TESTIMONY
Testimony by a Member Of the Public: Against T75, Claiming it's a Real Estate Power Grab
1:19:26
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96 sec
A member of the public critiques T75, labeling it a real estate power grab disguised as a safety initiative. The testimony points out that the bill could lead to obstructions on sidewalks by allowing vendors set-ups that block public amenities like bike racks, benches, and city bike stations, among others. It suggests the bill is either sloppily written or intentionally designed to alter public sidewalks drastically and calls for it to be reworked with input from relevant city agencies.
Speaker 26
1:19:26
Good afternoon.
1:19:28
T75 is a real estate power grab, masquerading as an unnecessary safety initiative that puts private poor for profit interest over pedestrians and public amenities.
1:19:40
The bill intends to fix a problem that doesn't exist.
1:19:43
Department of Health's written guidelines allows street vendors a one foot buffer from the curb.
1:19:48
Instead of simply codifying the existing allowance into law, t 75 would radically change how our sidewalks operate.
1:19:56
Given the undefined term obstruction, T75 would, as written, allow vendors to block bike racks public benches, link NYC kiosks, news racks, newsstands, city bike stations, parking meters, and mailboxes.
1:20:14
Rendering them all useless.
1:20:17
T75 would also allow vendors to set up in front of street trees, putting them in the middle of the sidewalk as you can see if they're rendering that I that I distributed.
1:20:26
Perhaps most absurd, t 75 as written would allow a vendor to physically block another vendor.
1:20:33
At best, t 75 is sloppy and incomplete.
1:20:37
At worst, t 75 was purposely written to radically change public sidewalks.
1:20:42
Either way, t 75 is poorly written and unworkable.
1:20:45
The city council should send the bill back to be reworked with input from applicable agencies such as DOT, DP, FDNY, and Parks.
1:20:54
Thank you.
Speaker 1
1:20:58
Thank you.
1:20:58
Before moving on to the next panel, are there any questions from any of the members?