
• Katy Lasell supported Leonard’s idea of a vacancy tax, agreeing that it could help address the issue of landlords driving out tenants to create vacancies. The advantages of a public bank include keeping public deposits within the community and investing in local projects rather than private banks that often invest in harmful industries like fossil fuels.
• Caitlin Cahill asked how COPA and the financing question relate to the public bank campaign. 
• Katy Lasell responded by explaining the potential of a public bank to support community projects and align with the goals of COPA and TOPA.
• Alex Yong raised concerns about the 120-day period within the COPA bill, questioning what prevents landlords from creating fake interested buyers to manipulate the process and what stops a landlord from claiming an entity is interested after the 120 days, thereby rejecting non-profit offers and forcing them to match a fake offer.  Is there an appraisal mechanism in place to handle situations where private buyers offer unrealistically high prices for buildings, making it difficult for non-profits to match.
• Katy Lasell acknowledged the need to investigate the bill language regarding appraisals and promised to follow up with Alex on this matter. Katy explained that in TOPA there is a provision that allows for an appraisal if the landlord or private buyer offers an unreasonably high price. This appraisal ensures a fair market value that everyone can work with. She was unsure if this provision is included in COPA but assumed it would be and offered to follow up with Alex.  Katy detailed the process for becoming a qualified nonprofit purchaser, which involves applying through the city. She offered to provide more information to Luana Green, who inquired about this process. There are various existing funding mechanisms at the city and state levels, such as Neighborhood Pillars. There is a need for more public dollars to support larger-scale acquisitions.  Katy highlighted the Social Housing Development Authority bill at the state level, which aims to give a new development authority eminent domain power. This power could be used to take properties from neglectful and abusive landlords, aligning with the goals of COPA and TOPA. There is a need to build power for this campaign, and participants need to join the COPA campaign, become experts, and help push it over the finish line. There is momentum building around COPA and thus a need for continued support and advocacy. It is important of including public housing residents in the housing movement and a need for solidarity work within the MSCC group.
• Renee Keitt provided historical context on resident management corporations in public housing, noting that they have generally failed except for one example in New Orleans. It’s important to consider the challenges and failures of past attempts at resident management. Social Housing Authority is based on public housing models but amplified and thus efforts and assets might shift towards social housing, potentially neglecting public housing. Thus, there is a need to balance efforts between social housing and public housing to avoid a dichotomy and ensure that public housing residents are not left behind.   It is important to include public housing residents in the housing movement and the need for solidarity work within the MSCC group.
• Leonard Polletta discussed historical examples where the city took over buildings and sold them through REM sales or gave squatters the right to buy. He suggested revisiting these strategies with a new administration. There are LLCs that own multiple buildings and ignore their landlord obligations. Possibly the revival of eminent domain is needed to take over these properties and put tenants in charge.  Creative thinking and imagination in addressing housing issues are needed and possible that DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) could play a role in developing innovative solutions.  There is a need for collective effort and solidarity in fighting against rapacious landlords and developers, suggesting that the MSCC group could be a platform for such collaborative work.
• Danny Valdes expressed excitement about the COPA campaign and the focus on housing outside of the market, which he sees as a failure. He offered to bring DSA into the fight and discussed the importance of preparing in advance to avoid starting from scratch. Danny is involved in an Eco socialist working group within DSA and emphasized the interconnectedness of housing and environmental issues. He suggested a big push for various types of housing solutions and offered to connect with Katy Lasell to discuss further collaboration.
• John Mudd encouraged participants to reach out to council members, such as Chris Marte, to discuss COPA and seek their support.
• Luana Green inquired about the connection to financial institutions for acquiring capital to purchase buildings and the process for becoming a qualified nonprofit and how these processes work.

YOUTH FOR HOUSING

Kasey McNaughton, Organizer for Youth for Housing (YAH), y4h.org

• YAH is a collective of young people aiming to radically transform the housing system in New York and the country. YAH defines tenants as anyone without complete control over their housing, emphasizing that youth, despite not usually being heads of households, are also tenants. It envisions a world where housing is de commodified, homelessness is eliminated, and everyone has access to safe, quality, and permanently affordable homes. The organization believes that those closest to the issues are experts in their experiences and that building power among young people is crucial for advancing the broader tenant movement. YAH follows the understanding that tenants collectively hold significant economic power through their rent and mortgage payments.
• YAH is involved in the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA), seeing it to allow people who grew up in New York to stay and for young people to live independently. YAH supports COPA to remove housing from the speculative market dominated by the financial, insurance, and real estate (FIRE) industry. It actively lobbies for COPA and collaborates with other youth organizations to highlight its importance to politicians.
• YAH is running the Student Tenant Rights Campaign, focusing on building tenant unions at major university systems known for being violent slumlords.
• YAH has established tenant unions at SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Albany, SUNY Purchase, and the University of Vermont, aiming to address issues like evictions and lack of tenant protections. YAH advocates for lease agreements and tenant protections for students living in university-owned housing, citing instances of violent evictions and poor living conditions. YAH supports the Good Cause bill, which requires evictions to be for good cause, and fights for rent rollbacks, arguing that current rents are already too high. YAH engages in mutual aid work, redistributing monthly donations to support individuals facing eviction or food insecurity, with a focus on Black women, femmes, and non-binary people under 25.
• YAH is working to develop more members living in NYCHA and Mitchell Llama complexes to strengthen their work within public housing. YAH acknowledges the need to invest in and improve public housing while also working on building other forms of social housing.
• YAH is concerned about the privatization of Mitchell Llama buildings and the loss of rent-stabilized housing units over the years.
• YAH includes members ranging from 13 to 26 years old and ensures young people are prepared to speak on housing issues in coalition spaces.

