TESTIMONY
Joaquin Eleno, Teen Employee at The High Line Teens Employment Program, on the Importance of Adequate Funding for NYC Parks
6:27:29
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80 sec
Joaquin Eleno, a teen employee at The High Line Teens Employment Program, advocates for sufficient funding for NYC Parks on behalf of the Play Fair Coalition.
- He highlights how parks serve as communal spaces for New Yorkers without backyards, especially in NYC.
- He notes that budget cuts have progressively undermined the Parks Department's ability to maintain and improve parks.
- He warns that underfunding leads to reduced maintenance, oversight, and amenities, potentially decreasing park visitation.
- He emphasizes the importance of parks as 'third spaces' between work and home for various community members.
- He urges the committee to prioritize park funding to prevent further decline in their functionality and accessibility.
Joaquin Eleno
6:27:29
Hello, committee chairs and members of the committee.
6:27:32
My name is Joaquin Ilano, I'm with the team or a high line team's employment program.
6:27:38
I'm from LEHLC Houses, and I'm here to test the file with the play fair coalition, and I'm here to say that NYC Parks need their fair share of funding.
6:27:46
The multiple administrations, the Parks department's budget has been cut.
6:27:50
And with each cut, the parts department is able to do less and less with what they have.
6:27:54
In New York City where most residents don't have backyards, parks are supposed to be our backyards.
6:28:01
And when they are underfunded, they do more harm than good for us.
6:28:05
With underfunded parks we get an increase of other issues that were sent pre existing problems in New York City.
6:28:12
3rd spaces are very important.
6:28:14
For our communities, for our children, teens, and our elderly.
6:28:19
With more budget cuts to the parks department, it will inhibit the goal of 3rd spaces, which are supposed to be a place in between work and home.
6:28:29
With a decline in amenities, or in maintenance and oversight as proposed by the current administration's previous budget, it would decrease visitation to these parts effectively taking away a or taking away 3rd spaces used by many different New Yorkers in many different ways.
6:28:47
And I thank you for your time.
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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
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Iyana McGhaney, Teen Employee of the High Line Teen Employment Program, on the Importance of Adequate Park Funding for Families Without Backyards