MSCC, Sharon Jasprizza, Alex Yong, John Mudd, Event Date: July 7, 2026, Published July 10, 2026

Summary

The Midtown South Community Council (MSCC) Homeless & Housing Committee met to examine practical strategies for expanding community control over housing and preserving affordability in New York City. The meeting featured presentations by Jazz Kerr of the New Economy Project on the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) and Professor Ron Shiffman on equitable planning, public land, and financing tools for affordable housing.

Although the presentations addressed different topics, they shared a common vision: communities should have greater power to shape their neighborhoods, preserve affordability, and ensure that public resources serve the public interest rather than speculation.

Rather than functioning as a series of lectures, the meeting became an active working session. Participants questioned presenters, shared organizing experiences, exchanged resources, and identified opportunities for future collaboration. Several important questions remained open, reflecting the committee’s commitment to ongoing strategy rather than premature conclusions.

Full Video Here

Presentation & Discussion

COPA, Community Opportunity to Purchase Act — Part 1: Jazz Kerr, New Economy Project

Caitlin introduced Jazz Kerr and explained that the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) represents one of the most significant community ownership initiatives currently before the New York City Council.

She described COPA as legislation that would give qualified nonprofit organizations, community land trusts, and other eligible community entities the first opportunity to purchase certain residential buildings before they are sold on the private market. The goal is to preserve affordable housing, strengthen community ownership, and reduce speculative displacement.

Caitlin noted that the proposal has gained significant support through sustained organizing by the New Economy Project and coalition partners.

Synopsis

Jazz Kerr situated COPA within the broader housing affordability crisis affecting New York City.

She explained that communities are frequently forced to react only after affordable buildings have already been purchased by speculative investors. By that point, opportunities to preserve affordability have often been lost.

COPA seeks to change that sequence by creating a right of first opportunity for qualified community organizations before buildings are sold on the open market. Rather than allowing speculation to determine a neighborhood’s future, the legislation would create space for community-based ownership and long-term affordability.

Throughout the presentation, Jazz emphasized that COPA is not simply a real estate policy. It is part of a broader effort to shift housing toward community stewardship and permanent affordability.

Committee Discussion

The discussion that followed focused on both the promise of the legislation and the practical work required to make it successful.

Alex Yong highlighted that recent advocacy had strengthened the proposal by expanding eligibility to include buildings with expiring affordability protections, acknowledging the work of advocates who helped advance those changes.

He also shared information about the broader Community Land Act, explaining that COPA is one component of a larger legislative package designed to expand community ownership throughout New York City.

As participants explored organizing strategies, Alex reminded the group that successful advocacy depends on building understanding rather than simply applying political pressure, summarizing the committee’s approach with the phrase:

“Persuasion, not coercion.”

The comment prompted laughter but also reflected a recurring theme throughout the meeting: durable policy change depends upon education, coalition-building, and sustained organizing.

Committee members discussed how legislation alone cannot preserve affordable housing. Success will also depend upon prepared community organizations, public awareness, financing tools, and continued political engagement.

Rather than attempting to resolve every question during the meeting, participants explored the challenges that advocates will continue addressing as the legislation advances.

Resources Shared

Participants used the Zoom chat extensively to share materials supporting the discussion, including:

• Information about the Community Land Act legislative package.
• Public Bank NYC educational resources.
• Background materials from the New Economy Project.
• Additional coalition resources supporting community ownership.

Near the conclusion of the meeting, Jazz provided participants with a detailed advocacy script encouraging members to contact City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Housing Committee Chair Pierina Sanchez to request a summer hearing on COPA.

The script emphasized the urgency of addressing rising rents, displacement, and speculative ownership while reminding elected officials that the City Council already possesses sufficient support to advance the legislation.

The meeting immediately shifted from discussion to action.

After the advocacy script was shared, Caitlin Cahill posted a brief message to the group:

“Calling now.”

Although only two words long, the response captured the spirit of the meeting. Participants were encouraged not merely to learn about policy but to engage directly in advancing it.

Emerging Questions

The discussion intentionally left several important questions open for continued organizing and future meetings.

Among them were:

• How can community organizations prepare now to take advantage of future purchasing opportunities if COPA becomes law?
• What additional financing mechanisms will be needed to make community acquisition practical and scalable?
• How can community ownership initiatives be coordinated with broader housing preservation strategies already underway across New York City?
• What organizing efforts will be necessary to move the legislation through the City Council as quickly as possible?

