Transcript: Mayor de Blasio and Council Speaker Mark-Viverito Join Broadway Housing Communities To Celebrate Innovative Sugar Hill Development

June 9, 2014

[Founder and Executive Director of Broadway Housing Communities Ellen Baxter speaks]

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you. I'm thrilled so many people are here today to be a part of this extraordinary celebration. This is really a moment of tremendous progress for this neighborhood, and for this city. Ellen, you did a great job of naming all of your colleagues who are playing a crucial role in this extraordinary development – truly extraordinary. This is visionary. This is the way it should be. Everyone who Ellen named is a crucial part of it; we thank them, and I think we have to thank Ellen for her leadership, her vision.

[Applause]

And, as Ellen is the first to attest, it takes a village. And you may name some of the people from government – and from federal, state, city government have been involved – two of the people who will be a big part of making this work going forward, our commissioners: our HPD Commissioner Vicki Been, our Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. Let's thank both of them for what they do.

[Applause]

I'm going to introduce my colleagues along the way, so I won't acknowledge up front, I'll acknowledge when I introduce each one. Look, this is an extraordinary day for Harlem, it's an extraordinary day for Sugar Hill. Sugar Hill is – those two words are part of our heart and soul as New Yorkers, they capture the imagination, they mean a lot. They evoke the Harlem Renaissance, they evoke incredible figures like Langston Hughes, and W.E.B. DuBois, and Zora Neale Hurston. They speak to this community as a powerful cultural center, not just for New York City, but for the entire nation. And they talk – also, by definition, these words signify a new strength, a rebirth, a new direction, an ever-more exciting set of possibilities for this community, as a pivot of New York City. And this development we're in, this building is, in a sense, an epitome of so many of the things that we believe in and want to do. If you think about our efforts to create affordable housing, and to create affordable housing that reaches across the income spectrum in terms of the needs of people, including some of our lowest-income New Yorkers. This is something Vicki Been is leading the way on – our plan to create 200,000 units. Let's look at these numbers: 124 affordable units for low-income families, 25 set aside for formerly homeless individuals, affordable units even for folks at the lowest-income level. A family of five making $28,000 dollars – $28,000 – can live in a three-bedroom here for a little over $500 a month. That's extraordinary.

[Applause]

And this was done on a brownfield site that had been given up on. It's an example of rejuvenation, renewal, entrepreneurship, community involvement, community leadership. We get the affordable housing; we also get this extraordinary early childhood center, which is going to be a part of our pre-k plan, starting this September. So, the vision here was so comprehensive in terms of the needs of the community, because the community was involved in the planning process, something we believed in thoroughly. We're going to have an early childhood center, serving as many as 120 children, three pre-k classrooms, 54 pre-k seats – starting this September, already approved as part of our pre-k plan. 

The building's beautiful; the building does so many things. You're going to hear from David Adjaye in a moment, the architect who did an extraordinary job, and really thoughtfully thought about how the building serves the whole community. It also – this excites me, I know Tom Finkelpearl feels this too – 17,000 square foot Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art and Storytelling. I love that.

[Applause]

Now, I will say, I come from a family of storytellers. If you know your Italian history, people who from the area of Naples are known as the storytellers of Italy, and I use my hands a lot, as you might have noticed. The storytelling tradition is part of what makes New York City so extraordinary. We are a city of storytellers. But we haven't celebrated it in quite the way that it will be done here. This, to me, is an extraordinary moment to deepen our understanding of who we are as New Yorkers, and have a museum which focuses not just on art, but on storytelling, and teaches our children about this extraordinary oral tradition that is at the core of who we are. So this is an amazing, amazing moment. I want to give you a quote that really identifies why this is such a success, why it became so inclusive of the needs of the community. Jane Jacobs, one of the great urbanists of all time, said, "Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, but only when they are created by everyone." Here, you had Broadway Housing Communities, involving all of the people of the community who cared to participate, to think about what would really work. It's no surprise that you get affordable housing, pre-k center, and a cultural space – because the community said, that's what the community needs. And this is an example of where we need to go in this city. 

