Governor Hochul's Plan to Destroy Single-Family Zoning
In her budget Governor Hochul is proposing drastic and aggressive changes in zoning that would eliminate single-family housing and destroy many neighborhoods. In addition, if you live near a subway stop or commuter rail station she wants a significant increase in apartments and density without any plan for increased infrastructure. In some areas the number of housing units would more than triple.
This can be stopped but we must act quickly since the budget deadline is April 1.
We have included here, a link to a letter in opposition from the Queens Civic Congress which details her proposals. We have also included a second link here, to an article explaining the growing community opposition to her plan.
We urge you to write to your New York State assembly member and senator to express your opposition.
To facilitate your outreach we've included links to email addresses for Kew Gardens' elected officials. Click each email address link below, a pre-composed sample letter will be there for each elected official, for you to simply sign and send, and feel free to edit ours or compose your own.
If you prefer to copy & paste the letter provided, you will find it at the end of this message as well. We suggest the subject line "In opposition to Gov. Hochul's housing plan".
Please send your emails as soon as possible today, otherwise certainly before March 20th.
Governor Hochul has included her housing proposals as part of her state budget, in the hope that it will pass as part of the budget. Your elected representatives can strip these provisions from the budget, but you must let them know as soon as possible before March 20th that you want it done.
The governor tried this same tactic last year but it was defeated in the legislature. It must be defeated again this year.
Dominick Pistone, President
Kew Gardens Civic Association
Click contact links to quickly send the pre-composed sample letter, via email (please remember to sign your name at the end of the email):
Senator Leroy Comrie
Senator Joseph Addabbo
Assemblyman Dan Rosenthal
Representative Andrew Hevesi
Assemblyman David Weprin
Or copy & paste the below sample letter:
Dear [Senator or Assembly member],
Thank you very much for all of the work that you do. I am a resident of Kew Gardens and a constituent of yours.
I'm writing to urge you to oppose the housing program that Governor Hochul has proposed in her budget, both in New York City and everywhere. This program will wreak havoc on our neighborhoods, including here in your constituency where there are many single-family homes and communities which make the neighborhood more attractive for all residents.
Very truly yours,
[Sign your name here]