East New York Residents Voice Concerns Over Rising Rent As City Plans More Development
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- East New York is often called one of the last neighborhoods in Brooklyn where housing is still affordable, but many there think the city's plan to allow more development will drive them out of their homes.
As WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported, the capacity crowd in Borough Hall's old courtroom during a City Planning Commission hearing Wednesday was scattered with flyers that read "don't displace me."
"All of those of you who are holding up the signs, we do not want to displace anybody," said the city's Housing Commissioner Vicki Been.
Been said rent is already rising as people priced out of other neighborhoods in Brooklyn move into East New York. The idea is to increase the supply of affordable apartments.
"We will take the pressure off those rents," said Been said.
But Blanche Louise Peltonbusch, who has lived in the neighborhood for 36 years, said she isn't buying it.
"When my rent gets higher, I'm going to move in with one of the commissioners or somebody. I'm going to move in their house," she said.
Local activists are demanding a bigger affordable housing commitment from the city.