REMARKS
Council Member Lincoln Restler shares remarks before his questions
4:42:03
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79 sec
Lincoln Restler, a New York City Council member, expresses concerns over proposed cuts to the parks department's budget and staffing levels.
- He notes the parks department does a lot with limited resources
- The mayor has proposed slashing the parks budget, with these being the worst cuts yet
- The cuts would reduce staffing from around 4,500 to 4,100, about a 9% reduction
- There would be a hiring freeze in place until the end of 2022
- Restler wants to understand the impacts these cuts will have on park conditions and operations
Lincoln Restler
4:42:03
I, you know, I am impressed by how much the parks department does with such little resources.
4:42:10
And many of us on the day is today when we ran for office committed to supporting 1% for parks.
4:42:16
I think there's a gentleman across the hall with a corner office who did the same, but, of course, the mayor has slashed the parks budget unfortunately, the cuts that we're talking about today are the worst cuts yet.
4:42:28
And so while there are a lot of good things that I could highlight that are happening in this 33, and appreciative of your team's partnership with us.
4:42:35
And we're finally gonna see Anchorage Plaza turned into a park space under the Brooklyn Bridge.
4:42:40
We just celebrated the completion of the cabin Plaza North oval, which was great.
4:42:43
We've seen improvements at Cathy playground in bedside, Sarah J.
4:42:46
Hopkins in Williamsburg.
4:42:48
And I'm really excited to work with you on Columbus Park, which I hope we're gonna be chatting about soon, and and McCarron asked a lot.
4:42:53
There are good things happening, but I am profoundly concerned about what we are about to witness in the conditions of our parks.
4:43:03
As chair Brandon, I thought artfully asked earlier, we're looking at a staffing reduction from about 45100 to about 41100.
4:43:11
Is that right?
Sue Donoghue
4:43:13
Yes.
4:43:13
That is correct.
Lincoln Restler
4:43:14
So that's about a 9% cut in the parks budget.
4:43:17
There's hiring freeze that would be in place until 2026?
Sue Donoghue
4:43:21
Yes, until the end of 2022.