The New Liberal Podcast Voting to Build More Housing in New York ft. Alec Schierenbeck
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Oct 25, 2025 Alec Schierenbeck, the Executive Director of the New York City Charter Revision Commission, dives into the crucial ballot amendments aimed at unlocking more housing in NYC. He explains how the city charter functions as a governance guide and critiques the hurdles of the existing land-use review process, ULURP. From fast-tracking affordable housing projects to creating a digital map for efficiency, Alec outlines how these changes could streamline housing production. He also shares insights on political opposition and the importance of small multifamily projects for the city's housing future.
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City Charter Shapes Housing Outcomes
- The city charter is New York City's constitution and sets how land-use decisions get made through ULURP.
- Updating ULURP matters because its 1975 design slows housing production amid today's affordability crisis.
One-Size Review Gives Local Veto Power
- ULURP channels nearly all land-use actions through one uniform, lengthy public-review path with multiple advisory stages.
- The decisive power effectively rests with the city council and the local council member under member deference.
Three Structural Flaws Blocking Housing
- ULURP creates three main problems: it hinders publicly financed affordable housing, blocks small changes, and freezes out districts where housing is politically toxic.
- Those structural issues deter proposals and deepen inequities in where housing gets built.