Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

TESTIMONY

Emily Walker, Senior Manager of External Affairs at the Natural Areas Conservancy, on the Discrepancy Between NYC's Climate Goals and Park Budget Cuts

6:06:13

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146 sec

Walker testifies that despite NYC's ambitious climate budgeting initiative, the proposed FY25 parks budget represents the lowest proportion of funding for the agency in over 5 years.

  • The budget cuts could lead to losing 80% of the natural areas workforce that manages forests and wetlands
  • It could result in the loss of 50 urban park rangers who educate New Yorkers about natural areas
  • The city will miss the opportunity to create new green jobs focused on improving trail accessibility
  • Natural areas provide critical environmental benefits like absorbing carbon emissions and stormwater
  • Actively funding natural area maintenance is crucial to combating climate change effects