Well, first of all, 86 11/15/05 - HOUSING - RES. 050871 I just wanted to say thank you to you for letting me testify today and to also say that we greatly appreciate the support that your office, OHCD, RDA, the Commerce Department and other City agencies have provided to us throughout the years. And we just have a couple of months on what we would like to see in any reorganization of the City agencies. It's difficult to say much more right now, but hopefully we'll have more to say later. First of all, we think that it's very important to streamline the acquisition and disposition process of properties committed to CDC projects. All of the developers here realize that acquisition is key to development. And although the City should be committed for its role in authorizing acquisitions of thousands of properties through the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, the City would be well-served by streamlining this process so that those 87 11/15/05 - HOUSING - RES. 050871 vacant properties already designated for CDC projects move more quickly through the process. And we would also encourage the City to examine the programmatic -- well, in light of all the CDBG and Home cuts that we're facing at the federal level, it would just be important for the state to examine programmatic delivery so that more CDBG and Home dollars are brought into actual projects that are out there on the streets. So, again, I just wanted to say that through NTI and other initiatives, we have gotten a lot of properties and been able to transform over 82 vacant lots and properties into 114 units of housing for social service agencies and a community playground. We have lots of projects that have come up in the pipeline, and we just look forward to having those complete and moving forward. So thank you.
Thank 88 11/15/05 - HOUSING - RES. 050871 you very much. Are there any questions? (No response.)
Thank you very much. Is there anyone else here who would like to testify? The Chair notes that we did try to let individuals know and organizations know that the hearing would be continued until November 29th at 11:30. We thank those of you who are here, and, again, we ask Mr. Hanna and all others from the Administration to know that of all the issues we mentioned, we expect that you'll be able to respond when we come back on the 29th and also that you can also tell us that you're at least meeting with the union to try to work out these negotiations. Having said that, are there any other questions? (No response.)
Thank 89 11/15/05 - HOUSING - RES. 050871 you very much. This Committee will stand in recess until November 29th at 11:30 a.m. Thank you all for being here. Thank you, Committee. (Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless adjourned at 1:35 p.m.) - - - 90 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on November 15, 2005, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)