PUBLIC HEARING on the Columbia University’s 197-C Plan

Community Board 9 - Manhattan

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PUBLIC HEARING
on the
Columbia University’s 197-C Plan

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Manhattanville Community Center
530 West 133rd Street
New York, New York

August 15, 2007
6:30 p.m.



Reported by: Judeen M. Denniston








A P P E A R A N C E S


JORDI REYES-MONTBLANC - CHAIRMAN, COMMUNITY BOARD 9

PATRICIA JONES - CO-CHAIR of ULURP COMMITTEE, CB9M

ULURP COMMITTEE CB9M

RESIDENTS and BUSINESS OWNERS
Of

MANHATTAN COMMUNITY DISTRICT 9

LEE BOLLINGER – PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA UNVERISITY









MANHATTAN COMMUNITY BOARD #9


1. Sign-in and Open House (6:30 p.m.)
2. Presentation (7:00 p.m.)
3. Welcome & Introductions
4. ULURP Committee Vote (11:30 p.m.)











MS. JONES:
We will now begin tonight public hearing. I assume if you want to speak I have a sheet in front of me with your names on it. Okay. Now, I will be calling names in groups of five, I am going to ask that those five peoples that I call, come here to my right, so we don't loose time for people getting to the microphone.

Each speaker will have three minutes, and only three minutes, and if you have your testimony in writing you can submit to us tonight.

I really don't know in the back of the room, what you don't understand about please be quiet and respect the people that are in this room tonight, who came out to voice their opinions. If you can't be an adult and have that kind of self-control, you probably don't need to be here tonight.
It is going to be hot and we're going to be here for several hours.
The first five speakers:
(Several names were called.)

Please state your name and spell your name we do have a transcriber here and please indicate whether or not you are resident or a property owner in the Community District 9.

MR. REYES-MONTBLANC:
My name is Jordi Reyes-Montblanc and I am a resident of this community.

I am the chairman of Community Board 9 and I am a resident of this community.

First I would like to express my thanks to all those attending this proceeding, not matter how rude they may be and for testifying tonight for and against the Columbia University 197C Plan.

Personally I welcome the expansion of the university into West Manhattanville. I believe that Columbia University can be a major benefit to out community and that out community will be a great resource for Columbia University.

Having said that, I will remind everyone that Columbia University has been a member of the WestSide Harlem community for over 100 years, for those who do not know, Morningside Heights is the southernmost neighborhood of West Harlem.
However, I must say that although I have great hopes for a close and fruitful partnership between Columbia University and West Harlem, there are many obstacles to overcome on both sides. The community must get over its suspicion and dread of the Colombia expansion and Columbia must overcome the feelings that they know better what is good for West Harlem and our people.

The use of eminent domain or even the threat of eminent domain Must be removed. Community Board 9 Manhattan stands firmly and unequivocally on that principle. We will support any owner of properties whot refuses to sell and stand with them against eminent domain use for the private benefit or another private entity.

Columbia's failure to meaningfully discuss and negotiate with CB9M regarding the land use issues that do not meet CB9M's 197-A Plan standards has been a lost opportunity to help develop the trust and partnership Columbia indicated was their objective.
The total lack of consideration for out 197-A Plan is a great strategic and tactical loss for the University.

I totally disapprove of the Columbia’s 197-C Plan. Unless Columbia revises its 197-C Plan to more closely conform with the goals and objectives of CB9M's 197-A Plan.

NORMA RAMOS:
My name is Norma Ramos. I'm a long standing environmental justice attorney and I am very familiar with the contribution that President Lee Bollinger has made for advance affirmative action. I supported him -- I am an beneficiary of that and I would like to be that Lee Bollinger show up for this community, the one who stood up for racial justice for this community, we need that Lee Bollinger here now.

In the past my comments have been focused on specific environmental and other social justice concerns that I have about the Columbia University expansion plan, but this evening my comments will address what I have seen to be the poor conflicted underlying failure on Columbia University part to work with our community in a respectful collaboration to achieve your goals. Over and over again the community has invited Columbia University to work in partnership with us. In good faith to design a plan that will address the university needs and out needs, however, in opposition to come to a rational reasoning, to respect for the richly diverse community, for the university inhabits and most of all out of respect tacitly failure of a social justice -- Columbia University has arrogantly rejected such a collaboration. You have recently financed consultants at the rate of $40,000 a month, which is the equitant of a year tuition paid to you by your student.

Intention to achieve what you have failed to do in these last few years and that is to appose your will on our community.
This is fail model, and you have caused even greater distrust and resentment in this community with your recent tactics.
What is striking to me is that you employee some wonderful faculty members.

MS. JONES:
Ms. Ramos, your time is up.

MS. RAMOS:
I think you should take some leadership from your staff and from this community, so that we could be talking about what we are doing with Columbia, instead of what Columbia University is doing to us. So, I turn you down. I support the 197A Plan.

Thank you.

MR. SOUTH:
My name is Walter South. I have lived here for many years. I am acting appointee of CB9 and I'm the co-chair of the housing and resident committee and I'm a co-chair of the 197A Committee. I hold a graduate degree in Sociology, graduate degree in urban planning and I have done graduate work -- preservation and I have done graduate work in Columbia University and Harvard University. I'm speaking as an individual, this application should be turned down.

MS. JONES:
Please hold your Applause.

MR. SOUTH:
The reason your application should be turned down is because of the use of eminent domain. Eminent domain is the taking of one person's private property and conveying it to another private property, and at present there are over 10,000 cases of eminent domain pending in this country, and the differences are always the same. The differences are the weak, the weak, and the small business owner and the losers are the minorities in our community and the victors are the same, the strong and the rich.
The winners are unjust. This practice is unmoral, unethical, it is unfair. Simply, blunt it is wrong.

An institution of higher learning of this country has a responsibility to provide this society with a moral compass. This application is a perfect example of the failure of this institution to its students. This application needs to be voted down.
In addition I have here a list of 100 other reason why you should vote this down.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MR. PALMER:
My name is Dennis Palmer. And I am the executive director of Madame Alexander Doll Company. Many of you might wonder who Madame Alexander is, of what they are or where they are. Well, we are located in the Baker building, 615 West, 131st Street.
We have been there since 1955 and we have been in that business since 1923, and what does that all mean for us here okay. When we first heard about this Columbia expansion, we and many other people were -- and we're thinking, oh, no Columbia is coming, but in the past few years Columbia has shown to be a very strong partner with us, and work with us through and ensuring our benefits for being in this area in the coming years.

We employed about 60 people many of which lived in this area and the Greater Harlem area. It is important that we support this project moving forward.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Loud booing responses.)

MR. PALMER:
Let's think about this project, we cannot stop this project, we don't want to stop this project, I support this project.

Thank you very much.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called.)

Please state your name and spell it and indicate whether or not you are a resident or property owner in Community District 9.
Thank you.

MR. WILLIAM:
I name is Mr. Levert William. Resident of the Harlem Community and yes were impact property owners.

(Whereupon, the speaker started to sing.)

Let me tell you why, statement from Mr. Williams by the founding president of a neighborhood artist Inc, Place To Lay Their Heads Development, located here at 601 West 132nd Street. Our mission, goals and objectives developing, providing, permanent housing and support services for homeless and immigrant families, including professional artists.

This project started about nineteen years ago --

MS. JONES:
Thank you Mr. Williams, your time is up.

THE AUDIENCE:
What is your position?

MR. WILLIAMS:
My position is -- Columbia we don't support the plan.

MR. EDWARDS:
My name is Walter Edwards and I am the chairman of the -- Okay, all right, thank you can you hear me now?

THE AUDIENCE:
Yes.

MR. EDWARDS:
All right, I will rather see something done, than nothing, which is the gateway to Harlem. I prefer to see something different than what we are seeing now. We have been here working for Mr. Bollinger and the rest of his staff trying to develop a relationship, where we all would have some equity on what's going on here.
This is not Community Board 9, this is Harlem and we must realize that.


THE AUDIENCE:
(Booing.)

MR. EDWARDS:
Okay, I will support this if you don't have --

MS. JONES:
Thank you Mr. Edwards, your time us up.

MR. EDWARDS:
Thank you.

MS. LUNA:
Good evening everybody my name is Maria Luna, I am a Democratic District Leader for the 30th District, that means that I am part of this community.

I reside at 838 -- I've been a district leader for -- since 1981. I worked very hard and I am very closely with Mayor Dinkins, I am very proud that he was our mayor and the disrespect that was shown to him tonight is ashamed of our community of color.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience.)

MS. LUNA:
You should be ashamed of yourself. You could boo all you want, but I support Columbia's plan.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience.)

MS. LUNA:
I know the institution has provided an important clarity of life

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience.)

MS. LUNA:
I know for a fact as a member of the institution the proposal research of --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience.)

MS. JONES:
Ladies and gentleman you are taking time away from the speaker and is taking time away from yourselves. Please keep your comments to yourself. I'm sure you don't want to be disrespect like this when you are up speaking.

MR. MARMOLEJO:
My name is Antonio Marmolejo and I am a security officer working at Columbia University. Columbia has tried hard to convince everyone that the number of jobs created by its expansion would benefit the West Harlem community, but I am concerned about the type of jobs Columbia currently offers the community.

I work for a contractor called Summit Security Services that the university uses in dormitories located off of its Morningside heights campus. I've worked at Columbia for eleven years and yet Summit pays me only $12.45 an hour. Many of my co-workers make even less, as little as $10.70. Is this the kind of work that Columbia is going to offer on its new campus? $12.45 an hour is not enough to make ends meat in New York City.