DISCUSSION

• John Mudd Offered to connect YAH with public housing folks and emphasized the need for stronger relationships and mentioned ongoing outreach efforts with public housing, food distribution, and gathering people. Suggested a meeting with Kasey M, Caitlin Cahill, Lynn, Luana Green, and Alex to discuss potential collaborations.
• Caitlin Cahill would like to know more about YAH’s outreach methods and how they engage young people in organizing. We received a grant for a project that involves connecting with youth. Caitlin is open to collaborating with YAH and other members to discuss potential joint efforts.
• Leonard Polletta requested copies of YAH’s literature and cards to distribute in public housing complexes and Penn South. There are individuals in these complexes who could benefit from and contribute to YAH’s organization. Emphasized the importance of door-to-door work and tabling to reach potential members.
• Luana Green inquired about the Columbia University students and noted Columbia and NYU’s extensive property holdings in New York City and their influence on local housing. Luana asked how YAH supports students and residents affected by these universities’ housing situations and expansions.
• Kasey McNaughton noted that YAH’s Student Tenant Rights Campaign was initiated in response to Columbia’s status as the largest private landowner in the city. There are collaborations with the New York City Student Union to organize tenants affected by Columbia’s expansion. Emphasized the need for tenants to assert their rights, even if it means taking actions that might not be legally sanctioned. There are challenges in organizing NYU tenants due to the university’s ownership structure and aggressive development practices. There are efforts to organize tenant unions within the SUNY system as a model for addressing private universities.

LEGAL ACTIONS: CITY OF YES AND CHARTER REVISIONS

Paul Graziano, urban planning and zoning expert, and founder of Save 1 Family NY

• Governing policies continue to expand inequality and limit people’s rights. Jack Lester, Community Attorney has filed lawsuits in opposition to the City Of Yes and to nullify the Charter Revision ballot questions. MSCC, along with other community groups, elected officials, and advocates are plaintiffs.
• The City of Yes lawsuit was filed in March after the legislation passed in December.
• The City of Yes does not create affordable housing, but rather benefits developers and luxury housing.
• The lawsuit’s focus is on the flawed environmental impact statement and the city’s undercounting of development impacts.
• There is a diverse coalition of plaintiffs, including individuals, property owners, tenants, and various community groups.
• At the court hearing on July 16th the judge was deferential to the public and took the case seriously. The city’s admission in court was that it is not following environmental laws to prioritize housing development. The Judge is doing a thorough review of the case documents and therefore an expected delay in the court’s decision is expected.
• The administration’s rush to issue permits under City of Yes is causing potential damage even if the lawsuit is successful.
• Two candidates support City of Yes, while one, Curtis Sleewitt, opposes it in the mayoral race.
• The amicus brief supporting City of Yes was led by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and included several elected officials.
• There is a lack of analysis and self-reflection in the support for City of Yes. It could be compared to Reaganomics as it benefits developers over affordable housing.

