QUESTION
What is the explanation for NYC EDC's lack of preparedness to provide comments on legislation related to helicopter operations?
1:03:09
·
144 sec
Council member Lincoln Restler expresses frustration at NYC EDC's lack of substantive responses on bills regarding helicopter operations that were introduced months or years ago.
- The council member states this undermines the City Council's ability to perform its legislative duties.
- He views the lack of preparedness as disrespectful to the council and the legislative process.
- The NYCEDC representative explains they rely on legal review from other agencies like the Law Department for complex issues like aviation jurisdiction.
Lincoln Restler
1:03:09
I have to say, you know, I don't recall when chairfuriis notified the Economic Development Corporation of this hearing.
1:03:21
Do you know the date that you were made aware of this hearing?
Mikelle Adgate
1:03:24
I would I think it was about 3 weeks ago.
Lincoln Restler
1:03:26
3 weeks ago.
1:03:27
And the bills that are being considered today, almost all of them had been introduced months, if not years ago.
1:03:33
Is that correct?
Mikelle Adgate
1:03:33
That's correct.
1:03:34
Summer 2022 for some of them.
Lincoln Restler
1:03:36
And the expectation you worked in governmental affairs for a long time.
1:03:39
The expectation of agencies is to come prepared to testify on the bills at the hearings at which you attend.
1:03:44
Is that correct?
Mikelle Adgate
1:03:45
Yes.
Lincoln Restler
1:03:46
So to have no comment whatsoever on half a dozen pieces of legislation, you can understand how that is frustrating to the members of the city council?
Mikelle Adgate
1:03:55
I absolutely understand the frustration.
1:03:58
I would just ask you to keep in mind a couple of different things.
1:04:02
1, from a legislative perspective and a legal perspective, we do rely on the lot department and their level of expertise, particularly when it comes to the complex city around federal airspace, aviation jurisdiction, and so on.
1:04:20
And so it it is not a legal review that lies within EDC only.
1:04:26
We do work with our colleagues at the lot department who I know also work with counsel, legal, on review as well.
1:04:33
And so while I can't speak on behalf of the law department, I can say that they are, you know, earnestly reviewing the legislation from that lens.
Lincoln Restler
1:04:41
If they were earnestly reviewing the legislation, then we would have answers at the hearing today.
1:04:45
If this administration was taking the city council seriously, we would have answers.
1:04:49
Today.
1:04:49
It's just it's I mean, city hall is sitting here.
1:04:52
It's disrespectful.
1:04:53
It's disrespectful for your agencies to show up here unprepared.
1:04:57
To answer our questions and to respond substantively on the legislation that we introduced.
1:05:00
We put an enormous amount of effort into these bills, into crafting them thoughtfully, carefully, deliberately, with our lawyers making sure that they are in fact legal and appropriate.
1:05:10
And to not get responses, it really undermines the the undermines our ability to do our jobs, and it's really disappointing.
1:05:18
No, you're not you're not pleased with do the they they like that instead.
1:05:21
I'm sorry.
1:05:22
So I'm sorry to get worked up, but it's disappointing and it's frustrating, and it it really does undermine the what we're trying to accomplish in these hearings.
1:05:31
So I'll move on to other questions.