Now Columbia is saying hat its expansion will create thousands of new jobs, but that's not enough -- Columbia needs to commit to creating good jobs and stop doing business with irresponsible contractors like Summit Security.

Thank you.


MR. KAPPNER:
My name is Tom Kappner. I am here to say in the strongest possible term that we must send a message an overwhelming objection of Columbia's Plan.

THE AUDIENECE:
(Applauded.)

MR. KAPPNER:
There is absolutely no positive benefits whatsoever and -- economic development, economic growth, economic growth of the community, the most -- homogenous -- necessary to --- 6000 non-construction graph over the next thirty years. I do not support Columbia's Plan.

Thank you.


MR. CHAMBERS:
My name is Levine Chambers. I really appreciate the fact of being here. We have got over 150 people here tonight. I understand that if you want -- two thirds of my workers are people of color. I have got over a 1000 members who live in Harlem and about 150 people who lives in this district.

MS. JONES:
Please let the speaker speak without any interruptions.

MR. CHAMBERS:
I understand that you may not support this plan, but we need as many jobs as
possible –-

Thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made by the audience.)

MR. STAR:
My name is William Star. I am an Apostical priest and for 37 years I have been campus minister at Columbia University. I was at the gym site with students in 1968 and -- was organized out of my office, out of my campus ministry office and I have lived in this area since 1965, which makes me about eighty-nine.

I want to do some -- about the bathtub, because I don't think there is -- will protect any body for anything. Columbia's environmental impact statement ignores the dawning reality to -- the university has shown to disregard the advice of -- The denial on the part of the university, the -- protects their power to define reality for their version of it, but the little to very --

MS. JONES:
Thank you, your time is up.

MR. INNISS:
Good evening. My name is Darrell Inniss. I am a resident of Harlem. I am not a property owner --

MS. JONES:
Please, sir. Could you please state your state your name and spell it for our transcriber.

MR. INNISS:
Darrell Inniss, D-A-R-R-E-L-L I-N-N-I-S-S. I have been in the union for ten years. I have been around, you can trust me. Over the last ten years I have been in the union and it has changed my life because before I was in the union I was running the streets. You saw me on the corner selling drugs to your family, but I took an opportunity to change my life and do some things by working in the union. And now we have an opportunity for other brothers and sisters to come up and do the same thing I'm doing, support my family legally, honestly.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)
MR. INNISS:
You talk about the science I'm not smartest guy in the door, but one thing for sure I go to work every day. And I am able to support my family, because as long as I work and I could live in Harlem.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MR. INNISS:
And hopefully, you will take the opportunity to put your brothers and sisters in the same place so that they can have the same advances.

Thank you.


MR. NEGRON:
My name is Herman Negron, I live in Harlem for many years. I work with the Harlem youths. My concern is how affordable West Harlem would be when the university expands into our neighborhood. Even with a well-paying job I have been feeling the pressure of raising costs, lately on my family.
The jobs that Columbia University is offering you are not paid enough to afford to live here. My colleagues that work at Columbia Summit Security are having difficult times in 2007, the make as little as $10.70 an hour with minimum benefits. Our neighborhood that takes jobs like me at Columbia have a difficult time staying here in 2015, 2030 --

If Columbia wants to move into our neighborhood that hard working Harlem families created, it must demonstrate good job with descent wages.

Thank you.


MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MS. SCHUBINER:
My name is Lindsay Schubiner. I am a resident of Community District 9 and a recent graduate of -- College.
I oppose Columbia's 197C Plan because it will displaced at least 10,000 residents --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. SCHUBINER:
(Due the audience loud cheering, the reporter was unable to transcribe her speech.)

MS. JONES:
I'm sorry, we cannot hear the speaker for the record. So please be quiet.

MS. SCHUBINER:
Columbia's Plan will only displace business and a community of color all about New York. Since Columbia really does not care about the --

(Reporter was unable to transcribe speakers speech due to the audience loud cheers.)


MR. MCINTYRE:
My name is Lionel McIntyre. The Urban Technical Assistance Project is an urban extension program at Columbia University in the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. UTAP provides planning and design services to distressed communities, and I am its founding director. Over the past twelve years, UTAP has provided its services to the Greater Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood communities. This statement is presented in support of Columbia University's efforts --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made that the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
I'm sorry, we cannot hear the speaker, please be quiet.

MR. MCINTYRE:
-- to build an extension campus in the designated section of the Manhattanville community of West Harlem. It also supports the objective of a community/university partnership that can bring lasting benefits.

Generally, the physical expansion of institutions of higher learning today is driven by fundamental changes taking place in this society. These changes are the direct results of scientific invention and the transformation of economic behavior. This dynamic change in society and education was witnessed once since the Enlightment period --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made that the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MR. MCINTYRE:
-- to expand educational opportunities through land grant universities to advance the new techniques.

Today the digital revolution has been the same transformative impact on society -- a radical change in human behavior for example, how we do things and knowledge. So the building of additional educational and administrative spaces is a result of the irreversible trend and an obligation the university has to its students, its faculty, its communities and society in general --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made that the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MR. MCINTYRE:
-- the proposed sire for the expansion is one that UTAP is quite familiar with, we had operated out offices in the middle of it for ten years. We are well aware of its obsolescence and its under-utilization --

MS. JONES:
Sorry, sir, your time is up.

MS. MCKISSACK:
My name is Cheryl McKissack, M-C-K-I-S-S-A-C-K. Basically the oldest African-American owned construction company in the country.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made that the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. MCKISSACK:
We are part of the construction team that works with Columbia -- I am here as a personal reference to talk about the relationship or Columbia's relationship in the community with respect to construction.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made that the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. MCKISSACK:
-- in construction as you know is a well very much -- the only way getting an opportunity is when a client says this is what we want. Columbia has always had as a part of their construction division, the focus to include and diversify with the firms that they use. They have some of the highest goals with respect to construction as fair as employment, and as well as black people --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made that the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. MCKISSACK:
What this has done for a company like McKissack, it allows us to work with your community and make sure that are proper jobs available in construction. So, this project is a win-win --

Thank you very much.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, loud outbursts were made that the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

DR. GOLDMAN:
Good evening. I'm Dr. Lee Goldman -- to the many thousand physicians, nurses in the public health professional who practices with Columbia University.

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

DR. GOLDMAN:
These people come to Columbia for two reasons, one is their commitment to the community and their desire to be here. The second, is their commitment to advancing --

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
Ladies and gentlemen, you have to be quiet. We cannot hear the person speaking.

MR. SCHLEY:
Good evening everybody could you hear me?

THE AUDIENCE:
Yes.

MR. SCHLEY:
I am a union member. I have been the member for 31 years and I have a tee-shirt to prove it right here, okay. I understand that Columbia's Plan here is make every effort to prey on desperation of the black community, our community -00:49:06- against this plan.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MR. SCHLEY:
A community which has a unemployment rate of 50 percent, but I am also wearing another tee-shirt and that is a tee-shirt that says "Harlem Unites Against This Plan". The reason we unite against this plan, because we are against eminent domain, because we are against biotech labs in our community.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MR. SCHLEY:
-- the jobs that Columbia has given in the past, you have to think about what they are promising, you all have to look at their history. They promise 6,000 jobs --

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MR. SCHLEY:
Look at the number of jobs that they say -- 218 jobs for people above 125th Street and 127th. Do you think their intentions are that much different? Do you think we are going to really get those jobs that only good union people, desperate people out there who needs their job -- you have to remember that this is an eviction plan, this a plan --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)


MR. SCHLEY:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

Please support the 197A Plan, they don't have to build a bathtub, they can share this community, they don't have to make it all or nothing. But they are greedy. This institution only serves a very specific group of people in this country and the vast majority of people in Harlem will never be in that group, blacks, Hispanic, you will not be in that group. I am against this plan. Thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
Please, when you come up to the mic, please state your name an spell it for the transcribe.

MR. SCHMY:
My name is Craig Schmy. I am going to admit whether or not I am a resident, whether I am a home owner I think that is so important as to what's going on. Because after all we have to -- culture and the dynamic of Harlem.

However, I do want to say that the individuals that are representing Harlem, had done things for people of color and for people in the past. I'm very much aware. I'm very much aware of the impact that Mr. Bollinger had in his lawsuit for affirmative action, but I am also very much aware of the fact that the point is not we have done yesterday and not what we promise to do tomorrow, what we solidify between us here and now and what we're going to do together.

From what I see, and what I have understood the plans to be. The plan does not consider that it is taking from people something that they cannot make them whole again with, their property, their interest, their neighbors, their friends.

They also respond to produce more jobs by taking jobs. Now, I don't see where anything in the history where an institution such as this can cite they actually made good on the things that they say in the past.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MR. SCHMY:
However, I encourage the institution, I encourage the people to stay visual, to continue to communicate, to at this point vote down this offer and bring them back to the table of meaningful exchange of dialogue, care and consideration that he had for the people and that he was representing when he supported affirmative action, because they don't change. It's one of the same. The same individual applying for law school, are fighting for to keep their homes and their property.

So, as I close, I state to each and everyone of you. Calm yourself, be compose of your thinking, think through your thoughts and understand that in the name of all things, all the things that are peaceful, and are dear to folks, such as your property, friends and future, you will see at the stands, at the stands, that they are not making good to the individuals who are planning to take the property from. Make them do right, I know you can do right. Don't vote for the 197-C plan.

Thank you.