These questions were not shortcomings of the discussion. Rather, they became part of the committee’s ongoing work and reflected the collaborative nature of the meeting.

Looking Ahead

Jazz concluded by encouraging participants to continue organizing immediately rather than waiting for the next legislative session.

Committee members were urged to contact City Council leadership, educate their networks about COPA, strengthen partnerships among housing organizations, and continue building public support for community ownership.

The discussion established a strong foundation for the meeting’s second major presentation, in which Professor Ron Shiffman expanded the conversation from individual building preservation to citywide planning, public land, democratic governance, and long-term financing strategies for equitable development.

Presentation & Discussion

Housing And Land Use Planning — Part 2: Ron Shiffman, Professor Emeritus, educator, planner, and community advocate

Following Jazz Kerr’s presentation on community ownership through COPA, Professor Emeritus Ron Shiffman broadened the discussion to a citywide vision for housing justice. Drawing on decades of experience as an educator, planner, and community advocate, he challenged participants to think beyond preserving individual buildings and instead consider how New York City could fundamentally rethink land use, public investment, and democratic planning.

Throughout his presentation, Ron returned to a central premise:

“Cities should be planned around public need rather than private speculation.”

His remarks connected housing policy, public land, financing, community planning, and democratic governance into a single framework, arguing that these issues cannot be addressed in isolation.

Building “Block by Block”

Ron introduced the principles behind his Block by Block report, describing it as both a planning framework and an organizing strategy.

Rather than relying exclusively on large-scale redevelopment projects, he argued that neighborhoods should be strengthened incrementally by preserving existing communities, investing in public assets, and expanding permanently affordable housing.

The discussion challenged the assumption that market-driven development inevitably produces equitable neighborhoods. Instead, Ron encouraged participants to think about how public institutions and community organizations could guide investment in ways that prioritize long-term residents over speculative interests.

As the presentation unfolded, participants repeatedly connected his ideas to challenges they encountered in their own organizing work—from public housing preservation to neighborhood rezonings and displacement pressures.

Reference Materials

Ron made available several papers that expand upon the themes discussed during his presentation, including Block by Block, Potential Financing Opportunities with the Stock Transfer Tax, Financial Sales Tax Memo, Reparations Initiatives, and Charter Revision Testimony.

Ron Shiffman Planning Papers
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1LZm_tqAYRhvV-EDM9wzSkAlYnehUfsaP

Public Land as a Public Resource

One of Ron’s strongest themes was that public land should remain a public resource.

He argued that publicly owned property represents one of New York City’s greatest opportunities to address the housing crisis, but only if decisions about its use are driven by public purpose rather than short-term financial considerations.

Rather than disposing of public land through conventional market transactions, Ron urged policymakers to view these sites as permanent community assets capable of supporting affordable housing, community facilities, open space, and other long-term public benefits.

Participants discussed how this philosophy aligns with community land trusts, public housing preservation, and neighborhood-based planning efforts already underway across the city.

Upcoming Event

Participants were invited to continue this discussion during the upcoming Public Land for Public Good – Reclaiming Our City webinar.

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-land-for-public-good-reclaiming-our-city-tickets-1992177463421

Financing the Future

A substantial portion of the discussion focused on financing.

Ron outlined how restoring or expanding the Stock Transfer Tax (STT) could provide a significant revenue source for housing, infrastructure, and other public priorities.

Rather than treating the Stock Transfer Tax simply as a revenue proposal, he presented it as a question of economic fairness.

He reminded participants that New York generates extraordinary financial wealth, yet relatively little of that wealth is reinvested directly into solving the city’s housing crisis.

Throughout the discussion, participants explored how dedicated public revenue could support permanently affordable housing, community ownership initiatives, and equitable neighborhood development.

Additional Resources

Stock Transfer Tax Explainer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aAGZeb6me9kPiH8c86GvPIi6WxxM0ErU/view

Additional Background Paper
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D4TzsLJ3AlGBOy5e7SHfrglJcqFX_f8b/view

Previous MSCC Presentation on the Stock Transfer Tax
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQazud1-2rc&t=1201s

Planning for Equity

Ron emphasized that planning should begin with communities rather than development proposals.

He argued that neighborhood residents possess invaluable knowledge about local needs and should participate meaningfully in shaping future development before major decisions are made.

