TESTIMONY
Adam Ganser, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks on the Need for Increased Funding for New York City Parks
6:08:43
·
116 sec
Adam Ganser, the Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, testifies on the detrimental impacts of proposed budget cuts to the New York City parks department.
- The executive budget cuts parks funding by $55 million compared to the previous year.
- The parks department faces potential loss of 700 positions due to the cuts.
- The cuts will result in less safe parks, eliminated programs, reduced trash collection, and decreased care for trees and facilities.
- Ganser urges the city council to demand reversal of the cuts and support a fully funded parks budget.
- His testimony highlights widespread support for increased parks funding from city council members, New Yorkers through petitions, and community boards through resolutions.
Adam Ganser
6:08:43
Hi there.
6:08:43
I am Adam Gantzer.
6:08:45
I'm the executive director of New Yorkers for Parks.
6:08:48
Thanks for the opportunity to talk today.
6:08:50
I'm going to reiterate some of the budget statistics Chairbrand spoke about at the beginning.
6:08:56
The executive budget cuts parks by $55,000,000 compared to last year.
6:09:01
Their mayor's budget is also $1,000,000 less than the proposed budget in January.
6:09:07
The parts department is one of the only remaining city agencies that has not had their cuts rolled back.
6:09:15
The parts department, as we've all heard, is in a hiring freeze.
6:09:19
Critical programs have been eliminated.
6:09:21
Staffing level levels are plummeting.
6:09:23
The mayor's proposed budget will reduce the agency by roughly 700 positions.
6:09:27
We've been talking about 400 positions this year, but that will continue as next year continues, resulting in an even more depleted agency and exacerbating inequities that this mayor has sought to solve.
6:09:41
What are the impacts we're going to see with these cuts?
6:09:44
Less safe parks, as we've heard from the union, decimated programming, The eliminated elimination of of 100 second shift locations, which have been crucial to keeping our parks clean and safe, reduced trash collection, reduce care for our trees, filthy bathrooms, the list goes on.
6:10:01
The council took a strong stance on parks in its re response to the preliminary budget, the mayor has ignored your response.
6:10:09
Nearly every city council member has supported our demands for more parks funding.
6:10:14
Tens of 1000 of New Yorkers have signed petitions and letters demanding more parks funding.
6:10:19
Over 40 community boards and counting have sent resolutions to you and to the mayor demanding more parks funding.
6:10:26
We asked the council to stay firm and support our city's communities, demand the mayor reverse the cuts to this year's budget, and pass a fully funded parks budget for next year.
6:10:37
Appreciate your time and support.
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Emily Walker, Senior Manager of External Affairs at the Natural Areas Conservancy, on the Discrepancy Between NYC's Climate Goals and Park Budget Cuts
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Tamar Renaud, New York State Director of Trust for Public Land, on the Importance of Parks and Equitable Access to Outdoor Spaces