SPEAKER:
Good evening, I have three minutes to speak and I am going to apply one minute, because I would like everyone to here to take a minute to just think. So I am not going to speak for a minute, just think.

MS. JONES:
What's your name?

MR. HAYES:
Sorry, my name is Derrick Hayes. What I would like for you to do, is take a look around this room --

THE AUDIENCE:
Is this the Twelve Step Program?

MR. HAYES:
No, it is not the Twelve Step program. I would like for you

THE AUDIENCE:
Excuse me, you should up there saying whether you support or don't support Columbia's Plan.

MR. HAYES:
I have two minutes left. I would like for you to take a look around the room and ask yourself where are the youth?

THE AUDIENCE:
We are right here.

MR. HAYES:
We need more, just not two. We need more. So, in closing --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)


MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

REV. MANNING:
Peace everybody.

THE AUDIENCE:
Peace.

REV. MANNING:
It is good to be here. I am Rev. James David Manning, pastor of the Atlah World Missionary Church on 123rd Street and Lenox Avenue. Someone ask me a few moments ago if I was Bill -- I told them I wouldn't be Bill -- for Ten million dollars.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)


REV. MANNING:
I am here to express my great love for the people of this community, Harlem that God has called from his heart -- to raise my voice against the planned genocidal and surgical invasion of Columbia University and all their investors in this community.
However, I need to know I am here against my best judgment, because I'm convinced that Columbia University will spare no mercy, nor money in its efforts to steal this land and it's heritage from our people.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

REV. MANNING:
It is their money that prohibits them from acting merciful or neighborly. Politically, they have co-opted the morals and exploit fears of many leaders and vices that should be here tonight defending our community and the inheritance of our children.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

REV. MANNING:
The act of land grabbing throughout history is proceed only in age and decadence by the act of prostitution. It is accurately and historically reported that Columbia's forefathers first grabbed this land by offering some beads and mirrors to the unsuspecting indigenous and inherent land owners many years ago. Not much has changed, like father, like son.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

REV. MANNING:
Finally, I wish to announce that this invasion of Columbia along with the banks, big business and deep pocket entrepreneurs for the past ten years in this community will be met with most vigorous economic, political --

MS. JONES:
Thank you Rev. Manning.

REV. MANNING:
Spiritual defense since the intifata of Israel and the Palestinians -- We will no longer rollover and give this land to the rich --

MS. JONES:
Thank you Rev. Manning, your time is up.

REV. MANNING:
-- and privilege under the guise of progress while dining our children and propensity the right to happiness.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

REV. MANNING:
This land is our land and I will defend it to the death, so help me God.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MS. EISENBERG:
Hi, that is a hard act to follow. My name is Ruth Eisenberg. I am urging everyone to vote NO, on the Columbia's 197-C Plan.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MS. EISENBERG:
Columbia's plan propounds the environmental injustice already taking place in Manhattanville. Columbia says they need all seventeen acres of Manhattanville in order to build a two million square foot underground bathtub, seven stories deep, which will contain two natural gas -- power plant and the MTA bus terminal.

Its proposed bathtub will inquire ninety thousand truck loads of land removal in a community with a highest asthma rates in the nation. It will take all the land beneath city streets, require cutting off sewage and electricity in the process and close roads for years.

It plans does not acknowledge scientific fact. If this bathtub, like the World Trade Center will have no earth -- protected from hurricane and --

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

We know that, what one day of rain did the city last week. No city or state emergency management study has been on this plan and City Planning has deemed Columbia's DEIF complete.

And if the university -- can not be built, we will have permitted a land drought and allowed the force removal community residents, businesses and commercial --

In its flood -- Columbia wants to build level three biotech laboratories. These laboratories will be using organism such as Anthrax, Mad-cow Disease, West Nile virus, Sars, small pox and yellow fever.

Virtually all medical researches are done at level two. Columbia talk only about the medical and health research it will do, so why level three, because money from the national institute of -- is drying up and instead money is coming from the Department Defense for research in bio-defense.

MS. JONES:
Thank you, your time is up.

THE AUDIENCE.
No, keep going.
(Applauded.)

MS. EISENBERG:
Thank you.

MR. MALLTY:
My name is Fred Mallty. I lived for over 30 years in this neighborhood at 3657 Broadway. I'm a community activist for over 30 years. I am the president of the -- Tenants Association.

My main purpose it to continue -- against nonprofit landlords such as Columbia University, most nonprofit are rip off mechanism. Columbia University is the number three wealthiest landlord in New York. The -- real estate developers and all the landlords such as George -- owner of the _______ Group, Columbia Biotech -- you have in your possession engineering and harder economic study, why don't you go and set-up your biotech lab in rich neighborhoods

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe speaker's speech.)

MR. MALLTY:
Do not go north, go south of Broadway and

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the rest of the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

SPEAKER:
Good evening all, my name is Marta -- and I am very glad to be here this evening. I have come in front of you as an employee of Columbia University.

I was born in the Dominic Republic, a non-English speaking country. I immigrated here seventeen years ago. It was my goal to provide -- informing to the United States I faced limitation with respect to my communication to speak in English, however, I was not going to let that stop me. I was -- to find employment at Columbia, I join in 1995. I was responsible for helping to keep the university clean. I am very proud to be an employee of Columbia and I support --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the rest of the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
Ladies and gentleman, you are not being fair to the speakers who are speaking. Could you please control yourself.

MR. MAZZONI:
My name is Mario Mazzoni. I am a resident of this community I am glad that Mr. Bollinger is here today and if you are uncomfortable I am glad you are uncomfortable, because you are talking about our community, our home, our livelihood, our jobs

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MR. MAZZONI:
-- Columbia's Plan is an all -- , I would like to ask you questions and answer it from what I understand. When an institution wants to come into a neighborhood, but if only wants to come in and if every resident, every business owner, every worker is gone --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MR. MAZZONI:
-- to us, who live here what it indicates is if you do want to be a part of this community once we are gone from it. We know that Columbia wants to move in once we are moved out.
The final point I would like to make, no I am going to end this on a chant. If everybody can do this one for me, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, on Columbia's Plan we say No."

THE AUDIENCE:
"Hey, hey, ho, ho, on Columbia's Plan we say, No."
Hell no we wont go, Hell no we wont go, Hell no we wont go.

MS. JONES:
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a speaker who has the floor, please be quiet.

MS. LEVINE:
Good evening my name is Joan Levine, I live at 100 North South Street in Morningside Gardens. I have lived in this community for fifty years. As an acted member of the community I'm a co-chair of the Morningside, West Harlem Sanitation Coalition as well as chair of the Morningside Community Relations Committee.

I along and many others helped write parts of the community 197A Plan. This plan is the unanimous choice of this community and it should be adopted. I am troubled by Columbia's 197-C plan for a number of reasons and I will state just a few.

I am against the use of eminent domain and force displacement --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. LEVINE:
I feel that is dangerous and wrong for support for Columbia to have another level three biotech labs in our densely populated area.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. LEVINE:
They own property out of the city and that's where these labs belong. I object to the scales of proposed buildings in the 197-C plan there are too large and not contextual with the residents Manhattanville neighborhood. I'm troubled by Columbia's bulldozer approach that they will -- along with the buildings, the history of this very special 19th century town. And -- approach using the parameters and the restrictions of the 197-A will help this conflict between -- as well as for commercial manufacturing and retail business.

I am not a great fan of the expansion approach of NYU, but in this case they were example about our an urban community and urban university can exist side by side.

I vote no for the 197-C Plan and yes for the 197-A. Thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MR. LEVINE:
Hello my name is Norman Levine. I am a fifty years resident for this area.

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

I am against the 197-C and for the 197-A Plan that CB9M have worked on for many years.
Thank you.

MR. MALGA:
Good evening, my name is Boubacar Malga. I just want to share as a present employer what Columbia can do for you --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MR. MALGA:
-- Columbia's have me the opportunity to go --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MR. MALGA:
I support Columbia's Plan, I am standing here a graduate of Columbia University --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

SPEAKER:
I am a resident, home owner and a worker here in Harlem. I just want to bring you back realities and facts.

First of all, how many people here have displaced from their houses because -- how many commercial people have been displayed or relocated because of eminent domain? How many people present here today who spend billion of dollars of infrastructure buildings that are unsafe?

My brothers and sisters look at what's going on in Manhattanville now. How many of you want it stay the way it is? How many of you --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

SPEAKER:
Well, you can shout all you want, there is going to be change. Let me talk to the other side --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

SPEAKER:
Support 197-C, Support 197-C, Support 197-C. I Support 197-C.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MS. KENT:
Good evening, I will introduce myself as president of the Preservation landmark Committee on Board 9. Our Committee and the Board have landmarks new district -- and the residents of West Harlem to spend hard earned dollars keeping up the care of their historic property and they have answered, yes. This is a knowledgeable historical area.
Columbia has not given us enlightened or a respectful planning. Columbia presents a demolition plan, it launches a demolition plan into a well cared -- historic sector of historic New York and we cannot accept it and of course we will vote that 197-C Plan down --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

SPEAKER:
(Speaker had a deep accent and due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)


MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MR. TAIT:
My name is Eric V. Tait, Jr. I am a resident of Board 9, I am the vice president of the Harlem Preservation Foundation and I am still a practicing broadcast journalist and documenting, so I do know a little about the history of this community. I oppose the 197-C Plan.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MR. TERRELL:
My name is Julien Terrell. Hello everybody, I worked with the WE ACT I am a housing and health coordinator and a lifelong resident of West Harlem.

