TESTIMONY
Max Barton, Construction Worker and Union Representative for Local Union 1010 Pavers and Road Builders, on the Need for Increased Parks Funding and Inclusion of Site Work in Project Labor Agreements
5:18:49
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125 sec
Max Barton, a construction worker and union representative for Local Union 1010 Pavers and Road Builders, testifies about the importance of adequately funding New York City parks and including site work in project labor agreements.
- He represents the Play Fair Parks Coalition, advocating for 1% of the city budget to be allocated to parks as committed by the administration.
- Parks serve as communities' backyards and spaces to connect with nature, necessitating proper funding as an essential government service.
- More maintenance workers and funding for the Parks Department are needed to keep parks well-maintained and safe.
- Including site work like fieldwork, turf installation, tree planting, and landscaping in project labor agreements could yield cost savings through coordinated efforts.
Max Barton
5:18:49
Max Barton.
Justin L. Brannan
5:18:50
Okay.
5:18:50
Go ahead.
Max Barton
5:18:51
Alright.
5:18:51
Good afternoon.
5:18:52
Again, my name is Max Barton.
5:18:53
I'm a construction worker and a union representative for lionel laborers, local Union 1010 pavers, and road builders.
5:18:59
We're 25100 members strong who work in heavy highway, building trades, and parks in the construction industry.
5:19:05
Myself and our membership thank committee Parks' chair, council member of Christian, and for holding his hearing.
5:19:11
And I'd like to thank our partners for the play fair parks coalition who have been tirelessly advocating for 1% of the city budget to be allocated to New York Parks, a prior commitment made by this administration.
5:19:22
The play fair for Parks Coalition includes over 400 organizations from across the five boroughs, many of whom will testify today.
5:19:28
Our parks are New York's backyard, our members, communities, backyards, and where the city slows down and lives in nature harmony.
5:19:34
And just like everyone in this room, today, our membership shares with you a deed for 635,000,000 acres of public lands.
5:19:40
This makes park and recreation funding a priority for local government service.
5:19:44
The National Recreation Park Association had a study in 2018 where 9 out of 10 American agree that parks and rec are part in government service.
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And in 2023, the study showed again that 9 out of 10 Americans agree that parks and recreation is important government service.
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Americans love their parks.
5:20:02
Myself, I'm an important member of the Queen's community board 13, an active member in the parks community there.
5:20:08
During my time in this committee, we see the need for more maintenance workers for our parks and more funding allocation to the parks department to keep our parks beautifully kept and safe for all to use.
5:20:17
As you've heard over and over again, more funding should be allocated to parks.
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Currently, project labor agreements in the city of New York exclude a substantial amount of capital project work performed by the New York City Department of Parks And Rock.
5:20:28
We believe a simple study on the inclusion of site work to New York City project labor agreement would yield tremendous savings.
5:20:34
Site work includes fieldwork, baseball fields, other playing fields, turf installation, as well as tree planting and landscaping, and we believe the cost of feasibility study would minimal versus the potential savings for coordinate work and other demonstrate savings provided by the existing city BLAs.
5:20:49
In summary, it would greatly benefit New York City, statewide project labor agreements to include site work.