TESTIMONY
Christina Taylor, Deputy Director of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, on Underfunded Parks Impacting Basic Maintenance and Programs
6:45:11
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139 sec
Christina Taylor, Deputy Director of the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, testifies about the detrimental impacts of underfunding on New York City parks.
- Budget cuts of $25 million for the current year and a proposed $55 million cut for next year jeopardize basic park maintenance and services.
- The already understaffed Parks Department faces increased difficulties in keeping parks clean, safe and accessible.
- The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance has had to purchase basic supplies like garbage bags and toilet paper to assist overstretched city workers.
- Further cuts may force the Alliance to reduce community programming to cover basic maintenance needs.
- A hiring freeze will result in nearly 1,000 fewer parks workers, exacerbating the staff shortage.
Christina Taylor
6:45:11
Good afternoon.
6:45:12
I'm Christine Taylor, deputy director of the Vincourtland Park Alliance, and we are members of the Playfair Coalition.
6:45:19
New Yorkers deserve a fully funded, safe, clean, green, and resilient park system.
6:45:24
The budget cuts to near city parks this year and the proposed budget cuts for next year jeopardize the very heart of our communities.
6:45:31
These cuts will make it even more difficult for The already understaffed under resource parks department to carry out the basic work needed to ensure parks are equal and accessible for all New Yorkers.
6:45:42
The New York City Parks budget has already been cut by $25,000,000 for the current year, and there's a proposed $55,000,000 cut for next year.
6:45:50
Year after year, New York City Park staff does more with less.
6:45:54
This staff is already stretched too thin.
6:45:56
They are tired and frustrated, and so are we?
6:45:59
Bancorp and Park Alliance exist to add additional programming and resources to the park, not to replace city funding, but that is the role we now find ourselves in.
6:46:09
For the first time ever, the alliance purchased garbage bags to be used by park staff to keep it the park clean.
6:46:15
We purchased 70 cases in the fall and another 140 cases were delivered just last week.
6:46:21
And now we have a new low, toilet paper.
6:46:23
That's right.
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New York City Pirates is currently rationing toilet paper.
6:46:27
And BCP Park staff could not get enough to stock the bathrooms in the park.
6:46:31
So last week, I personally delivered almost three thousand rolls of toilet paper to the park.
6:46:36
Something I thought I'd never have to do.
6:46:38
What is gonna happen next year when there are additional cuts?
6:46:41
This can't keep happening without reduction in the programming and services that BCPA currently runs.
6:46:46
Are we gonna trade free community programs for garbage bags and toilet paper?
6:46:51
We are nearly there.
6:46:52
And Ben Cortland Park is one of the lucky group parks that has a partner group like ours, but really the basics should be covered by the city's budget, not by a timing nonprofit organization.
6:47:04
To be shared with these budget cuts, it is New Yorkers who will suffer.
6:47:07
The hiring freeze and reduced budget will result in nearly 1000 fewer park workers.
6:47:12
We are already feeling the effects of the hiring freeze because that They can't replace staff that they currently have.
6:47:19
There are no outside hires.
6:47:21
It's not gonna be a pretty picture this summer.
6:47:24
If we don't get an increase in the parks budget, and it would be a really bad picture if we get a decrease.
6:47:29
Thank you.