I did prepare a testimony to speak today, but I am going to answer to the last comment by the speaker about where the youths, I am here to state for the record, we are the youth of this community. There was a gentleman out there who said -- community and we are here to save this community and we are here say this is not going to happen with this 197-C Plan.

What we want for everybody to understand --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MR. TERRELL:
Since the university announces its expansion addition, landlords have increased harassment of residents in an oft-unhidden attempt to induce tenants to leave and make room for the unexpected high-income Columbia population. As part of their strategy to drive out low income tenants usually in rent stabilized units landlords have also neglected routine maintenance and ignored repair requests --

MS. JONES:
Thank you, sir.

MR. TERRELL:
My time is up. Vote no for the 197-C Plan.

MS. HAYES:
Good evening everybody my name is Susan Hayes. I am the president and CEO of -- a construction company. I am also the Board Chair of -- employment of woman. We have a organization that trains, place and advocates to get union jobs for --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
Ladies and gentlemen, you will have to calm down and be respectful to the speakers. We cannot hear what they are saying. We will be hear all night until we get through each and ever speaker.

SPEAKER:
I am going to ask everyone to be respectful for one minute. There are a lot of people here who wants to speak and we want to give everyone an opportunity to be heard, so it is really important that we really keep down the outbursts and allow the person speaking to speak. I noticed that this is a very emotional subject, but I going to ask you to please be respectful to the speaker. We are trying to get to everyone, so if everyone would be a little quieter, we will be able to move along quicker.

MS. DUKES:
Good evening my name is Hazel Dukes. I'm here to tonight to express the reason I support Columbia University Expansion --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. DUKES:
I recommend that -- (Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

SENATOR PERKINS:
Hello everyone, I am Senator Bill Perkins. I have the privilege or representing this neighborhood. I am going to be very brief. Two weeks ago I was here out here for a similar kind of meeting with respect to the 197-A Plan that was being sponsored by the community board and I indicated my support for that plan.
With respect to this plan be very clear, I do not support any plan that has eminent domain in it.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

SENATOR PERKINS:
It is very, very important that not only does the plan not have eminent domain in it, but it does not it does not include negotiations with the city to take homes from people in housing --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

SENATOR PERKINS:
-- without their involvement in those decisions and it is my understanding now that I have expressed it to Columbia -- that the negotiations going on with respect to those tenants, who wants to move them out because somebody wants their property and that's not right.
So, I will not be supporting this 197C Plan --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

SENATOR PERKINS:
We would like the state to recognize that this is not the role of the community, we would like the state to really think the report that found, that suggested that eminent domain, because based on a firm decision there seems to be a conflict of interest between Columbia and the same consultant who -- eminent domain report. So like I stated before, this is my position and I will continue to support my decision to another plan comes up that makes sense for the community.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

THE AUDIENCE:
Why don't you give our councilman a chance to speak?

MS. JONES:
I asked councilman if he would like to say a few words and he decline.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there was loud outbursts by the audience.)


MS. MESA:
My name is Milda Mesa. I am a resident of Harlem since 2001. I am a single mother with two kids, a Harvard lawyer, practicing environmental law since 1988. I am here to talk to you about environmental issue. Let me also tell you in the interest of full disclosure that I have been around sine 2001 and last year I was hired as a Director of Environmental -- Columbia University.


THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. PARKS:
Good evening everybody. My name is Ana Parks and I am with WE ACT Housing and Health outreach manager. I have lived in Harlem for the past twenty years and I have worked in this community to help out for twelve years.

In my discussion with West Harlem community members I have learned that the major concerns about the expansion proposal is that would add to the health problems that already effecting the community.

First, housing lead exposure is a leading cause of the lead poisoning in the West Harlem Community, the Federal, State and City health officials have all prioritized the prevention of this major public health threat. New York City is a pioneer in enacted the strongest anti-lead poisoning legislation of any other municipality --

(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
Excuse me, we are going to give her more time and I am going to call back somebody else, because we cannot hear. So we will just wait until you are ready to be quiet and let the person who is speaking get on the record. Thank you very much. That just mean we will not get to some of you and will be here until eleven o'clock.

MS. PARKS:
To add insult to injury, while the expansion is under construction, residents will not only have to endure the harassment from their landlord and the unhealthy pollution from noise and particular matter, they will face garbage and infestations of roaches and rats that will also be escaping the construction area.

The University claims it will bait for rodents around the area with "approved" chemical pesticides. However, baiting around the project areas insufficient to control pests that have so thrived in urban environments precisely because they are good at evading human barriers, even chemical pesticides.

However, the University needs to provide pest control services for residents whose pest burden will be increased by construction activity.
Columbia should not be allowed to go forward with its expansion.


SPEAKER:
(Due to the loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

MS. JONES:
People you need to be quiet and allow the speakers to get onto the record.

(Several names were called to speak.)

MR. GERETY:
Hello my name is Rowan Gerety, I would like to say that there has been a lot of problems this side tonight about the compromise about partnership and respect, but I don't think that any plans that says to go forward when the 3,500 people will all likely be displaced in the very near future is a plan that -- compromise I think that that is a plan --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)


MS. POWELL:
Good evening. Hi, my name is Stephanie Powell and I live in the Village of Harlem. We the people especially the senior citizen, we love our Harlem just the way it is. The old buildings, the afternoons and the streets are full of good and bad memories and for some of us that all we have left. If you are truly here to help and concerned for the people then please, please don't destroy and tear down the memories just help us to repair, fix, and renovate them. In doing this way the Village of Harlem and the mighty Columbia, yes we do recognize can all vote together.

We are asking you with all the strengths we have left to take our pleadings and concerns back to the men in black and ask them to please help us. The real people of Harlem to rebuild not tear down Harlem, if not then please leave our residential alone.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MR. FRISBY:
Good evening, my name is Shelton Frisby. I am here tonight, I'm with the Harlem Tenants Council, to strongly urge the Community Board 9 to vote no against Columbia's 197-C Plan, because it does not confirm with the 197-A Plan with the Community Board 9.
The community have many questions for Columbia. How formally are you that this expansion is about needing more space --

(Due the audience loud outbursts, the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech.)

Columbia needs to be sent back to the drawing board to come up with a 197-C Plan that is consistent with the 197-A Plan of Community Board 9 and the community resident. This plan has been unanimously adopted by the Board and the local residents and I stand here tonight with full support for this community.

Again, I strongly urge the members of the Community Board 9 to reject the Columbia's 197-C Plan because it does not perform to the community 197-A Plan.

Thank you.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MR. SHAW:
Good evening. My name is Theodore Shaw. I am the director counsel and president of the NAACP, but I speaking in my personal capacity. I have represented people who have challenged eminent domain as their lawyer, I know what it means to do that. In fact, I will tell that the use of eminent domain should be restricted to instances of which there can be a resolution of the dispute by some kind of agreement on the terms, of whatever conflicts is in play.
I really came here tonight to say something though as I sat that I want all to understanding. I know Lee Bollinger from Michigan. I went to the Supreme Court with him in the affirmative action case, that was yesterday and this is today I understand that, but when you talk about this in terms the institution racism, I understand the power of that because I represent black and brown people everyday. This is what I have to go through my career to do. But I have to tell you while me must disagree with Lee Bollinger --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)


MR. SHAW:
Sir, sir, my time. This is a good man. So here is what I suggest, there is a better way to resolve this.

One, there should not be any net loss of housing opportunity for people in Harlem. I started out in Harlem, I live in Harlem and with God willing I will end in Harlem.
There should not be a net loss of housing opportunity --

MS. JONES:
Thank you sir, your time is up.

MR. SHAW:
-- anybody who is displaced should be compensated --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)

MR. SHAW:
-- but there should be a negotiation about this that resolve this is a way where it's a win-win.

Thank you. Thank you for your time.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)

MS. PAIN
Good evening everyone. My name is Marlene Pain. I live at 3333 Broadway. I am a vice president of New -- Tenants Association. I am here today to speak to Columbia about the displacement. I live in 3333, we have 1,190 units, people are already been displaced because of Columbia, people are being displaced ever single day. Vote down Columbia's 197-C Plan, and vote for the 197-A Plan.

Thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. BAILEY:
Good evening. My name is Nellie Bailey. I am the director of the Harlem's Tenants Council. I'm here tonight to urge Community Board 9 to vote no at this Columbia University's 197-C proposal, because this is not confirmed with the 197-A Plan of Community Board 9. This plan was adopted unanimously by the Board with the full participation of the community. Columbia University’s Plan is the biggest land grabbing institution in Harlem --

(Whereupon, the speaker began to scream and there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)

MS. WEEKS:
Good evening. My name is Akwa Weeks and I am a Board Member of Harlem Tenants Council. We oppose to Columbia University's Plan. This plan will lose housing and I am also very concerned about the biotech aspect of their plan.

Everybody knows that there is a fork line at 125th Street, when that things go off we don't have to dealing with a bunch of biochemical’s hazards stuff coming out in addition to all the other problems that we're going have.

So I am against this. I do want to say that Donald Trump in his book, he says "that he will tell Bollinger that he is fired for the way he is handling this proposition. He says that Al Learner a close friend of his was on Columbia's Board for some time and he had a fantastic -- he thought Columbia should have occupied fifteen existing acres of unobstructed land from 69 to 62nd Street -- They would have brought part of Columbia's campus into the heart of Manhattan and made the campus more accessible to New Yorkers.