So, this is a great, great day for New York City. And now I'd like to introduce my partner in city government, the woman who makes so much of what we do work – if I can get the step to come out. Come on, step. Just one second please. Okay, I want to say to my team, we need to oil the step. We are having a step malfunction. Now it's out. Thank you very much, Robert Jackson, for stepping up to the step. And now, the Speaker of the New York City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito.

[Applause]

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito: Good morning, buenos dias. It’s really quite an awesome day here today. I see so many people, not only that are press, but community residents – those that have been true partners with this wonderful institution, to help get us to this day. I want to recognize my colleague Ydanis Rodriguez, and I know our former council member Robert Jackson, who was instrumental in the counseling. He was one of the main promoters of this project, always coming knocking on our doors asking for capital support – but the council as a whole, and partnership as well, is really proud that we have been able to contribute to this moment in time. So, I really want to thank everyone for joining us here to celebrate in our city’s commitment to making this city affordable for all New Yorkers. Today we’re onsite on the soon to be completed Sugar Hill Apartments. Thanks to the hard work and commitment to progressive values exhibited by Broadway Housing Community under the leadership of Ellen Baxter, and all the partner’s that aren’t here today.

In a difficult economy, more and more New Yorkers are being priced out of their longtime homes and neighborhoods. We all know that a safe place to call home is the bedrock for building opportunity and getting ahead. But for too many middle class and working families, this basic assurance of housing security is under constant and growing threat. So that’s why as a city, we have committed to preserving and creating more opportunities for quality affordable and supportive housing for all New Yorkers, and the Sugar Hill Apartments we’re announcing today represent a huge step forward towards that goal. And it really is – kind of epitomizes what we really look forward to seeing happen moving forward as a progressive city – and as a city that is really inclusive of all. So this is really an incredible moment.

The Sugar Hill Apartments, as we’ve heard, bring together core institutions, proven to hold the keys to greater opportunity and success: housing, education, and cultural development.  The Sugar Hill Apartments will provide 124 families with a place to call home. Including 25 units set aside for homeless New Yorkers, which is again, we’re seeing those numbers rise over all the population unfortunately, but also the growth of homelessness among our vets, and that’s just not acceptable. Every apartment in the Sugar Hill development will remain permanently affordable – critically important – so these apartments can contribute long term to a diverse and vibrant community.

And as we heard about the museum, preschool, which is an integral and very exciting part of this project, which we will ensure that 100 young children will have access to a quality early childhood education – including, three pre-kindergarten classrooms serving fifty-four four-year-olds. So, that’s a great part of the division that our mayor has laid out and really exciting. These classrooms will jumpstart an early appreciation for learning in all its forms for our youngest New Yorkers.

And lastly, the cornerstone of the Sugar Hill development, the children’s museum of art and storytelling. In a city that thrives as a hub for innovation and art, it’s essential that our children experience the full cultural fabric that makes New York so exceptional. And the unique museum in a school program structure of Sugar Hill preschool, will allow them to do just that. So I want to thank everyone who made this project possible: Broadway Housing Community, Mayor Bill de Blasio, HPD, the City Council, all the community partners and local elected officials. Today is a great day for Sugar Hill, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the families move in later this summer. So, thank you all very much.

[Applause]

Mayor: Another crucial partner in all we do in the city government, my friend, Comptroller Scott Stringer.

[Comptroller Scott Stringer speaks]

Mayor: We appreciate anyone who helps to make these kind of projects happen. We especially appreciate when someone helps us get federal dollars, which are more scarce than they should be for affordable housing, not just in New York City, but all over the country, a bigger issue we have to confront going forward. We want to thank Congressman Rangel for helping to get resources to this project, and welcome him to speak.

[Congressman Charles Rangel speaks]

Mayor: Thank you very much, Congressman. I want to now welcome a man who deserves so much credit for the design that is so exciting. And he hails from Ghana, and my wife and I have a particular affection for his home nation, having visited several times, and we know there are so many wonderful things happening in Ghana. I'm glad one of those wonderful things happened here, and you've come to join us – David Adjaye.

