Opinion: For a Healthier City, New York Must Pass the Community Land Act
City & State
By: Mychal Johnson & Annie Carford
After the abject failure of the state to pass any meaningful housing legislation despite a historic housing crisis and record homelessness, the Rent Guidelines Board, under the direction of Mayor Eric Adams, added insult to injury by voting in favor of a 3% rent hike on over one million rent-stabilized tenants. This comes just two weeks after the climate crisis showed up at New York City’s door, with dense smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketing the city in toxic air. Emergency room visits for asthma skyrocketed, disproportionately in Black neighborhoods. New Yorkers are in desperate need of meaningful solutions to address housing affordability and environmental health disparities.
There is still time to act. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Speaker of the New York City Council Adrienne Adams have a chance to pass transformational legislation to improve the city’s environmental, health, and housing equity. Both have already indicated at least partial support for doing so.