As it is now, Columbia is in a horrible location and thanks to Bollinger it will stay that way for ever. Columbia deserves the best location, not the worse. By the way Donald Trump owns the land that Columbia should be buying. This says that he open to you buying it and I think that you should revisit that plan.

Thank you.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)


MR. MERCER:
My name is Bryan Mercer and I am a student at Columbia University and I have a youth who would like to speaker.

SPEAKER:
Once again, I would like to say as a youth member in this community, we don't support your plan and we again do not support the plan to displace members of this community.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MR. MERCER:
The plan that Columbia has put forward to you is not economical to this community. It is the plan sets to display hundreds of jobs, thousands of residents and leave the West Harlem priers unusable to the community that created over twenty, twenty-five years of work.

Because of these impacts, I am against the seventeen acre land grab for a single private developers. I am against the rezoning of an additional seventeen acres surrounding the campus with usage that served the university needs above the community needs. Four years ago, I came to a school called Columbia University in the city of New York to live in the City of New York and its greatest neighborhood Harlem, not to be a part of making the City of New York more like Columbia.

Therefore, I am against the creation of a second middle class and white enclave in Harlem by Columbia.

MS. BRADLEY:
My name is Deborah Bradley, owner of Bradley Construction. We are a local construction contractor in this community. We've been here for 14 years, we started out very, very small and we currently -- on 231st Street in the proposed Manhattanville area.

So we too would likely be moved in a couple of years. But I am here in full support of Columbia University's 197-C Plan --


THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)

MS. BRADLEY:
Let me tell you why. I have been working with the University for over the past fourteen years. They were my first client and they will continue to be one of my best clients, but there has been a serious change going on in the last year or so. Ever since Manhattanville has been on the board to come about Columbia has actually reached out all the local business including mine and a lot of yours.

MS. JONES:
Excuse me, excuse me. She will be here until she finishes her statement. So, I suggest that you sit down and you calm down.

Thank you.

MS. BRADLEY:
Lastly, I would like to say I've needed more people to come work for us, because we work. So I reached out to the Harlem Community for people who needed work and guess what? And I got some great employees from Harlem.

Thank you. And thank you to the University for all your support.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MR. ANDERSON:
My name is Peter Anderson, you always have to tell information about yourself.
My point is, white people use to say on the campus, well my parents came to this country and they did so well. But they're trying to say why can't your people do it.

I didn't know the history of my people, I only knew my people from Bedsty and they were the greatest people I have met because I went from an all black Catholic school and they taught as well --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)

MR. ANDERSON:
-- you have the nerve to call Columbia an university, a university supposed to teach people and make them more human and understanding, okay --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)

Ms. DABBY:
My name is Laura Dabby. I am a graduate student of public health at Columbia and I do not support 197-C Plan.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Whereupon, there were loud outbursts by the audience that the reporter was unable to transcribe the speaker's speech accurately.)

Ms. DABBY:
-- I am against displacement, 5,000 people who wants to live and you think about each and every single person, each and every person is a vital part of the part of the community, if you knew that community, you are destroying the homes of the entire area, there are plenty of research that some of our best professor, have demonstrate that when the community is destroyed and how the beautiful -- not just the community but all around, it will be --
I just want you to think personally about what you are doing to this community.
I have a second question, I have notice that there are a lot of people from a drug rehab center who is in support of Columbia's plan. I'm curious who brought them here and how they forced them to be here. I find that morally wrong. I have been so frustrated in my life. Columbia you are taking advantage of the people tonight to show support for the Columbia's plan.
Once again, I do not support Columbia's plan.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MR. ADAMS:
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Michael Henry Adams and I live in Harlem and I am educated from Columbia University.

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

-- everything that I learned at Columbia University about how you should not have Robert Moses like plan that seems to be for some period, that destroyed everything -- We live in a very strange country with some very strange history. There are women who believes that they are paid, that they have a job they are making money, that is good for all women. There are black who believes if they are being paid, if they have some money that is good for all black people, but that's not true, that's not true.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)


MR. ARCOLEO:
I am Fred Arcoleo. I am a high school teacher and many of my students live in this neighborhood. And I was just imagining something off to the side here. I was imagining that Columbia University and the people that run this society will sit down and come to the people of Harlem and say, "Wow, we see the problems that you are dealing with, we see the high unemployment, we see the lack of healthcare, we see the high incidents of disease, we see the homelessness, we see the dirt that you were saying was poison. We see all these things and we would like to sit down and come up with a plan so we can meet your needs. I was kind of imagining that, but then I thought that's a bad dream, because that's not what happening here at all. And that's never what happens, they never come and ask us what we need, because they just care about what they need and Columbia University --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)


MR. ARCOLEO:
These are the people that run our society, these are the people that go to Columbia that are going to run the big corporations, these are the people that are going to the plan the next war. These are the people that are going to prepare the rules for what happens after 9/11, when they have another terrorist attack, they are going to plan the laws that are going to be put into place to protect the people that run the country and attack the people that lives in the country. Those are the people that goes to Columbia and those are the people that they train. We've heard some of that here tonight.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)


MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MR. WHITE:
My name is Jim White. I am the member of St. Mary's Apostical Church Manhattanville and the congregation for justice and peace. Tonight is in creditable inspiring, it is 100 times more obvious to me that ever we got to sharpen the struggles to fight back against Columbia.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

MR. WHITE:
Let's thank Mr. Bollinger's word for making us anger in doing that. Lee Bollinger, how dear you? You should realize the institutional racism is destroying the lives professional training and claiming that your training program, your institution is an answer to what the corporate structure that you represents is false. Shame on you Lee Bollinger, shame on Columbia.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

MS. ROSS:
My name is Dorothy Ross. I am the resident of West Harlem for twenty-four years and I am here to speak against Plan 197-C and I am opposed the use of eminent domain against any resident or business. It is wrong for one company to use that against another company that is an abuse of the legal process and eminent domain should be reserve for public need, not private greed.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

MS. ROSS:
I am also opposed to any construction of any bio saftey level three labs in Manhattan. A biotech level three is using microorganism that cause death or serious illness and are a airborne threat.
So according to the Center for Disease Control, it should not be place in any heavy populated or heavy traffic area.

Thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS ISSACS:
My name is Dr. Ella Isaacs and there are several people who came before me, Columbia is an institution of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS ISSACS:
If you look who their Board of Trustees are three quarters of them are officers in major bank corporation and they represent the arrogant and the racism about the institution where the carry on the policies of Columbia.

Columbia College and medical centers straddle a community with the highest poverty, unemployment, cancer, AIDS, and death rate of the New York City.
Now medical research is all well and good, but it doesn't very often trickle down to the people who are suffering from those health problems just the opposite.

Columbia interested in the residents of this community because they have provided subjects for their experimentation and drug money.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

DR. ISSACS:
Only a few years ago, Columbia carried out commission of experiments, where they were looking in the brains of six to ten year old African boys for chemical abnormalities that were supposed to explain the source of violence. Currently, they are taking millions in drug money to experiment -- looking for youngster in the community to experiment the dangerous -- drugs on children as young as three.

This is the kind of racism that Columbia is guilty of and when student have stood up to fight racism like they did in '68, like they did in '92, and like what they are doing recently to fight the --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

DR. ISSACS:
For this reason we must appose this plan until Columbia becomes an institution that serves the people, instead of exploiting the people, we shouldn't give them one foot.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. DOTY:
Good evening. My name is Cynthia Doty and I am with Morningside Heights West Harlem Sanitation Coalition and I am also Democratic District leader.
And I'm here in opposition to the Columbia's 197-C Plan, because it does not conform to the Community's 197-A Plan.
You know, I have been to a lot of meetings many of us now over the last few years and when we working on the 197-A Plan you didn't get this kind of tension and division, people came together and we had different opinions and different agendas, but we work together because the ultimate goal was a community. We were out for protecting, preserve, and enable the community to economically improve, to protect and improve the quality of life, to improve the environment. We all came out and work together. Whenever since the 197-C Plan has been introduce -- and I think that's the responsibility and the failure of the university.

The university is suppose to be a leaner in this City, and in the world and be able to bring people together and this 197-C in the process of going for have been destroying our community. It has divided and we have racism, we have economic injustice being discussed here and that's not what this should be about. I think that the university should be doing much more sum to the table and to work with the community.
If Columbia has taken eminent domain off the table, we have a lot more cooperation and a lot more good feeling and we want to be able to include more people and grow and this whole community could grow and I think this is a disgrace of this of the university.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MS. SIMMONS:
Good evening. I am Elizabeth Simmons, a Harlem resident, activist, tenants association et cetera, et cetera.
I'm here tonight because Columbia 197-C plan should not go through. Harlem right now has a high asthma rate. What new health hazards will be introduced having this lab and this power plant. It will be another biotech ready to explode.
Eminent domain needs to be done away with, because you don't pay them for the money that they put into. I should say inhabitants put into their houses, so eminent domain needs to be done away with New York State.

Finally, stop over development under the guide of community -- and how long would it take for you to go from this part of Harlem, make a U-turn and come around to the other side of Harlem. Enough is enough, you have enough land hold onto that. We the inhabitants would like to have some land too.

Thank you.

MR. LEVINE:
Hello everyone. I am Mark Levine. I am a volunteer with the Coalition for the community and I want to remind everyone that Columbia's real estate already extends all they way up to 218th Street, the very tip of Manhattan and that's why we demand their environmental impact statement take into account all three of its campuses including the medical center on 168th Street, which is expanding itself at a rapid pace. Instead their analysis only looked at a quarter mile, five blocks around --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

MR. LEVINE:
I support the 197-A Plan and do not support the 197-C Plan. Thank you.

