On Oct. 22, Local 802 convened the first meeting of the Hudson Yards Affordable Housing Committee.

This committee will provide an official — and formal — capacity for the city’s labor movement to advocate for increased and real affordable housing opportunities.

The committee represents both those unions that have supported the overall Far West Side revitalization project and those unions that have not taken a position.

The full committee includes the state AFL-CIO; the Central Labor Council; Equity; SAG; AFTRA; IATSE Locals 817 and 306; Teamsters Local 817; Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers; International Association of Operating Engineers; Building and Construction Trades Council; District Council of Carpenters; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District 9; and the Mason Tenders District Council.

The Oct. 22 meeting was hosted by Shaun Donovan, the commissioner of the city’s Housing and Preservation Department. The meeting began with 802 President David Lennon outlining the committee’s goals and objectives.

The Manhattan director of city planning then presented the current plans for affordable housing at Hudson Yards.

Commissioner Donovan spoke about some of the ideas to increase the number of proposed affordable housing units in the area.

After a question-and-answer session, President Lennon closed the meeting by calling for a working group to prioritize our collective ideas to improve upon the proposed affordable housing plans for the Far West Side. Local 802 will then reconvene the full committee to review the recommendations.

As Allegro went to press, the working group was scheduled to hold its first meeting the week of Nov. 15.

The committee will be working closely with the New York City Central Labor Council and HPD Commissioner Donovan in the immediate weeks ahead leading up to the City Council approval process.