Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie on Tuesday announced his official entrance into the New York City mayoral race with a pro-housing agenda that looks to preserve and build one million homes.
The state senator, who represents parts of Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Windsor Terrace, released a housing plan titled Rebuild NYC: A Mandate for One Million Homes, according to a press release.
Myrie's proposal includes ideas on rezonings, incentive programs, code reforms and direct tenant and homeowner protections.
“My wife and I want to put down roots in the neighborhood where we grew up — but it feels impossible to afford a home here," he said. "Every day I talk to New Yorkers who are facing the same struggle — and they’re told that they either need to win a housing lottery or come from rich parents to afford an apartment bigger than a shoe box. I’m running for Mayor of New York City because we need a vision as big as the challenges we face — and that starts with tackling our housing crisis."
Some highlights of Myrie's plan include:
- Invest in NYCHA by supporting its ongoing renovation work and building 95,000 mixed-income housing units to generate revenue that helps sustain NYCHA for generations to come.
- Build up to 85,000 new mixed-income housing units in Midtown Manhattan by increasing allowable density on sites where residential towers are already allowed.
- Build up to 85,000 new mixed-income housing units through the creation of New Neighborhoods throughout New York City.
- Build up to 85,000 new mixed-income housing units in industrial areas that are sandwiched between residential neighborhoods.
- Reallocate funding being used to finance shelter construction to instead construct 50,000 new units of permanent housing for voucher holders.
- Create templates for the redevelopment of old public buildings as mixed-use properties with up to 50,000 new mixed-income housing units above public service facilities like schools and libraries.
- Financing and reforms to spur the creation of 50,000 new housing units in small buildings that are seven stories or less, with a focus on homeownership opportunities.
- Organic Growth of 200,000 new housing units that we conservatively assume will be built through organic growth absent any of the above.
- Preserve and protect up to 150,000 units at risk of becoming uninhabitable or whose residents are at risk of being displaced by advocating for or initiating programs that include but are not limited to: Various programs to incentivize maintenance and activate vacant units without unduly burdening renters; Direct renter protections like the passing of the Housing Access Voucher Program, fully funding Right to Counsel for renters facing eviction, and appointing Rent Guidelines Board Members that put renters first; Direct homeowner protections like the expansion of Right to Counsel to homeowners facing foreclosure or deed theft and increasing funding for the office of the Homeowner Advocate.
The Democrat is one of the many people running against Mayor Eric Adams in the June primary. Candidates include City Comptroller Brad Lander, New York State Representative Zohran Mamdani, State Senator Jessica Ramos, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer and lawyer Jim Walden.