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

THE REPORTER:
(Several speakers spoke, but due to the loud outbursts by the audience it was difficult to transcribe their speeches.)

SPEAKER:
Queen Mother Dr. Blakey. I am here tonight asking President Bollinger to have some of the students to come 477 West 142nd Street, which affordable housing, which one was abandoned thirty years ago and -- for the community. I was able with the help of our nonprofit to turn it around for affordable housing.

Thirty years later now is eminent domain enters in terms of the City of New York. This administration model empowers with Columbia University apart of vanguard of our community to show good faith, and look at some human right interest of our people. We have a right to have a home.

I am 65 years old and I have a handicapped daughter who is 28. She has to be watched 24-7 and I know being a student at Columbia University, which I received my decorate from the Columbia that those students could be a part of the solution to one of the property concerns for the community.
I have lived and worked as advocate for about fifty years not only in Harlem, but around the world and especially at the United Nations and I ask that you and your business -- it is important that Columbia University to change the condition of our community in which you are part of this community for over a 100 year and show good faith based on human rights and based on your own background years ago of your interest at large for those who are in need and not in greed and I thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. THOMAS:
My name is Desiree Carter-Thomas. I am a student at Columbia University and I would have to say that the expansion plan that Columbia created makes me ashamed to say that I am a Columbia University student

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

MS. THOMAS:
And if I had known before applying that this is what Columbia University was doing to the people in the community I would have never had applied.

I promise to do everything in my power to stop this happening from happening and I know that I am one person who don't have that kind of power, but I know that in this room there is so much anger, there is some much anger that if we funnel it into something productive, and first thing that we have to do is to stop this plan from happening.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker.)

MS. THOMAS:
I think that it wouldn't be so difficult and there is a plan, the 197-A Plan and I don't understand how the an institution could invited itself to someone else's home and then create rules. You need to be a good houseguest and that's what we are. Columbia is a guest in Harlem. We are not the owners, we are the guest.

Columbia you must obey the rules of the community sets down for us. We cannot be creating rules and so we need to accept the 197-A Plan that the community has already created.

Thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. JONES:
(Several names were called to speak.)

MS. MATTHEW:
Good evening everyone. My name is Yvonne Matthews. I am the resident association president of Manhattanville Housing and you are enjoying. I live in this West Harlem for 48 years and I am very concerned about Columbia and it's 197-C Plan. We here at Manhattanville are very concerned about the displacement and the homelessness that we will be faced f this Community Board 9 pass for the 197-C Plan.

We are very concerned about all of the little stores and the business that are across from our buildings. We have lived together for all of these years and we had no problem, but now with Columbia trying to come in we have a problem.

I would like to know if Columbia University can ensure that health wise and environmental we will not be endangered by the bio research labs and what level will their labs be and I say labs with an s, because it is not just going to one.

And it is time as we as residents and community people realize that Columbia is a big liar --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Due to the loud outbursts from the audience the reporter was unable to hear the speaker clearly.)


MR. BODY-LAWSON:
Good evening my name is Victor Body-Lawson. I am a resident of Harlem. I went to Columbia and I have fought and worked in this community for the past twenty years.
I have a questions for you, okay let's fast forward fifty years, where do we see ourselves? Fast forward a 100 years, where do we do see ourselves?

THE AUDIENCE:
Dead.

MR. BODY-LAWSON:
Dead, yes. That is right, but each person here is responsible for their lives and their children's lives. Columbia University has the right to be a part of this community, I will tell you why, okay, I decided to set up my firm in Harlem for a specific reason, and that reason is to deliver the best possible architectural services that we could for this community and we have been very lucky, and we have done a lot of work in Harlem and we are working with Columbia University now on this plan.

Where do see ourselves a hundred years from now? Where do we see your children a hundred years from now? I think from an architectural standpoint, from a social standpoint, from a spiritual standpoint, we need to work together with the institution that are in our community so that we can grow.

So I tell you, we can either stay the same, we can either get educated, we can either grow and work with the institutions that we have and move on.

Thank you.

MS. JONES:
Please listen for your name.

(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

SPEAKER:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke in Spanish)

INTERPRETER:
My name is -- Silva, I am the president of the building 610 Riverside Drive.

SPEAKER:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke in Spanish)

INTERPRETER:
I do not support the Plan 197-C.

SPEAKER:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke in Spanish)

INTERPRETER:
I want to raise many questions to see if the people from Columbia answer.

SPEAKER:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke in Spanish)
INTERPRETER:
He want to find out how many leaders from Columbia live in this neighborhood.

SPEAKER:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke in Spanish)

INTERPRETER:
How many people that have business, how many people that have construction company live in this neighborhood.

SPEAKER:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke in Spanish)

INTERPRETER:
To finish my speech I just want to say, Latino's together united, we can join together to fight again anyone.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. LEE:
Good evening my name is Christina Lee. I am twenty-nine years a resident of the North East Corner of Community Board 9 -- be a new comer there. I am here to speak against the 197-C Plan, but I am going to limit myself to one subject which is housing.
I am mindful of saying when I say the two facts that are a long history in this community board.

First, we went underwent urban renewal in 1960's and just south 125th Street, where 100 homes were demolished people were forced to build buildings that has since given houses to different people. There are many people in this community never got over what happened, the people were traumatized.

The second, is the fact that as a member of Community Board 9 for which I am not speaking tonight, I have listen for all my years on that board of endless struggles of Columbia's inability to manage the residents rights of tenants in buildings they own. We have been years of brawls about whether or not there were improperly pushing out or locking out or otherwise doing wrong to tenants, that other landlords get to do because they go straight to housing court.
When I look at this plan I see that they were once where they had eight houses intentionally, but now they are going to have six, but they have not provided anything useful and meaningful in the way the housing court would guarantee that we are not going to pay the price in the Community Board 9.

I am therefore suggesting that no plan of 197-C can even be considered and let us just contain a specific provision requiring Columbia to establish and permanently maintain and carry in effect an anti-displacing program until it voluntary agree that in Community Board 9 above 125th Street, because that it is the only remains which is not a threat. They voluntary agreed that they will not sell or affiliate, acquire by purchase, by lease, by some other means any other residential units that are there, so they will remain available at least through the private market, for the people who already lived there.

And I am recommending that the Board consider in requirement that Columbia itself in location other than Community Board 9 affirmatively stand up and provide board for the students and the employees who are going to be coming to our neighborhood to work in our campus, the housing of those people so they will not find themselves rushing into the market to displace our folks privately because Columbia brought all those jobs into the place that they didn't provided any housing for.

I love my neighborhood, I love my neighbors, many of my neighbors are vulnerable to the economics of the private market, because they are renters --

MS. JONES:
Thank you, your time is up.

MS. GAYER:
Hi my name is Tamara Gayer and I am an artist and I am also a commercial renter in Manhattanville in the expansion zone. I have been there for ten years with so thirty-four friends of mine, we share artists in music studios and we also do kind of free shows for the people who are in our genre the people who like to do shows.

We are also about the end of our lease so my story basically one where even though people have been saying that Columbia have been really fair with the tenant businesses, I lease is yet up and we've been trying to negotiate with the University and all we get is stonewall.

We are invited to talk to people in meetings and then we call them, we call them, we call them repeatedly they don't return our phone calls and they don't return our E-mails, and you know our history is one where we came to the last ten years -- people who wanted to say these are the demands not only for our craftsman who would be really happy based in Manhattan, but also from cross coalition between lets say artist and auto mechanics who built equipment for us and also some other very fruitful collaborations happened over the last decade.

All of this is ending and we are really, because they have managed tactfully expel most of the commercial tenants in the area.
The second aspect is if someone who comes from a different -- with great respect to the community in this area with the geological geographic weather condition and give them the development of the history and containment of this point, to put level three or higher in a residentially populated urban community. There is a lot of work, very profitable work which can be done at level two --
MS. JONES:
Thank you.
(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

MS. GOLDSON:
Vicky Goldson, I would like you to speak first and foremost to my neighbors and say we have got a sad situation here. There is a time to be angry, there is a time to be passionate, but there is also time to put a plan on the table, which is worthy of the emotions that are being stirred. The games that are being played here with the people in this community is no a laughing matter, it is not a -- and don't use communities meetings to do the negotiating and -- that you should have done before you bring the community in anger and situation. The game is being played wrong by the elected officials and by Columbia and also by the Community Board.

Let me state first clearly, I am a member of the Community Board the communication and the information of what is being done, you have to make some adjustments, those adjustments had not been publicly stated.
They have been adjustments made from the Community Board side and the coalition side and has not been publicly stated, you need to start now, you are getting to go into the fall of the year and clearly I don't think the majority of the people here understand just how angry this community is and just how furious they are when those are put before them looked like this.

If you are in a situation that took place here tonight anybody that knows this city and knows what David Dinkins did those from the old school are pissed off --

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. GOLDSON:
-- if you know anything about this city you know that this meeting is not the meeting for the exchange of information, it is not the meeting to play the games and how many people are speaking from Columbia and how many people are speaking from the community. It is not the place to play the games so that people who have not been involved in this process, do not get the information that they need to hear.

People from all the community they need to stand up, yes if you are from Columbia and you are siding with Columbia this is forum for the community to see who all are on Columbia's tab and who is not, so there is a time and place to interrupt and there is a manner by which they interrupt and there is a manner by which they pay people to fill the room so that the place is stacked, at some point all of you especially the ones in charge are going to stop playing a game.