[David Adjaye speaks]

Mayor: I think given your talent and your brevity, you should get more projects from New York City to work on. Now, a good friend who has fought very hard for affordable housing, the Borough President of Manhattan, Gale Brewer.

[Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer speaks]

Mayor: And I'll be a broken record, always, on the question of affordable housing – we need help from the State of New York, always going to push for more resources so we can house our people – someone who's been fighting for us in Albany, not a fun and easy place to fight in, but has been fighting for us – is State Senator Adriano Espaillat.

[State Senator Adriano Espaillat speaks]

Mayor: Okay. I want to bring up a couple more of my elected colleagues. Before we open up we will do on-topic questions first, and then we'll do off-topic after. But next let me first acknowledge – I failed to acknowledge earlier – there's many great professionals who have contributed to the vital elements of this project. The architect Saky Yakas has played a crucial role. I want to thank him for his efforts. Let's give him a round of applause.

[Applause]

Now, a guy I have worked with since I first had the honor of being involved in New York City government. He will not need the step. Assembly member Herman "Denny" Farrell.

[Assembly Member Herman Farrell speaks]

Mayor: In the City Council, we have many great members, and one who's been a particularly fierce advocate for affordable housing, a particularly strong supporter of our affordable housing plan, Council member Ydanis Rodriguez.

[Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez speaks]

Mayor: Finally, a man who I had the honor of serving with in the City Council, and I know he had his heart and soul in this project, and I bet it feels like the end of a long, good journey, Robert. So we welcome former Council Member Robert Jackson.

[Former Council Member Robert Jackson speaks]

Mayor: We have had an unusually long program, we’re about to go first to on topic questions then to off topic questions. I know a number of my colleagues have very tight schedules and places they have to be, so anyone that has to leave at this moment, this is a good time. We understand your schedules. Let’s go now to our friends in the media for on topic questions on this development and all the pieces of it first. Anything about – and Vicki and Ellen, I may call upon to help me if I don’t know the answers. So media questions on topic. On – yes? On affordable housing, pre-K, cultural, yes? Right there.

Question: How did you make the housing permanently affordable here?

Mayor: Okay, Vicki – Vicki and Ellen – come forward. Wait, back – there we go. How do we make it permanently affordable?

Commissioner Been: So that’s really a tribute to Ellen and her team, but it’s a move that we’re very much hoping to go to in a wider range of developments. But the way that the financing is structured, between tax credits and as we’ve heard, $3 million in the City Council, money from HOME, our HOME dollars from HPD – from the federal HOME dollars. So it all came together to allow us to – and because of Ellen’s incredible non-profit mission – it allowed us to set them aside as permanently affordable.

Mayor: Okay, media – yes? You’re in the non-media area, you’re confusing me brother. Okay.

Question: So [inaudible] being described as [inaudible] to apply the funding [inaudible] tens of thousands of affordable housing units, this is just [inaudible] different places to pay for this [inaudible]

Mayor: I’ll start and Vicki feel free to jump in. Look, this – the whole concept of 200,000 units over ten years is based on using a wide variety of tools. If you look at the plan that we published on May 1 – or around May 1 – it involves some pieces that federal support’s crucial, state support is crucial, some that’s based on rezonings, some that’s based on non-profits, a whole range of pieces. We said very clearly in that proposal, permanent affordability is the goal. That will not always be the case, a lot of affordable housing is built – for example, typically 30-year time frame – and we need a lot of that right now. But where we can get permanent, whether the specific financing is available and the specific partnership is available to get permanent, it’s obviously our preference. But I think the way to think about the affordable housing plan is it’s a lot of individual transactions that add up – if we do enough of them fast enough – add up to the 200,000 units either built or preserved. Anything to add? Good. Okay, yes?

Question: [inaudible] on your affordable housing plan scheduled for June 12 from the City Council [inaudible]. Can you comment on that and do you know if there is a complaint for the hearing?

