TESTIMONY
Adam Roberts, Policy Director, Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) on Fire Risks and E-bike Battery Safety in Residential Buildings
2:48:46
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149 sec
Adam Roberts discusses the persistent fire risks in residential buildings due to e-bikes and their batteries, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive safety measures.
- Highlights the ongoing threat of fire in residential buildings, particularly from e-bikes and their batteries.
- Points out the council's efforts in preventing the sale of unsafe batteries and promoting safe practices but argues for additional actions to enhance tenant and building worker safety.
- Expresses concern over the lack of cooperation between housing providers and enforcement agencies, and the legal hurdles in removing unsafe batteries.
- Critiques recent legislative proposals regarding the installation of electric vehicle charging stations, emphasizing the financial burdens on rent stabilized housing.
- Calls for amendments to ensure buildings with greater financial need receive exemptions, focusing on rent stabilized housing.
Adam Roberts
2:48:46
Thank you for holding and hearing today.
2:48:48
I am Robert's policy director for the community housing improvement program, also known as Chip.
2:48:54
We represent nearest housing providers, including department building, owners, and managers.
2:48:59
2 years after the Twin Parks tragedy, the danger from fire residential buildings is not abated.
2:49:05
The risks posed by ebikes and their batteries have caused the threat of fires to grow.
2:49:09
We think they cancel for its work in addressing this issue Our more is needed to ensure tenants and building workers are safe.
2:49:16
The council's recent laws have focused on preventing sell on safe batteries and bikes and ensuring bike operators are aware of safe practices.
2:49:24
The council must also look for ways to to allow for removal of unsafe batteries and correcting unsafe conditions such as illegal repair shots and charging stations in residential buildings.
2:49:36
Currently, there is little to no clock operation between housing providers and the enforcement agencies.
2:49:41
This is partly because a housing provider who reports it in safe condition to NYPD, FDNY, MD will face violations and fines simply because the tenant was creating an unsafe condition.
2:49:52
Housing providers, whether they be owners, managers, or building workers, do not have legal authority to enter our apartments and remove illegal batteries.
2:50:00
Housing providers must go through the course before being able to do so, which can take months, if not years.
2:50:06
Putting me on this on housing providers to enforce the law, it allows unsafe practices, unsafe batteries, and storage conditions to persist around any emerging cooperation between NYPD, FDNY, VDP, and housing providers.
2:50:20
While the council has taken measures to reduce the virus from Bikes made serious concerns about intros 172024, which amendment the installation of electric vehicle charging stations due to the financial stress that's what impose on ring stabilized housing.
2:50:34
The installation of EV chargers require significant structural upgrades, which could be prohibitively expensive.
2:50:40
The bill does account for the spikes, and it takes some types of affordable housing, but it's only exempting buildings that have regulatory agreements with government agencies.
Alfred Webb
2:50:48
Times like these are
Adam Roberts
2:50:49
regulatory agreements.
2:50:50
Evolving influx of government funding to maintain buildings.
2:50:53
This is our problem since most rent stabilized buildings do not have the benefit of receiving government subsidies.
2:51:00
Has currently removed, this bill exempts the best fund in affordable housing.
2:51:03
Instead of the housing that is struggling the most, late rent stabilized housing.
2:51:07
We ask if the council correct fits to ensure the housing with the greatest financial need is the one receiving exceptions.
2:51:13
Again, thank you for holding this hearing today.