Testimony of NYU Co-Faculty Director Vicki Been Before the New York City Charter Revision Commission

NYU Furman Center’s Co-Faculty Director and Former City of New York Deputy Mayor Professor Vicki Been testified on February 11 before the New York City Charter Revision Commission, presenting a data-driven framework for assessing reforms to the city’s land use process and its role in exacerbating the city’s housing shortage and affordable housing crisis. 

Using data, Professor Been illustrated how persistently high rent burdens, declining population due to net negative domestic migration, and an inadequate housing supply are evidence of New York City’s long-standing housing affordability challenges. To frame these issues within the commission’s purview, her testimony focused on outlining the obstacles to housing production that derive from the New York City Charter, including the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).