You have to be this way so the people in this community that you are operating a good thing because the interest of this situation of a legacy where there was no trust between institution and community, we have to act accordingly.

MS. JONES:
(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

MS. SHEPARD:
Good evening everyone my name is Peggy Shepard. I lived in West Harlem for about thirty years and I have been your district leader and I have worked with WE ACT Environmental action to reduce pollution and improve environmental health in this community. We are asking that the Columbia plan and the decided plan, we recommend the Community Board 9 disapproves of the zoning of the places until and unless the university makes fundamental changes to its current plan. Changes that reflect the 197-A Plan changes that reflect the vision, the aspiration and the realities of this community.

The changes must address West Harlem needs in the following way:

First, to ensure availability of high quality housing that is affordable for our low-income community members whose family income is about $23,000.

Second, to provide skilled training in jobs and economic opportunity for residents and workers who will be displayed.

Three, implement measures that would ensure the public health and safety of West Harlem Community members in case of any containment breach that may result in the University's conduct of biotech research in an urban area that is densely populated in West Harlem.

Four, incorporate campus design changes that would promote easy public access to the waterfront park and other communities amenities such as Fairway market.

Five, commit to using best available technology and emission controls and clean alternate fuels on all its emission sources including the planned power generators and campus vehicle fleets.

Six, use best available technology and best practices on all aspects of construction including noise and vibration reduction limit construction activity during the day, using constructions curtains, like those used in the Deutsche Bank deconstruction, in order to minimize health impacts of construction in the West Harlem community.

Seven, ensure infrastructure needs of the project and that associated increase in population density will be met so that additional pollutions sources will not be brought to bare on the West Harlem community.

Without the message described above, the expansion will increase the pollution loading of West Harlem and our communities is already disproportionately impacted.
Board 9 should not make the mistake of replacing disinvestment with bad investment. One that is intended to replace our community with a Columbia community.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. JONES:
(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

MR. LOVEDAY:
Good evening, I'm Charles Loveday, retired medical psychologist and professor and I have been a resident of West Harlem for about twenty-five years.

I equivocally appose to Columbia's University 197-C Plan.
Unlike the 197-A Plan which includes input and contention from diverse discrepancy representative of this community, Columbia University 197-C is exclusionary, arrogant, and self-servant, ignoring the economical, environmental, housing, health, and educational impact on our community over the next 20 to 25 years I will urge you all not to vote for the 197-C Plan.

Thank you.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. JONES:
(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

MR. CASTRO:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke with a deep Spanish accent it was hard to transcribe him for the record.)

Just for the record we are going to talk. Let me now talk about why we are here tonight and first thing I want to say is that as always we -- Columbia University is treating our people. Today we have an example of white people thinking like a white people because there are white people who pick at the white for their justice. White people don't speak about justice, they speak as a white. Well they have -- white people they bring another people they pay money to some of the those people and well they bring black against black and Latino against Latino that is what they do.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MR. CASTRO:
(Whereupon, the speaker spoke with a deep Spanish accent it was hard to transcribe him for the record.)

My brother and sister black and Latino are being displaced. We don't have to be here to know about this, just walk around Harlem and you can see it for yourself. We don't have to know what displacement means we would have to see it and go for ourselves.
I never about him but I know he gets $40,000 from Columbia because as a white, I am talking -- talk about this, when they have black people to do the same work that is how they do it, they have a racist attitude.
And I am against Columbia's Plan and I call all those people here to really put pressure on people who haven't speak, like some Politian’s here, who haven't spoke against this plan. This plan that is going to displaced our people. So power to the people.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

MS. JONES:
(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

MR. ORTIZ:
Hi ladies and gentleman my name is Anthony Ortiz, I am nineteen years old I have been living in this community for over eight years now in 619 West 142nd Street in Broadway. I am here today to go again Columbia University's Plan of expansion. I oppose this plan because they want certain acres just for their gain not for the community gain.

I oppose the lab that is going to form more harm to our environment and more harm that we already had.
Since you want a lab so bad, why don't you go to time Square and put a lab there.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Whereupon, made loud outburst that made difficult to transcribe the speaker for the record.)

TIME KEEPER:
Thank you, sir, your time is up.

MR. ORTIZ:
I know three minutes is not up.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

SPEAKER:
I am sorry that President Bollinger left, because I wanted him to here this. First of all, the points that Peggy Shepard and Mr. Loveday are basically my points but I want to add a couple of things to them.

First of all my position is that I do not support Columbia's 197-C Plan until they come back to the table with Community Board 9 and reconcile it with our 197-A Plan.
And secondly, to this brother over here who asked where do I see myself 100 years from now, I have been living in this community since 1968, I was first in an apartment rental and then I brought a home in 1975.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)

SPEAKER:
And as I walk around in my community today where I stay when other people were leaving to go to the places they thought were better I stayed and worked with other community people to make it a place where now everybody wants to come. As I walk around and I walk up on certain streets and going certain buildings, I am feeling a stranger in my own community that I got to build and I have to maintain when crack vales are along the trees and all over the sidewalks in Manhattanville. So fifty years or 100 years from now I may not even be here. Okay if we don't fight to have a place in this community and then comes the poor up to the rich of all the ethnic group that here now we should and Columbia's expansion sure they have a right to expand, but in their expansion they need to be positive of the community around them and they should do not displace people who still want to be here and in terms of Manhattanville those apartments over there are the best ones -- okay.

Thank you.

MS. JONES:
(Whereupon, several names were called to speak.)

MR. CORBIN-MARK:
My name is Cecil Corbin-Mark and I am the director of program WE ACT Environmental justice. I have some of my other credentials, I am also certified president of the leads design professionals from the US -- Council and I am a life long resident of Harlem.

I want to talk about my deep concerns one of the about Columbia's attack on the community's municipal infrastructure, but before I even get started on I want to make it absolutely clear, that our heritage is the same at this time without significant changes that the community board should vote no on the Columbia's 197-C Plan.
I am deeply concerned about Columbia's impact on the community's municipal infrastructure and particularly its air and water pollution loading.

First, the expansion of the planned causes a tremendous threat to the local air quality because of it's need for electricity, as well as fuel, and transportation uses.
Columbia's encloses in their draft Environmental Impact Statement that it plans to two energy plants on the expansion campus and hints that they could be fitted to become cogeneration plants as a potentional mitigation measures to decrease the pollution per day on the community.
The University demands on New York City power grid. Such facilities are only as clean or polluting as the fuel that is used to run them. The University states that the description of the fuel source for one of the plants is natural gas but they do not disclose what the other fuel source is for the other. Nor does the University discuss the range of powers sources such as geothermal energy, fuel cells, and other clean technologies that could be used to run this power plant or energy plant what we call them.

Further more the seventeen acre campus will be to put very energy and materials intensive uses, including biological research and performance basis. Although the University describes design measures that will somewhat decreased energy use missing from the discussion of conformation strategy. The University energy needs will certainly not being limited to electricity. Therefore, it will need to educate University affiliates as well as contractors that come onto site about how to decrease their energy footprint through, among other things including electricity and their professional and personal spaces, decrease dependence on disposal products on dining as well as administrative facilities and choose locally produced materials and avoid foreign imports whenever possible to decrease shipping and delivery demands.

Government regulators and project applicants the world over are giving increasing consideration and contributions to their actions about climate change and are working to reduce their energy and emission quickly, indeed this report earlier this year ruled that the government has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide, the principal pollutant responsible for global warming and climate changes. Yet nowhere in the DEIS does Columbia home to the world renowned expert in climate change and it’s associated environmental and health impacts consider this a vital issue.

Second, by adding more than 10,000 Columbia affiliated users into -- so there is a lot more, so please vote no on Columbia's 197-C Expansion Plan.


MS. RODRIGUEZ:
My name Daisy Rodriguez I do not speak English well, but she is talking for me.

INTERPRETER:
I totally oppose the discrimination or the abuse by the abusive plan of expansion of the -influential political entrusting the participation of Columbia. Columbia is qualified does not benefit from eminent domain. Columbia is the number one violator of all the rules of the state of New York and its country. Further more, the civil rights law, building law, health law, Fire Department and many other laws. -- Columbia has monopolized illegally Morningside and neighborly communities removing families illegally thousand of families are black, Hispanic, and low-income.
Columbia is covered by political influences in judging of distinction in court by successfully continue displacing many families -- small businesses illegally in this area. It is not easy -- in this powerful corporation as Columbia uses influential persons to cover their crime, displacing like millions of families and crime and is done by the administration of Columbia, for the last 15 years and continue to the present.

MR. BURK:
Good evening my name is Carolyn Burk and I live in the area since 1976 I have had two children in this area. I remember the police being called in by the same -- character I believe the and just wandering why the students will be called who are not registered yet with Columbia. I will strongly urge Columbia to think about the past history and look at what is going on now probably we should have started in the beginning, the 197-A Plan the Community’s plan work on that why is Columbia refusing to work with the Community's Plan.

There are a lot of reasons why not to trust Columbia I just making one of them and that happens to be question of trust and construction. I watched the development on 110th Street and the school where Columbia promised all sort of jobs, it turned out however that in fact the jobs were outsourced, the jobs were given to contractors and subcontractors -- about the job but we were told we couldn't have that because -- no money there was no obligation just tell us anything about how many people had left how many of them how many of them are any other day, this is none of our business from the that was privilege information and we could not find out anything so we know in terms of construction and jobs that is just one of the many issues and I will submit it in writing.

