Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement after Industry City withdrew their rezoning application, which was before the City Council and has faced significant opposition from community and elected leaders.
"The Industry City rezoning was the wrong plan for the needs of the community and the wrong solution for the needs of the city. It was not a short term fix, and would have had long term consequences. The plan lacked adequate climate adaptation or mitigation and threatened to exacerbate issues of gentrification and loss of social cohesion. Its withdrawal is a recognition of those facts and the efforts of bold community voices and elected leaders.
"I urge Industry City and our city leaders to view this not as an obstacle to doing what the community does not want, but as an opportunity to do what the neighborhood needs - practical, community-driven development. We can have economic development and environmental protection, commercial progression and community preservation. But the renewed and reformed proposal must be developed by the community itself to ensure transparency while addressing the environmental, racial and economic impact. My office will continue to work with Council Member Menchaca, community members and all stakeholders to reach that goal.
"It's crucial that government and industry do things with communities, not to them, and by honestly listening to them and meaningfully collaborating, we can see the kind of growth we need without the harm to conservation and community we cannot afford."