DISCUSSION

• Leonard Polletta expressed frustration that many people are unaware of Zohran Mamdani’s position on City of Yes. Believed that circulating the amicus brief widely could help inform the public and generate opposition. Noted that Mamdani’s actions were politically motivated, aiming to curry favor with Democrats who might not endorse him. Suggested that Mamdani’s support for City of Yes was a strategic move to align himself with powerful interests in the city.
• Paul Graziano clarified that the amicus brief had already been shared in the chat and was available for distribution. Emphasized that Mamdani signed the amicus brief voluntarily, indicating his genuine support for City of Yes, not just political expedience. Provided context on the political dynamics, noting that out of 51 council members, 20 voted against City of Yes, including many regular Democrats who found the legislation problematic. Explained the charter revision process, highlighting how the mayor convened a new Charter Revision Commission focusing on housing just days after City of Yes passed, catching the council off guard. Detailed the five charter questions, with a focus on questions 2, 3, and 4, which he described as “City of Yes on steroids.” Question 2 targets the bottom 20% of community boards for affordable housing development, removing the City Council and community boards from the decision-making process and allowing direct appeals to the Board of Standards and Appeals, which is appointed by the mayor. Question 3 introduces ELERP, an expedited land use review procedure that bypasses the council and reduces the influence of community boards, allowing for 45-foot-tall apartment buildings in one- and two-family neighborhoods and a 30% increase in density and height in high-density areas. Question 4 proposes to eliminate member deference, effectively recreating the Board of Estimate, a powerful body that can overturn council decisions, giving the mayor and borough presidents significant control over land use decisions.
• Discussed the legal strategy, revealing that the Charter Commission failed to file an environmental impact statement, a crucial step in the process that allows the public to comment and be informed. Criticized the city council’s attorneys for refusing to take immediate legal action, choosing instead to let the process play out and “educate the public,” a strategy Graziano deemed ineffective and legally risky.
• Revealed that the council’s inaction was due to internal support for the charter changes, with 15 to 20 council members, including those in leadership and from the Progressive Caucus and DSA, favoring the proposals. Highlighted the political motivations, suggesting that many council members want to be less responsive to their voters and more aligned with developer interests. Mentioned the lawsuit filing and the upcoming court date on October 15th, where the city must respond by Friday, and the final hearing will take place on the 15th. Questioned the absence of mainstream Democratic and progressive council members as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, despite their supposed opposition to developer interests. Announced support from the City Club, which filed an amicus brief drafted by John Lobier, a renowned lawyer, adding strength to their legal challenge.
• Miriam Fisher is involved with disability rights groups and advocates for easier voting processes. She supports holding local and federal elections on the same day to increase turnout and accessibility. The HAVA regulation in challenging discrimination in federal elections is important. Votes by absentee ballot and is appalled by the wording of the ballot as it is misleading and manipulative.
• Paul Graziano is critical of specific ballot questions, particularly numbers 2, 3, and 4, and their implications and notes the ballot wording is misleading and biased towards a “yes” vote. The amicus brief written by John Lobier refers to the misleading nature of the ballot questions. There are legal challenges, so it is important to file before people start voting. There is the potential of the invalidation of the votes due to legal challenges and the need to inform voters about this possibility. There is detailed information about Intro 1107 and its impact on short-term Airbnb rentals in New York City. The role of Ron Klain, former Chief of Staff to Biden, is the Chief Legal Officer of Airbnb. He is pushing for maximalist Airbnb policies. paulgrazianohdc@yahoo.com
• Leonard Polletta asks about the availability of popular leaflets to educate people about the ballot proposals and suggests digging in and calling DSA to put pressure on them regarding their positions on the charter questions. There is a need for a popular leaflet to be distributed widely and to key people. He supports the idea of getting tenants, not tourists involved in the fight against Intro 1107 and suggests John Mudd should be involved in the fight against Intro 1107 due to his past work on similar issues. 
• John Mudd refers to the relevance of webinars and other informative resources about the ballot proposals. There is a need for court support and refers to the strategy of having community members present in court to make an impression. More names on lawsuits make a significant impact and impress the court.
• Alex Yong asks about the failure to file all the environmental stuff and its impact on the legal process.
• Sandy Rayburn emphasizes the importance of community involvement and support in legal battles and suggests wearing identifiable items in court to show unity and support for a case.
• Luana Green asks about the availability of palm cards to explain the ballots and why people should vote no. She questions the slanted language used in the voter’s guide and who writes these proposals and notes the misconception about affordable housing and the need to look beyond the surface-level promises.
• John Leyva leads the organizing effort against Intro 1107 and seeks training for community members on environmental issues. He discusses the BMT (Brooklyn Marine Terminal) expansion and the environmental review process and seeks clarification on the CEQR (City Environmental Quality Review) process and its implications.
• Renée Keitt expresses frustration with the lack of surprise about the actions of officials and the need for community awareness and emphasizes that some community members have known about these issues for a long time and have been ignored.

CHATBOX SUMMARY

• Caitlin Cahill promoted a GoFundMe campaign for the Chelsea Public Housing Legal Defense Fund, indicating legal challenges faced by public housing residents. The campaign offers a dollar-for-dollar match until October 15th, encouraging urgent donations. https://www.gofundme.com/f/hnwyzz-chelsea-public-housing-legal-defense-fund?attribution_id=sl:19c3938b-c730-490e-96df-feb049419a80&lang=en_US&ts=1759843503 
• Other references include: https://www.instagram.com/youth4housing/ https://www.y4h.org/ https://www.instagram.com/nycstudentunion/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DFnjyIWJQBe/ https://www.instagram.com/youth_against_displacement/ 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPgrPLsji3x/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJy55GEN_0n/ https://www.brooklynbp.nyc.gov/amicus/

