Election Day is Tuesday. Six city and state proposals are on the back of the ballot, and four of them \u2014 Proposals 2, 3, 4 and, to a lesser extent, 5 \u2014 will have a big impact on the city\u2019s process for building new housing units.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Proponents, like Brooklyn\u2019s Fifth Avenue Committee, say voting \u201cyes\u201d on these proposals will reduce red tape and make it \u201cfaster, fairer and easier\u201d to deliver both market-rate and affordable housing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Opponents, including Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon \u2014 who represents areas including Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights and parts of Park Slope \u2014 say these changes to the City Charter, especially Proposal 4, are undemocratic and will eliminate the role of City Council members and local communities in the land-use process by shifting power to the mayor and developers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
To help voters make a decision, here are op-eds presenting both sides of the argument from Michelle de la Uz, executive director of Fifth Avenue Committee, and Assemblymember Simon.<\/p>\n
Simon also gives recommendations on Proposals 1 and 6, which are not as closely related to real estate.<\/p>\n