MS. ROLLEY:
Hi I am Lumi Michelle Rolley and I am here to provide a citywide prospective on the issue of eminent domain use.

New York City Urban planning in 1960 to 1970 was characterized by large scale public property but the government swept the entire neighborhood to reside in -- only to build largely -- with the project in Brooklyn, Columbia Universities expansion plan and their numerous plan in North Queens. Today our city stands on the threshold of another era in city planning again define by use of eminent domain private development, both of the years are divided by -- incredible benefit the fact is that is that people that have been never, ever and I don't even want to hear the Columbia University of expansion of the public benefit. University officials at present had told people in Columbia University is a private institution and not a public view, along side that you always here this is --

One thing that I am concerned taking of private property is for private institution unconstitutional, unfair, and it is un-American. Most important public property at US constitution which derives a strength to safe guard the right of individuals to get the _______, the goal support of this plan is to vote against the constitution, vote against our individual right and vote against all wealth management and sabotage their life, I am sorry not --

MS. JONES:
Thank you, your time is up.

MS. ROLLEY:
All right I just want to say, that from a urban planning prospective you can't -- again thank you.
MS. CHIN:
Yuien Chin. Hamilton Heights, it is difficult to support a plan which threaten eminent domain on any level create primary and second displacement for local businesses and resident and bring to the West Harlem community a projects that completely on a scale -- neighborhood.

Columbia's 197-C Development Plan must be within the frame work of CB9 197-A Plan, and I particular they support the creation of the West Harlem Special District as proposed by Borough President Stringer. This West Harlem Special District would give the neighborhood surrounding the propose Columbia expansion new zoning laws to protect its social and physical character. It will also litigate some of the displacement impact the environmental impact statement to this area, a special district plan as proposed by -- could also be used as a support and prevention by 197-A provision as recommended by Community Board 9. I urge the Community board members not to support the Columbia University 197-C plan that received under issues of plan commemorate.

Thank you.

MS. JONES:
Good evening, we have over three hundred people attending this public hearing this evening and that is based on those who signed in and I am sure there are other who did not.

Over 90 individuals I'm trying to get the count right now, gave public testimony this evening. 92 individuals gave public testimony. Based upon the public testimony this evening 22 individuals spoke in favor of the Columbia's 197-C Plan and 73 spoke in opposition of the plan.

THE AUDIENCE:
(Applauded.)
MS. JONES:
At this point in time we ULURP Committee of Community Board 9 is going to vote on a resolution, only the ULURP Committee of Community Board 9 will be voting, the full board of Community Board 9 on Monday August 20th.

I will start with the roll call of the ULURP Committee.
Pat Jones, I'm here.

MS. JONES:
Carolyn Thompson?

MS. THOMPSON
Present

MS. JONES:
Walter South?

MR. SOUTH:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Kally Ranch?

MS. RANCH:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Michael Palmer?

MR. PALMER:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Ernestine Welch?

MS. WELCH:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Christina Lee?

MS. LEE:
Present.

MS. JONES:
Carolyn Kent?

MS. KENT:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Diane Wilson?

MS. WILSON:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Tamara Gayer?

MS. GAYER:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Savona Bailey McClain?

MS. MCCLAIN:
Here.

MS. JONES:
John Reddick?

MR. REDDICK:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Patricia Lewis?

MS. LEWIS:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Carlotta Damanda?

MS. DAMANDA:
(No verbal response.)

MS. JONES:
Brad Taylor?

MR. TAYLOR:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Francis Mack?

MR. MACK:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Charles Loveday?

MR. LOVEDAY:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Norma Ramos?

MS. RAMOS:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Carol --

SPEAKER:
(No verbal response.)

MS. JONES:
Brenda Faust?

MS. FAUST:
Here.

MS. JONES:
Okay, eighteen of the twenty members of the 197-C ULURP Committee are present. It is very long, but I will read the resolution:
Whereas Manhattan Community Board 9 has developed a plan for Community District 9 under section 197-A of the New York City charter including the Manhattanville area that is the subject of Columbia University proposed 197-C and academic mixed used development plan, and whereas the Columbia 197-C proposal is not consistent with the goal objectives and recommendations set-forth in CB9 197-A Plan and whereas the Columbia 197-C proposal will lead to the displacement of the CB9 low, moderate and middle African-American and Hispanic residents resulting in significant and adverse impact on the community among other significant and adverse impacts, and whereas the liability of the Columbia proposed seven story continuous separate construction is a serious question due to the risks of storm and floods extent, and whereas the majority of the private property identified in CB9 197-A Plan are not afforded to start protection under Columbia's 197-C proposal, and whereas the neighborhood's dynamic richly layered historic, ethnic, and cultural character that will be preserved under the 197-A Plan, will be eliminated under Columbia's 197-C proposal, and whereas CB9 is an environmental justice community due to the existing high level of the environmental burdens in the area, and whereas the questionable use of eminent domain demolishing of viable distinct building, massive earth removal, requiring over 98,000 trucks, displacement of low and moderate income residents, particularly people of color, development of two power plant and relocation of the bus terminal in low grade in the New York City that calls for emergency national evacuation zone, high intensity development at the equivalent of FAR9 in an area where the context is FAR6, disregard of -- and hypostatic pressure and non-participatory planning all are against Columbia proposed academic mixed use development plan being socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable, and whereas Columbia has not entered into a respectable full faith collaboration of the community in developing its proposal and alternative developing scenario under the 197-A Plan, and whereas as CB9 welcomes Columbia's into the community as part of sustainable mixed ownership development scenario that includes commercial, manufacturing, academic, and residential uses. Is compatible with the existing neighborhood character of all residential and business displacement provide a diverse a long range of employment opportunity for local resident and promote the development of affordable housing set forth in the 197-A Plan. Now therefore resolve that the ULURP Committee of the Community Board 9 recommends that Community Board 9 vote to oppose Columbia's proposed rezoning action and academic mixed use development plan, unless Columbia agrees to:

One, withdrawal the proposal for eminent domain, cease to use a threat of eminent domain to intermediate owners to sell and abandon the process of opposing gang orders on those who has entered into agreements.

Two, withdraw the proposal to build a seven story below structured and to request the bill under 33 to -- area all of the way to the university.

Three, bill on property owned by the university and obtain through negotiation with the owners without the threat of eminent domain.

Four, guarantee that all housing developed directly by Columbia as a result of the proposed action with requirements of 197-A Plan and that in all Columbia development home housing and equal amount of housing for the university and the community will be created both on site and off site and that no direct displacement in the seventeen acre area.

Five, Columbia must -- housing immediately developed and hereafter carry out an affective housing and anti-displacement program, commit not buying self or through any affiliation through purchase or lease or net lease any residential units from CB9 above 125th Street and provide efficient additional housing in areas outside CB9 that have all the students and employees inspected to used the proposed north campus.

In addition, not interfere with the transfer of 132 units from HPD to the residents of those units as previously agreed to by the City.

Six, -- of any other property within the proposed academic mixed used development area found allegeable by New York State Historical Preservation Office and non-opposed LTC landmark designation of any site herein, also rebuilding a historic and cultural character throughout the proposed special Manhattanville mix used zoning district and in CB9 as a whole in a 197-A Plan.

Seven, -- power sources such as power plant and co-generation facilities or research facility or above bio safety level II or -- that will contribute to -- of this community.

Eight, engage in a single design and construction practices with the equivalent of a lead standard of platform prior to the commencement of construction. Nine, engage in good faith negotiation with Community Board 9 to achieve a mutual -- compromise that will permit the construction of academic facilities needed by Columbia on property owned by the university through technical amendments in a manner that is consistent with the underlying goal of 197-A Plan.

Do you rule to vote?

SPEAKER:
Second.

MS. JONES:
Motion move to a vote. A yes vote means you support the resolution which says the ULURP Committee does not the 197-C Zoning Proposal of Columbia University unless those ten conditions are met. Okay.
Pat Jones says, yes I do support the resolution.
Carolyn Thompson?

MS. THOMPSON
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Walter South?

MR. SOUTH:
Support.

MS. JONES:
Kally Ranch?

MS. RANCH:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Michael Palmer?

MR. PALMER:
I support the resolution.

MS. JONES:
Ernestine Welch?

MS. WELCH:
Support.

MS. JONES:
Christina Lee?

MS. LEE:
Support the resolution.

MS. JONES:
Carolyn Kent?

MS. KENT:
Support.

MS. JONES:
Diane Wilson?

MS. WILSON:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Tamara Gayer?

MS. GAYER:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Savona Bailey McClain?

MS. MCCLAIN:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
John Reddick?

MR. REDDICK:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Patricia Lewis?

MS. LEWIS:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Carlotta Damanda is not present.
Brad Taylor?


MR. TAYLOR:
No.

MS. JONES:
Francis Mack?

MR. MACK:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Charles Loveday?

MR. LOVEDAY:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
Norma Ramos?

MS. RAMOS:
Strongly support the resolution.

MS. JONES:
Brenda Faust?

MS. FAUST:
Yes.

MS. JONES:
The motions passes, 17 to 1 to zero.
Thank you.

(Time noted 11:35 p.m.)
















C E R T I F I C A T E

I, JUDEEN M. DENNISTON, a reporter and Notary Public within and for the State of New York, do hereby certify:
That the within transcript is a true and accurate record of the statement taken by me.
I further certify that I am not related to any of the parties to this action by blood or marriage, and that I am in no way interested in the outcome of this matter.


____________________
JUDEEN M. DENNISTON