• Involvement in the NYCCLI (New York City Community Land Initiative) and New Economy NYC and economic justice initiatives is important. https://nyccli.org/ https://www.neweconomynyc.org/
• The Disability Pride Parade on October 19, 2025, highlights the event’s significance and the involvement of disability groups and elected officials. Caitlin expressed interest in hearing about YAH, indicating support for youth-led housing initiatives. Links to YAH’s Instagram and website, as well as other youth organizing groups like NYC Student Union and Youth Against Displacement follow. Tinyurl.com/YAHHOUSING
• Alex Yong emphasized the importance of tangible legal presence for residents, stating that it gives them a sense of power. Alex mentioned John Leyva’s quote about doing “COPA” without real COPA, implying a strategy or approach inspired by the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA). Alex provided a summary of ballot questions and their potential impacts, indicating significant political engagement and concern over upcoming elections. https://midtownsouthcc.org/events/why-no-on-the-2025-ballot-questions-to-change-the-charter-revisions/ Midtown South Community Council is involved in an Article 78 lawsuit, suggesting legal challenges to city policies or decisions. Alex discussed the influence of Abundance PAC and Open NY political action committees on local elections and policies, highlighting their role in shaping the political landscape. https://bit.ly/GoodCauseEviction. Charter summary written by Paul and reprinted by John Mudd — https://midtownsouthcc.org/events/why-no-on-the-2025-ballot-questions-to-change-the-charter-revisions/ and follow these sinister questions and analyses by Paul: 

https://midtownsouthcc.org/events/why-no-on-the-2025-ballot-questions-to-change-the- charter-revisions/

• Kasey McNaughton shared a TinyURL link related to YAH, https://tinyurl.com/ActCLA. kasey@y4h.org, for further communication and engagement. Kasey mentioned the inclusion of Community Land Trusts and Non Profits in bill language. It makes no sense why Mamdani signed the amicus brief in favor of City of Yes.
• Sandy Rayburn expressed support for the Warehousing Tax, indicating a focus on economic justice and affordable housing initiatives. Sandy shared insights on the history and implications of ballot questions, providing links to resources and analyses that critique the proposed charter revisions. Sandy mentioned the involvement of Judge Auguste in upcoming court hearings, highlighting the legal strategies employed by community advocates. https://www.villagepreservation.org/campaign-update/cutting-through-the-deceit-in-ballot-questions-2-4-vote-no/ https://intro.nyc/1107-2024+
• John Leyva discussed the need for help with the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT), indicating ongoing development or infrastructure projects in the area. John shared details on the influence of Abundance PAC, including their spending on local elections and their impact on council member votes. 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/it-could-happen here/id1449762156?i=1000725642792

This is Brad Lander & Antonio working with Open NY to confuse everyone to vote YES

https://www.yesonaffordablehousing.com

• Luana Green provided details on various bills and programs related to housing and homeownership, including S3219 Affordable Housing Relief Fund, S2627 Homeownership Protection Program, and NYCHA S8311A. Luana shared a link to a GoFundMe campaign and encouraged participation in a letter-writing effort, indicating community-driven advocacy and fundraising initiatives.
• Renee Keitt shared a link to a HUD Exchange resource on public housing resident organizing, suggesting a focus on empowering residents and improving public housing conditions. Renee discussed the history and failures of past resident management corporations. https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/public-housing/resident-toolkit/public-housing-resident-organizing-and-participation-guides/resident-management-corporations/ https://www.nyc.gov/site/oec/environmental-quality-review/ceqr-basics.page https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/seqr
• Leonard Polletta lenpolletta@gmail.com
• Danny Valdes listed the signers of an amicus brief, including various elected officials and representatives. This brief supports the City of Yes initiative, indicating a divide among progressives and housing advocates. The signers are 

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso

Council Member Erik Bottcher

Representative Jerrold Nadler

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine

Council Member Shaun Abreu

Council Member Alexa Avilés

Council Member Tiffany Cabán

Council Member Amanda Farías

Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez

Council Member Shahana Hanif

Council Member Crystal Hudson

Council Member Rita Joseph

Council Member Julie Menin

Council Member Sandy Nurse

Council Member Chi Ossé

Council Member Keith Powers

Council Member Lincoln Restler

Council Member Kevin C. Riley

Council Member Pierina Sanchez

Council Member Althea Stevens

Council Member Julie Won

Assembly Member Alex Bores

Assembly Member Maritza Davila

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani

Assembly Member Tony Simone

Assembly Member Emérita Torres

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal

• Katy Lasell katy@neweconomynyc.org

NEXT Meeting Homeless and Housing Meeting: 9:30 AM Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Always the 1st Tuesday of every month Contact hello@midtownsouthcc.org or john.mudd@usa.net for more information and Zoom invitations.