Mayor: I don’t know the specifics of the council scheduling process. Obviously, we look forward – we’ve already had a lot of dialogue with councilmembers about the plan – and we’re very happy to participate in a hearing whenever they deem it appropriate.

Question: [inaudible] some work in [inaudible], has that not been completed [inaudible]? 

Mayor: Again, I don’t tend to get involved in the intricacies of the council’s scheduling process, but I think whenever they feel ready and whenever they’ve agreed with our folks it’s time to make the presentation and answer the questions, we’ll be ready. On topic , on topic, media back there? Okay.

Question: How does architecture and design play a larger role in your housing plan?

Mayor: Well I think a couple of points. I mean clearly, we want the buildings that are created to be beautiful and obviously contextually appropriate to their neighborhoods. There’s a lot that we care about aesthetically. And Vicki will be a part of that thinking, Carl Weisbrod as our city planning Chair and the whole City Planning Commission. Sometimes we’ll ask Tom Finkelpearl for advice – aesthetic, great man Tom Finkelpearl. But you know I think the design question really is about, to me, the functionality – meaning, what we can achieve in a site. What I love that these architects did is they thought about what the community – not just the narrow question of affordable housing, but how to do even more – how to get the pre-K in, how to get the cultural space in, and really maximize. This is – you know, when you have a chance to build something from scratch like this, you should try to do the most with the most lasting impact. So I think we are looking in many cases – affordable housing is our first love, everyone knows it – but there’s going to be places where a pre-K center or a school or obviously some public space, or a cultural amenity can also be included and that’s ideal when we can double up like that. On topic, yes?

Question: The affordable units that were started under the prior administration that are coming online now, just for those I guess keeping score at home, are you counting those toward your initiative? Because I know some of them were actually counted by former administrations.

Mayor: The former administration, I think – and you know I’ve said that their plan was very substantial, and I think it achieved a lot for the city. I have some differences with the way it was constructed, and we have made changed that we believe in, like the income mix and other factors. And we’re doing more larger units for larger families, etcetera. But I think the bottom line is, our view is, where we have added value, we’re going to count it toward our number. And basically, if you look – I’ve been educated by Vicki and by Alicia Glen – none of these things are done until they’re done, so I don’t think they actually counted units that were not fully complete. I think they were pretty consistent about that. They may have projected, but I don’t think they counted completed units unless they were. We received a lot of stuff in motion, but a lot of work had to be done to bring it to fruition, and that’s why we count it in our number.

Question: [inaudible] multiuse, between the housing and the school and the museum. Is that a standard for your plan going forward? 

Mayor: Every site is different, again, Vicki will jump in any time to add and don’t be shy. Every site is different, so we’re going to look for every appropriate – you know, in some cases it is, in some cases a site would only be housing, but Vicki can speak to that.

Commissioner Been: Yeah, I mean we’re very much looking to bring to the community what the community needs and to work with the community to see what it is that it needs. So in some neighborhoods that will mean mixed use, in some neighborhoods that will mean job creation opportunities, in some neighborhoods it’s retail, in some neighborhoods it’s cultural. It really depends upon the neighborhood, and I think one of the real tenants of the mayor’s plan is that we’re going to be working with the neighborhoods to provide housing that not just provides units but helps to develop a more thriving neighborhood.

Mayor: Okay on topic, last call on topic, on topic. Going once – we got one. Go. 

Question: Can you discuss what, specifically, your administration added to this project? It was already under construction when you [inaudible]?

Mayor: Vicki, come on over and tell them what it takes to – over the last five months, what we've been doing with this project.

Commissioner Been: So, for example, we are still working to close the documents and everything on the last $3 million dollar piece. It's – and that's been, actually, quite a feat, because we have to show – for projects like this, where there's multiple uses, it gets to be – the financing gets to be extremely complicated. And so, for example, our finance teams are working very hard with Ellen and her teams, to put those last financing pieces into place.

