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TESTIMONY

Angela Padilla, Teen Employee at the High Line Teen Employment Program, on the Need for Increased Funding to Improve Safety and Conditions in New York City Parks

6:24:30

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54 sec

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Angela Padilla, a teen employee at the High Line Teen Employment Program and a member of the Playfair Coalition, advocates for allocating 1% of the city's operating budget to the Parks Department.

She expresses concerns over the current poor conditions of some city parks due to the presence of drug dealers, gangs, and gun violence.
These unsafe conditions prevent families and youth from enjoying public spaces and bonding.
Budget cuts will only exacerbate the issue and invite further negative activities in these areas.

Angela Padilla

6:24:30

Good afternoon, community chairs and members of the committee.

6:24:33

Thank you for having this hearing.

6:24:35

My name is Angela, and I am from the High Line Team Employment Program, a member of the Playfair Coalition.

6:24:40

I'm from Harlem and have lived there most of my life.

6:24:43

Today, I wanted to talk about how New York City Parks deserve more from us.

6:24:46

Currently, some of our parks are already in very bad conditions to the point where some parents don't even feel comfortable taking their children to certain areas, certain parks or playgrounds, due to drug dealers gangs or gun violence happening in the area.

6:25:00

Cutting down, the budget is only gonna make this worse as it's it's inviting negative energy to take over spaces.

6:25:06

For family and youth who are trying to enjoy public spaces where they're able to bond and enjoy each other's time to the point where some students don't even feel safe going to their nearby park.

6:25:16

Because there might be dangerous individuals that have taken over.

6:25:19

We need 1% of the city operating budget to fund the parks department.

6:25:23

Thank you for listening.

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Keisha Lewis, Teen Employee from the High Line Teen Employment Program, on the Importance of Parks for Community Health and Safety in Low-Income Neighborhoods

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Mame Bousso Kane, Teen Employee from the High Line Teen Employment Program, on the Need for Increased Funding for New York City Parks