Now's Your Chance To Weigh In On 'City Of Yes', Upper Manhattan

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Mayor Eric Adams’ major zoning proposal, “City of Yes,” is moving forward, and will likely be voted on by the City Council before the end of the year –possibly even as soon as the end of November.

Do you want to learn more about the proposal and the various amendments being considered? Are you a supporter? Have concerns?

If you live in District 10, now’s your chance to learn more or make your voice heard: City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, who represents Inwood and Washington Heights, is hosting a community briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., at P.S. 48 Michael J. Buczek at 4360 Broadway near 187th Street.

“Right now she’s impartial,” a spokesperson told Patch. “She hasn’t come to a decision yet, she wants to do what’s best for the community. That’s the whole impetus for us having this meeting: we want our constituents to be part of the conversation.”

Although “90 percent” of De La Rosa’s constituent cases are housing related — from back rent and applying for housing to Section 8 and concerns related to the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) — her office hasn’t yet received a significant amount of feedback on Adams’ big proposal from everyday stakeholders (Community Boards being another matter).

De La Rosa is currently gathering information as she weighs how to vote. “She’s deferring to her community,” the spokesperson affirmed.

A controversial rezoning of Inwood was approved despite significant community opposition in 2018. More recently, across the river in the Bronx, an enormous rezoning plan that will “remake” a 46-block stretch of the Morris Park, Van Nest, and Parkchester neighborhoods was approved by City Council in August.

Adams has claimed that City of Yes could create more than 100,000 new homes over the next 15 years, easing the city’s housing crisis. Opponents disagree, and believe the proposal would primarily benefit developers at the expense of existing communities citywide.

What do you think about City of Yes? Email michael.mcdowell@patch.com.