As New York City’s “City of Yes” zoning proposal advances amid intense last-minute negotiations, Councilwoman Vickie Paladino has voiced strong objections, citing concerns about rushed decisions and a lack of thorough planning.

In a recent statement, Paladino expressed frustration over the accelerated timeline, saying, “The feverish City of Yes negotiations happening right now should have been taking place over the past several weeks, not all crammed in at the last minute to meet an artificial deadline.”

The ambitious zoning plan, championed by Mayor Eric Adams and other officials, aims to address housing shortages and affordability by easing zoning restrictions to allow more housing developments across the city. However, the councilwoman warns that the process may be moving too fast, potentially leading to long-term issues.

“The people of this city are not being properly served by this process, and I fear the Council is on the verge of making a huge mess that we will spend years trying to revise and fix,” Paladino remarked. She emphasized the importance of a more considered approach to the proposal, suggesting that rushing it now could lead to unforeseen complications and costly revisions in the future.

Paladino proposed a solution, urging her colleagues to pause the proposal for further review: “The right thing to do is shelve this entire plan for now, regroup, and come back with something properly thought out and negotiated — not rushed.”

But despite her appeal for caution, she acknowledged that her advice may not influence the course of action, adding, “Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.”

The council’s final vote on the “City of Yes” proposal will determine whether Paladino’s cautionary stance will resonate with other council members or if the city will move forward on a path that some, like Paladino, worry may bring unintended challenges.