TESTIMONY
Anna Pakman on the Need for Access to Protective Health Equipment and Strict Health Safety Measures in New York
2:34:29
·
127 sec
Anna Pakman advocates for a bill that ensures access to high-quality KN95 and N95 masks, and rapid tests for every New Yorker, highlighting the importance of public health safety and ADA compliance.
- Pakman supports a new bill for easy access to KN95 and N95 masks, and rapid tests via a website.
- She emphasizes the success of similar federal initiatives and the need for New York to lead beyond the conclusion of federal programs.
- Pakman cites spending approximately $1000 on personal protective equipment to illustrate the privilege and financial burden of health safety.
- She argues for equitable access to protection, irrespective of financial status, and year-round mask requirements in NYC Health + Hospitals facilities to meet ADA rights.
- Pakman stresses the critical role of such measures in protecting all citizens, especially the disabled, against health risks.
Anna Pakman
2:34:29
I'm here in my personal capacity, and I am New Yorker, I'm disabled.
2:34:36
And I am here in support of the new bill that would allow any new worker who wants them to be able to act says high quality k 95 and then 95 masks and rapid tests through a website.
2:34:49
It's incredibly simple and smart.
2:34:51
It's been a successful for the federal government, and New York needs to lead in this area, especially as the federal program has wrapped up.
2:34:59
I have personally spent about a $1000 on personal protective equipment, like masks and tests and HEPA filters.
2:35:07
In the past year, it's an incredible privilege and sacrifice to be able to do that.
2:35:12
There are many many New Yorkers who could not afford to even enter team.
2:35:16
That idea and deserve to have the same level of protection that these lifesaving materials can provide people essentially, as most people know, are are not testing, not asking.
2:35:30
And none of us here on the island, it important not only for me to have these items to protect myself, but also for people who I'm in contact with to be able to protect me.
2:35:44
Going back to, you know, that time at the beginning of the pandemic when, you know, we all heard that message.
2:35:50
I protect you.
2:35:51
You protect me.
2:35:52
That's who we are at New Yorkers.
2:35:53
That's what we need to be about, and we need to give people the opportunity to do the right thing.
2:35:59
And for everyone to be able to access it no matter their financial status.
2:36:04
I also would like to, you know, check-in the support for year round, master requirements in New York City, H and H facilities at the bare minimum.
2:36:14
As a person with a disability, it is too dangerous for me to go get care in hospitals.
2:36:20
So it it's something that could easily be done, and it's something that would ensure that people like myself and others who are testifying here have our ADA rights met, which are mandated by federal law, and the city should be doing more to enforce.
2:36:35
Thank you.