The Road to City Hall
City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr.
The forum was held at O'Neal's on West 64th Street
Conservancy President Peg Breen with the candidate
2009 MAYORAL CANDIDATE BREAKFASTS
The second in a series of candidate breakfast forums featured New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate William Thompson, Jr., who spoke to a capacity audience about weighing preservation and growth.
On August 12, Thompson addressed approximately 75 citizens interested in preservation and community issues. The series is sponsored by the Conservancy along with four of our colleague groups. Conservancy president Peg Breen introduced Thompson and moderated a question-and-answer session.
The son of a New York City public school teacher and a New York State Supreme Court Judge, Comptroller Thompson has worked to strengthen the city’s finances, uncover waste and abuse, and provide affordable housing. He was elected City Comptroller in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. He has developed several programs to help New Yorkers during financial hardships including consumer banking days, predatory lending reforms and investment strategies.
When asked how preservation fits into his platform, the candidate stressed the need for “thoughtful planning” where “smart growth is the best growth.”
Thompson talked about moving away from single-developer “mega developments” that have shaped parts of the city in recent years, to different developers and a more phased organic growth.
“Too often efforts to preserve our past are overshadowed by future developments,” Thompson said. “ A neighborhood’s character must be taken into consideration.”
He spoke in favor of contextual zoning that takes neighborhood character into account while also citing the importance of strengthening community boards where residents can add their voice to neighborhood growth.
“We cannot build for the sake of volume alone. We need growth by decision,” he said.
Thompson answered “yes” to Conservancy president Breen’s question on whether a Thompson administration would favor the creation of an interagency committee dedicated to exploring whether the city could help religious properties in need of restoration.
The candidate said the Landmarks Preservation Commission needs an equal place at the table with city planning and building commissions as well as adequate tools to carry out its mission, including providing necessary staffing and greater legislative “teeth.”
On July 29 Councilmember and mayoral candidate Tony Avella spoke to and answered questions from a group of citizens at the first Conservancy candidate breakfast. Thompson and Avella will face each other at the Democratic primary, September 15, 2009.
Co-sponsored by
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Historic Districts Council, LANDMARK WEST!, Municipal Art Society, and The New York Landmarks Conservancy
2009 PRESERVATION PLATFORM
Preservation is Sustainability • Preservation is Neighborhoods • Preservation is an Economic Catalyst • Preservation is Historic Religious Properties •Preservation is an Effective Landmarks Commission
