TESTIMONY
Giulietta Fiore, Deputy Director of the Historic House Trust of New York City, on Preserving Historic Sites and Advocating for Increased Parks Funding
7:08:04
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146 sec
Giulietta Fiore represents the Historic House Trust of New York City, a nonprofit that preserves 23 historic houses operating as museums and cultural centers on public parklands across the five boroughs. The testimony addresses the City Council Finance Committee to advocate for increased parks funding.
- Fiore highlights the organization's role in maintaining over 400 acres of public parkland with historic sites that serve as educational and cultural spaces.
- Years of disinvestment have taken a toll, leading to unsafe conditions like deteriorating infrastructure and lack of maintenance at the sites.
- Proposed budget cuts will further strain the Parks Department's ability to ensure parks are equitable and accessible.
- Parks are on the frontlines of climate change, with increased flooding, downed trees, and storm impacts requiring funding for resiliency efforts.
- While nonprofits assist where possible, Fiore cautions against over-privatizing public spaces and overburdening groups with operational responsibilities.
Giulietta Fiore
7:08:04
Hello, everyone.
7:08:05
My name is Julia Tefuri, and I am here today representing the Historic House Trust of New York City.
7:08:10
A nonprofit that helps preserve 23 publicly owned historic houses that operate as museums, cultural centers, community hubs, and vibrant green spaces, a across all 5 New York City boroughs.
7:08:21
We thank the city council finance committee for holding this hearing and support our fellow play fair for Park coalition members in advocating for increased funding for New York City Parks to ensure a safe, clean, and resilient park system.
7:08:32
As some of the oldest structures in New York The city owned sites that we help stewards sit on over 400 acres of public park land that serve as important cultural and educational spaces.
7:08:42
Celebrate pride month at the Alice Austin House on on Staten Island, experience African American folk in America on a music with the Cornelius Eddy Group at the Van Corilant House Museum in the Bronx, or join the 45th annual Thunderbird American Indian powwow at the Queens County Farm Museum.
7:08:57
Head over to the Daikman Farmhouse Museum in Upper Manhattan to celebrate African and Dutch New York celebration of Pinkstar, or sign your family member up for the youth garden apprentice program at the Whitecough House Museum in Brooklyn.
7:09:08
Despite the best efforts of hardworking Parks employees, years of disinvestment in New York City Parks have taken a toll on our public resources.
7:09:16
The proposed budget cuts for FY 25 will make it even more difficult for the already under resource parks department to carry out the basic work needed to ensure parks are equitable and accessible for all New Yorkers.
7:09:27
At our sites, we're seeing unsafe conditions on pathways, deteriorating roofs and wood siding, water infiltration, and graffiti.
7:09:34
On top of all this, New York City's Parkland is on the front lines of climate change.
7:09:38
In the past few years, we've seen seen increased storm impacts, including flooding, downed trees and more.
7:09:43
Without funding for maintenance workers, specialized tradespeople, and climate resiliency efforts across all five boroughs, we fear that communities will no longer see these park resources as safe and welcoming places.
7:09:54
One of the benefits of our park system is that New York City Parks can see the city's needs holistically to work towards equity across boroughs.
7:10:00
While nonprofits like us are happy to help out where we can, we want to caution against overly privatizing our public spaces.
7:10:07
We work with over 20 local groups that excel at community engagement programming and education However, they are increasingly being asked to expand their operations, to respond to growing needs across the park system, like training staff and de escalation and emergency response.
7:10:20
They are rising to meet the challenge, but they shouldn't have to.
7:10:23
Thank you very much for this opportunity to voice voice our needs, and we hope that you invest in the park system to staying the places that makes New York City our home.
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Andrew Wallach, Chairman of the Board of the Natural Areas Conservancy, on Restoring and Increasing Funding for NYC Parks to Support Natural Areas
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Sarah Evans, Director of the Living Collection at Green-Wood Cemetery, on Green-Wood Cemetery's Role in Supporting Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice in Brooklyn