This portion of the discussion resonated strongly with participants involved in public housing preservation campaigns and neighborhood planning efforts.

Eve Baron expanded on these themes by sharing the Collective for Culture, Community & the Environment’s policy paper on Equity Planning, which outlines recommendations for strengthening democratic planning under the incoming administration.

The conversation reinforced a recurring idea:

Planning is not simply about buildings.

It is about who has the power to shape the future of their communities.

Further Reading

Equity Planning: A Call to Mayor Mamdani to Strengthen NYC’s Planning Process and Build Equity for All New Yorkers
https://collectiveforcce.com/project/equity-planning-a-call-to-mayor-mamdani-to-strengthen-nycs-planning-process-and-build-equity-for-all-new-yorkers/

Collective for Culture, Community & the Environment (CCCE)
https://collectiveforcce.com/

Discussion

Rather than ending with the presentation, the meeting shifted into an extended strategy conversation.

Several participants asked how these ideas could move from thoughtful reports into public policy.

One of the discussion’s strengths was that participants approached implementation from different perspectives.

Lydia Andre asked which individuals within the incoming administration might be positioned to champion these proposals. Rather than identifying a single political ally, the discussion explored the broader challenge of cultivating support across government while maintaining pressure through community organizing.

Lizette Colon expressed concern that advocates were “running against time” and asked how these ideas could be communicated quickly enough to influence emerging policy priorities. Her question shifted the conversation toward messaging, coalition-building, and political strategy rather than technical planning alone.

Leonard Polletta suggested expanding public outreach by encouraging The Indypendent to devote a special housing issue to the themes discussed during the meeting, bringing together planners, organizers, tenant leaders, and community advocates.

Ron welcomed these questions as opportunities to deepen the discussion rather than conclude it. The conversation became increasingly collaborative, with participants building on one another’s ideas and refining strategies together.

Questions That Advanced the Conversation

Several questions did more than seek information—they shaped the direction of the discussion.

Lydia’s question about allies inside government prompted a broader conversation about political relationships and institutional change.

Lizette’s concern about timing focused attention on the urgency of organizing while new policy priorities are still taking shape.

Renee Keitt reminded the group: Conversations about social housing should always include New York City’s existing public housing system, observing:

“We have a social housing program. It’s called public housing administered by NYCHA.”

Renee’s comment alluded to the importance of preserving Section 9, unadulterated. The active State-level bill known as Social Housing Development Authority—and other housing models detract from Section 9 and if too much attention and funding are given to newer housing concepts (especially those that imitate public housing), then Section 9’s true demise will eventually begin, starting with smaller funding allocations. The SHDA bill is by State Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher. Renee frequently reminds us that the SHDA bill was inspired by Section 9 housing! The SHDA vision includes market-rate apartments where the renter pays 25 percent of their income in rent, even if the income is high. It also encourages retail tenants on ground floors.

Emerging Questions

Rather than ending with definitive conclusions, the discussion identified several strategic questions that will shape future work:

• How can these planning principles be translated into actionable policy during the next administration?
• Which coalitions are best positioned to advance these proposals?
• How can advocates connect public land, community ownership, public housing preservation, and financing into a unified housing agenda?
• How can organizing efforts expand quickly enough to influence policy decisions already underway?

These questions became part of the committee’s continuing agenda and reflected the meeting’s collaborative approach to problem-solving.

Discussion to Action

Opportunities For Social Justice — Part 2

As Professor Ron Shiffman’s presentation concluded, the meeting naturally shifted from policy discussion to organizing. Rather than simply reflecting on the ideas presented, participants began identifying opportunities to educate the public, strengthen coalitions, influence policy, and support ongoing campaigns throughout New York City.

The closing portion of the meeting demonstrated one of the committee’s greatest strengths: its ability to connect ideas with action.

Preserving Public Housing

Participants emphasized that discussions of social housing and community ownership must remain grounded in the preservation of New York City’s existing public housing.

Renee Keitt reminded the committee that New York already possesses a large-scale social housing system through NYCHA, stating:

“We have a social housing program. It’s called public housing administered by NYCHA.”

Her comment prompted further discussion about protecting Section 9 public housing while pursuing complementary strategies such as community land trusts, COPA, and new permanently affordable housing initiatives.

