Candidate Name: Benjamin Yes

Office Campaigning for: NYS Assembly 66

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

Elizabeth Street Garden provides a valuable service to a community lacking in green space. As a public park, that service is protected and is made accessible to all New Yorkers.

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

The plan to build 620 permanently affordable units on three different sites is a significant improvement over the previous plan which destroyed a unique green space in exchange for 123 just units. The new plan delivers more than 5x the originally proposed affordable housing, spreads those units across sites better suited for higher yield development, preserves permanent public open space in a neighborhood that lacks it, and locks in enforceable public access. This is the right model for Lower Manhattan: stop forcing communities to fight themselves over housing and green space on single lots when comprehensive planning can deliver both.

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