Bailey pushes for Co‑op City youth facility and warns Metro‑North expansion must not spur displacement

Sen. Jamaal Bailey said Co‑op City — which he called the largest cooperative housing development in the world — faces ongoing needs tied to its size, older resident population and local infrastructure.

"Co op City is allow is the largest cooperative housing development in the world... There are 50,000 cooperators in in in 1 area," Bailey said, noting that the development’s scale brings special responsibilities for schools, adult services and the local power plant as the city transitions to more electrification.

Bailey and a group of local officials, including Councilmember Riley, Borough President Gibson and Assemblymember Benedetto, are pursuing a long‑desired YMCA or similar facility for Co‑op City to expand youth and intergenerational programming. "We wanna figure out where we get it done, but the bottom line, Gary, is that we need to get it done for the youth of Coop City," he said.

Discussing a planned Metro‑North connection that would shorten commutes, Bailey welcomed the access to jobs in Manhattan, Westchester and Connecticut but warned: "I don't want this to be a, a a vehicle for displacement." He said the neighborhood’s "gorgeous mosaic" should be preserved and that increased transit access must not automatically translate into gentrification.

The senator also reflected on representing areas that cross municipal borders, praising Mount Vernon residents' pride and the leadership of Mayor Sean Patterson as examples of shared community character across jurisdictions.