Natasha Florentino reinforced this point, reminding participants that efforts to stop the privatization and demolition of public housing continue across the city. She encouraged attendees to learn directly from resident leaders and become involved in ongoing campaigns.

Resources

Petition: Stop the Privatization and Demolition of Public Housing in Chelsea
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-demolition-of-public-housing-in-chelsea

A Home Worth Fighting For – Film Screenings and Organizing
https://www.natashaflorentino.com/latest-screenings

Host a Community Screening
https://www.natashaflorentino.com/ahwff

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/a_home_worth_fighting_for/

Community Education Through Film

Participants discussed the importance of storytelling as an organizing tool.

Caitlin Cahill strongly recommended A Home Worth Fighting For as a resource for helping residents understand the significance of preserving Section 9 public housing.

She encouraged attendees not only to attend screenings but also to organize community viewings, observing that the film helps audiences immediately understand the stakes facing public housing residents.

As discussion continued, participants agreed that education remains one of the movement’s most effective organizing tools.

Building Broader Coalitions

Several participants stressed that housing justice requires collaboration among tenant organizations, planners, advocates, researchers, neighborhood groups, and public officials.

Victoria Alexander encouraged organizations to join the growing Public Land for Public Good coalition and sign onto its organizing letter.

Coalition Information

Join the Public Land for Public Good Coalition
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtg8EcQBwLUna4NJFD5EH1DPZeQwIXOCKY4yoagBpq6oxf3g/viewform

Expanding the Public Conversation

Leonard Polletta suggested broadening public outreach by encouraging The Indypendent to publish a special housing edition featuring Ron Shiffman’s ideas alongside contributions from organizers, planners, tenant leaders, and community advocates.

Participants generally agreed that stronger public education would be essential if housing reform proposals are to gain broader political support.

The conversation highlighted the importance of making complex planning and financing issues accessible to the general public.

Continuing the Organizing

Throughout the final discussion, participants shared upcoming events, educational opportunities, and ways to remain engaged between meetings.

Alex Yong announced that the MSCC YouTube channel was celebrating its tenth anniversary and encouraged participants to revisit previous committee presentations, including the June meeting featuring Council Member Chris Banks, Chair of the City Council Committee on Public Housing.

MSCC Resources

MSCC YouTube
https://youtube.com/@midtownsouthcommunitycouncil/videos

June Meeting Featuring Council Member Chris Banks
https://youtu.be/psQP1wdU8j0

MSCC Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/midtown_south_nyc/

Looking Ahead

The meeting concluded with a shared understanding that meaningful housing reform will require sustained organizing, public education, strategic partnerships, and continued engagement with elected officials.

Rather than viewing COPA, public housing preservation, equity planning, community land trusts, public land, and the Stock Transfer Tax as separate campaigns, participants increasingly described them as interconnected elements of a broader movement for housing justice.

Throughout the meeting, presenters and participants alike emphasized that progress depends not only on sound policy but also on organized communities prepared to advocate for lasting change.

Action Items

Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA)

• Contact City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Housing Committee Chair Pierina Sanchez to request a summer hearing on COPA.
• Share information about COPA and the Community Land Act with community organizations and neighborhood partners.
• Continue building public support for community ownership and permanently affordable housing.

Public Land & Planning

• Review Ron Shiffman’s planning papers and distribute them within professional and community networks.
• Attend the Public Land for Public Good webinar and invite additional organizations to participate.
• Continue discussions on the Stock Transfer Tax and other long-term financing strategies for permanently affordable housing.

Public Housing

• Support campaigns opposing the privatization and demolition of public housing.
• Share the Chelsea public housing petition and educational materials.
• Attend or organize community screenings of A Home Worth Fighting For.

Coalition Building

• Expand partnerships among tenant organizations, planners, community land trusts, neighborhood organizations, and advocacy groups.
• Continue identifying opportunities to engage policymakers within the incoming administration.
• Strengthen public education efforts through community forums, publications, social media, and public events.

Final Reflection

This meeting demonstrated the Midtown South Community Council’s unique role as both a forum for public education and a catalyst for action.

The presentations by Jazz Kerr and Ron Shiffman challenged participants to think beyond individual policy proposals and consider how community ownership, democratic planning, public investment, and resident leadership can work together to create a more equitable New York City.

Perhaps most importantly, the meeting reinforced that meaningful change begins with informed residents willing to organize, collaborate, and act.

Rather than ending with conclusions, the committee concluded with momentum.