TESTIMONY
Shanna Blanchard, Representative of the Water Safety Coalition, on Comprehensive Water Safety Measures in NYC
1:07:12
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4 min
Shanna Blanchard advocates for comprehensive water safety measures and calls for increased support and funding in New York City.
- Blanchard supports Council Member Krishnan's 5-point water safety plan and emphasizes the need for initiatives like the New York Swim initiative.
- She discusses the shortage of swim lessons, staffing challenges at pools and beaches, and the impact of COVID-19 on aquatic programs.
- Blanchard highlights the necessity of extending beach and pool seasons due to climate change, upgrading aquatic infrastructure, and integrating water safety education into schools.
- The Water Safety Coalition representative calls for more funding for the New York City Parks department and the implementation of a robust aquatic culture and safety policies.
- Blanchard also points out the role of non-profits in aiding water safety efforts and underlines the importance of accessible and adequately maintained city pools.
Shanna Blanchard
1:07:12
Great.
1:07:12
Thank you.
1:07:13
Good afternoon.
1:07:14
My name is Shannon Blanchard.
1:07:15
I'm here on behalf of the water safety coalition.
1:07:18
Many of my colleagues are here over to my left.
1:07:21
Thank you so much, chair, Krishna, for overseeing this oversight hearing.
1:07:25
It's very important.
1:07:27
We are a group of concerned citizens and non profit organizations working to make water safety and essential right for all to save lives and create a more inclusive water recreation community.
1:07:37
We are grateful for the steps forward and momentum around water safety in the last year with a suite of bills passed with the council last year and Governor Hochol's historic New York Swim initiative announced earlier this year.
1:07:50
We strongly support council member Krishnan's 5 point plan for water safety many points of which we have advocated for for years and believe it is a critical step forward in delivering the skills, the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources New Yorkers need to positively engage with their coastlines and live with and understand the water around them.
1:08:09
But we are still behind and there's more work to do.
1:08:12
New York City needs to meet the New York New York state's ambition, vision, and goals, and create its own New York City Swim's initiative.
1:08:19
Many neurokers do not know how to swim, but still flock to the city's beaches and pools each year to stay cold during the heat of summer or simply to have a good time.
1:08:27
We all read about drownies occurring along the city's Manish coastlines throughout the year, and sadly, we will likely read about more this year.
1:08:34
But we can and should take as many preventative measures as possible to prevent these deaths.
1:08:40
If the city can prioritize and sustain funding for free swim lessons for children and adults, adequately staff the city's beaches and pools and eliminate barriers to making this happen.
1:08:51
Recognize the way in which climate change is extending our need to engage in water based recreation and extend beach and pool season.
1:08:58
Better utilize existing aquatic infrastructure, and identify areas for new ones, and incorporate water safety education into our schools All New Yorkers regardless of income and home neighborhood can better connect to the water around them and benefit from the life saving skill of swimming.
1:09:15
Since the COVID 19 pandemic, staffing at New York City's beaches and pools have been a challenge with many learn to swim and lab swim programs canceled and various beaches and pools closed each year.
1:09:26
Prior to the pandemic, 20,000 children were served in the city's learned to swim programs in 2019 with only 1000 being able to utilize the program last year.
1:09:35
This is unacceptable.
1:09:37
There are numerous nonprofits represented here today ready and willing to help fill this gap.
1:09:43
If there are only systems in place to enable them to easily use city pools, and if more of the city's pools were appropriately maintained and available.
1:09:51
There are other needs regarding Water Safety, including a close look at the city's lifeguard core and associated strategies and a development of a new strategic plan.
1:10:00
Increased water safety education programming and signage along the city shorelines, and also a strong need for more education about water safety by PEP officers.
1:10:10
Rather than solely being in fore forecasters and reprimanding people for simply putting their feet in the water when the beach is closed for whatever reason.
1:10:17
Simply put, we need more funding to make all of this happen.
1:10:21
The New York City parts department will shoulder the brunt of responsibility to enact all of this meaningful and positive change.
1:10:29
And they do incredible work with the meager budget it is offered each year.
1:10:33
But this needs to change.
1:10:34
We strongly support the play fair.
1:10:36
Coalition's 1% for Parks' recommendation and beyond that, believe that funding for water safety and aquatic should be increased and sustained year to year.
1:10:45
Interest in water based recreation is only growing and whether we wanted to or not, Water is at our doorstep, not only because we are a city of water with 520 miles of shoreline, but because climate change is changing the way water interacts with our daily lives.
1:10:58
We must better understand it and make sure our citizens have the tools necessary to do so.
1:11:03
We urge the city council and the mayor to appropriately fund New York City Parks and develop other sustainable funding streams that will prioritize water safety and build a better New York City aquatics culture, we are here to help.
