Candidate Name: Lilah Mejia

Office Campaigning for: NYS Assembly 65

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 wouldn’t support removing Elizabeth Street Garden as parkland. We don’t have a lot of green space in our community, and spaces like that matter for our seniors, for families, for people’s mental health. I understand we need affordable housing, but I don’t think it should come at the cost of losing spaces that bring our community together. We should be figuring out how to do both.

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 the plan. If we can protect the garden and also create even more affordable housing with permanent affordability, that’s the kind of solution we should be fighting for. We shouldn’t have to choose between green space and housing, especially when there are options that give us both. For me, it’s about doing what actually benefits the community long-term.

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