TESTIMONY
Agnes Pantina on the Impact of the City's Economic Opportunity Package on Staten Island's Zoning and Cannabis Policies
7:07:03
·
151 sec
Agnes Pantina, officer with Oakwood Civic Association on Staten Island, opposes the City of Yes Economic Opportunity Package, highlighting concerns over zoning changes and cannabis proliferation.
- Testifies that the package could harm community through zoning changes and increase in nonmedical cannabis operations.
- Cites the Department of City Planning's use of COVID-19 as a pretext for zoning law alterations.
- Voices concerns over ineffective community board responses to cannabis store openings and potential federal funding risks.
- Raises health alerts from authorities on secondhand marijuana smoke and risks of pediatric cannabis ingestion.
- Questions the compatibility of city's cannabis inclusion in urban agriculture with federal laws.
Carol Donovan
7:07:03
Hello?
Kevin C. Riley
7:07:04
Yes.
7:07:04
We can hear you.
Carol Donovan
7:07:06
Thank you, Mister Riley.
7:07:08
My name is Agnes Santina, and I am an all several of the credit association on Staten Island.
Kevin C. Riley
7:07:14
Can you I'm I'm I'm so sorry.
7:07:16
Can you repeat your name one more time?
Carol Donovan
7:07:19
Agnes, a g n e s, Pantina, b like victory, a n, d like David, I n a.
7:07:28
And I'm an officer with Oakwood Civic Association on Staten Island.
Kevin C. Riley
7:07:33
Thank you.
Carol Donovan
7:07:35
You're welcome.
7:07:36
The City of Yale's economic opportunity package of 18 for total adults will do damage to our community if it becomes lower and we oppose it.
7:07:44
I have been listening to DCP's public presentation since September of 2023.
7:07:50
My impression is that DCP is using the COVID epidemic of 2020 as an excuse to take a slow camera and radically change our zoning laws.
7:08:01
I have attended to moody blood hearing, and there is legitimate concern about the proliferation of legal, nonmedical cannabis, both farming, under urban agriculture plans and in retail stores under the number 16 point of property.
7:08:20
And even though a community board votes no, it means nothing because the candidate stores are still opening up all over Staten Island.
7:08:29
DPA, federal EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency of the federal government, has recently put out an alert against the second hand smoke coming from marijuana.
7:08:39
American Academy of Pediatrics has put out an alert because of the legalization of the cannabis and the edible cannabis, there is an increase of pediatric accidental ingestion and hospital realizations of edibles.
7:08:55
And the more stores that are going up, the more these values can occur.
7:09:01
And speaking of federal agencies, I do have a concern that it's a city council vote yes to this that they may be jeopardizing federal dollars.
7:09:11
For instance.
Jack Bolinbach
7:09:12
Thank you.
7:09:13
Your time
Dan Garodnick
7:09:13
is expired.
Carol Donovan
7:09:14
Illegal.
7:09:15
Tabitha, this is still illegal on the federal law.
7:09:18
So how is how is the United States Department of Agriculture gonna get grants out through agricultural programs in the city.
7:09:27
If you're including cannabis in your urban agriculture plan Thank
Jack Bolinbach
7:09:30
you, ma'am.
7:09:31
Your time has expired.
Carol Donovan
7:09:34
Okay.
7:09:34
Thank you.