Remarks by Matt Weyer
42 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 2
“Okay. No, that's good to know. As much as we have issues, some people are asking us for help, so I appreciate that. Thank you, Chair.”
“um thank you chair um and maybe this is more of a direct to kwano question um because i think we all know we're in a housing crisis that predates this bfs's work i think we all know that city staff are underpaid and stretched and and so i guess my question to you today is like how what can we do in the immediate knowing the gravity of this reality our community is facing to make it easier for you to speed up the process. And I don't know if that's transferring funds, that's looking at more consultants. I mean, I can't speak for the other folks, but for me, I think it's really a matter of you…”
“No, I appreciate that. So right now the rules are with the committee, the review committee. So all the different departments.”
“Okay, is that BFS's corporation council or all the different departments also?”
“Okay, so I mean like right now are all their corporation councils collectively looking at it or is it just BFS's? Corporation Council has looked at it. Okay, so the only review once it gets out from you would be the department's looking at something?”
“Okay. And then the timeline on the rules then is up in the air or is there a specific general timeline? amount of time.”
“Yeah. Specifically because the rules may affect state interests.”
“Okay. So there's not a possibility to do it in and steps and then like apply it to projects as they?”
“Okay. Do you think they'd be okay with that? Are we going to...”
“Yeah, because I'm not trying to upset them, but I'm just kind of curious. I think all of our mind is on how do we multitask, and not that you're not up to it, but how do we provide that support? Because I know you already have a contract out. We have contracts for appraisals and tax consultants, right? Or do we?”
“So the master agreement appraisers maybe aren't qualified to do this type of work?”
“Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to check with Director Cuomo again on the... these particular bonds, or CFD bonds, the type of bonds, does that still trigger prevailing wage?”
“Yeah, is that something that'd be better for us to do an RLS for or would it be easy just to have CORE shoot over like an update or an opinion on that?”
“We can do that. Since I know we're talking about staffing needs.”
“the need for housing and then also the opportunity for good paying jobs. I think we know the severity. I know you fully know the severity of the crisis we're in, because then it also directly impacts revenue too. And honestly, I think we all know that a good job is the biggest safety net. I mean, that's what allows people to afford housing and healthcare and transportation and food and keeping them from falling below the line. And so, more reason just to kind of talk through how do we speed up the process. And I'm open to both, right? Like if it's how do we speed up the process for EVLA 2,…”
“No, I do hope, in seriousness, I do hope that the city administration takes a position.”
“Yeah. Okay. I'll end with that. Appreciate you being here. Appreciate the discussion. And I definitely want to continue the dialogue in terms of how we can expedite the process. So thank you, Chair.”