Candidate Name: Grace Lee

Office Campaigning for: NYS Senate 27

HAVE YOU EVER VISITED ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN?

Yes

ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN HAS NOW OFFICIALLY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION. UNDER THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE, LAND FORMALLY DEDICATED AS PARKLAND CANNOT BE SOLD, LEASED, OR USED FOR NON-PARK PURPOSES WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE AUTHORIZATION. IF ELECTED, WOULD YOU VOTE TO REMOVE ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN AS PARKLAND IF THAT VOTE TOOK PLACE?

No

Please Explain your answer to the question above

No, I would not vote to remove parkland protections from Elizabeth Street Garden. I believe it is critical that this community has state electeds strongly in support of preserving Elizabeth Street Garden as parkland and who have the credibility and leadership to protect it if legislation ever challenged the Garden. I have long supported the garden and have publicly expressed my support to fight any potential parkland alienation legislation in Albany. Green space is essential to the health and well-being of our neighborhoods. It provides clean air, space for recreation, and serves as an important gathering place for community connection, expression, and reflection. In Lower Manhattan, where access to green space is limited, it is especially important that we preserve and maintain the spaces we have. Every community deserves access to safe, well-maintained public green space, and I will continue to support policies that protect and expand these resources.

THE PLAN THAT SAVES ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN WILL DELIVER 10X THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS. IN ADDITION TO FAR MORE UNITS, THE ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN ENSURES THAT THE AFFORDABILITY WILL BE PERMANENT, UNLIKE THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD'VE DESTROYED THE GARDEN. DO YOU PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PLAN?

Yes

Please Explain your answer to the question above

Yes, I support this plan. It offers a path forward that both preserves an important green space and delivers much-needed affordable housing. We should not accept a false choice between protecting public open space and building housing. New York needs both, and we must pursue solutions that advance them together. This plan demonstrates that it is possible to expand permanently affordable housing while maintaining critical community resources like Elizabeth Street Garden. More broadly, I believe new development should be paired with investments in public green space to promote greater equity and quality of life. We must also hold developers accountable for commitments to public access and ensure that promised community benefits are fully realized.

IF ELECTED, DO YOU PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN REMAINS PRESERVED IN PERPETUITY AND CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED BY ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN, INC.?*

Yes