Mayor: In other words, nothing is free in this life. I think I saw one other hand. Did I see another hand on topic? Okay, going once. Going twice. We're off-topic. 

Question: Friday there was a debate between Congressman Rangel, the reverend, and the state senator, and the congressman turned some heads by saying that the only thing the state senator had done was being born Dominican. I was wondering, there's been some criticism of that comment, and if you share any kind of concern that it's racially [inaudible]?

Mayor: I did not see the debate, and I haven't seen the whole tape, and I want to be very careful that I would not comment on something unless I fully understood what was said. That being said, I have certainly held as a standard here, that for all the candidates, to talk about the issues, talk about the substance, and, you know, there's no place in this discussion for questions of race or nationality. This is a crucially important congressional district in this city. The decision should be made by the voters on the basis of substance. I certainly have heard from Congressman Rangel, that he is very mindful of being cautious with word choice going forward, and I respect that. But I would say to all the candidates involved – let's get back to the issues. I don't think the people will smile on any discussion of anything but the issues.

Question: There's a bill in Albany that would increase disability pensions for police officers who are hurt in the line of duty who in a separate tier [inaudible]. And I was wondering if you support that, the PBA is asking the City Council to support it when the session ends.

Mayor: I have not seen the bill. So, again, we'll get you an answer, but I have not seen the bill, so I can't comment.

Question: Yesterday was the first time that the National Puerto Rican Parade was held under a new leadership –

Mayor: Yes.

Question: – and, you know, after a string of controversies, what is your assessment of the way it was performed yesterday?

Mayor: I thought it was amazing. I had – I've been to a lot of Puerto Rican Day Parades. This was a beautiful day in every way. I thought it was very well organized. I thought the energy in the crowd was fantastic, so I give everyone who was part of bringing together a new leadership and a new approach credit. Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was deeply involved. I think she did an extraordinary job. They only had a few months to get this right. And you can see, by the final product, really a rebirth of the parade, and I thought it was really as good as it could possibly have been. Let's go to someone who hasn't gone yet. Rich.

Question: Mr. Mayor, after two and half, three years, and about [inaudible] fifty million dollars, City Hall being fixed up – now, staff [inaudible]. Can you tell us what's going on there? Did the first job not work? Or is there additional work to be done?

Mayor: Rich, as soon as I understand what the heck is going on, you will be the first to know. I have not gotten into the intricacies of why the scaffolding is up. Obviously, none of us love it, but it's work that's being done on a very old building that needs serious work. But I would be happy – I'm turning to the estimable Phil Walzak – I would be happy to get both you and I a clear and specific explanation of what is happening with that scaffolding. Someone told me it was like modern art. You know, it's – it's kind of one of those Bloomberg installations, and it just was done late.

[Laughter]

Question: [inaudible]

Mayor: Louder?

Question: [inaudible] congressional district races. Do you plan to endorse any of the candidates in the race?

Mayor: No. 

Question: [inaudible] the healthcare agreement, ratified by the MLC, the cost-savings – it was approved by the MLC last month, again it was ratified by the UFT a week ago, but your office has thus far refused to make it public. Is there any particular reason why you can't share the language of the agreement publicly? 

Mayor: From the best of my understanding, we've described it in great detail, and I think it has been published on other sites. So, I'll find out because I'm not an expert in the intricacies of legalities when it comes to labor relations. I'll find out, and Phil will follow up, on what we are legally allowed to – to publish. But I think, the details have gone out publicly in different ways. 

Question: Mr. Mayor, why have you decided not to endorse in that race, and does that suggest to New Yorkers that you're unsure whether or not the congressman deserves reelection. 

Mayor: I know the three leading candidates very well. I've worked with all of them. And I think there's times, especially in the context of a Democratic primary, where you say, it's not particularly an appropriate place to get involved, for a variety of reasons. So, I had to make a baseline decision, did I think I should be involved – I came to the conclusion I should not be. And we'll obviously know in two weeks who the Democratic nominee is, and at that time, I'll support the Democratic nominee. Okay. Thank you everyone.