TESTIMONY
Rafael Espinal, Board Member of the Forest Park Trust, on Advocating for Prevention of NYC Parks Budget Cuts and Job Losses
7:52:34
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132 sec
Espinal urges the City Council to prevent $55 million in budget cuts and the elimination of 100 essential parks jobs for the next fiscal year.
- The cuts threaten cleanliness, maintenance, and safety of NYC parks
- Parks are vital green spaces for families and children in dense urban areas
- Previous investments revitalized parks like Highland Park that were once neglected
- The cuts will reverse progress made in these parks and impact climate resilience
- Espinal also advocates for restoring funding to the composting program
Rafael Espinal
7:52:34
Hi.
7:52:35
My name is Jocelyn Espinal.
7:52:36
I'm a board member of the Forest Park Trust and a former New York City council member.
7:52:40
Thank you City Council Committee on Finance, Sherry Brandon, and Park Shipper Krishnam for your leadership.
7:52:45
Part of my testimony is on behalf of the Forest Park and its president Michael Perlamo.
7:52:49
The Forest Park Trust is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the New York City Parks to assist the Forest And Highland Park Administration.
7:52:57
And its efforts secure funding for both parks.
7:53:00
The trust supports the improvements to the landscape and recreational areas.
7:53:03
Rights free of family and youth programs and events and finance the seasonal staff to oversee free fitness classes, maintain our natural areas at community gardens.
7:53:12
We hope that the city council will prevent the $55,000,000 fiscal year 25 budget cuts, and stop the elimination of 100 of essential jobs that are important for New Yorkers well-being.
7:53:22
For many New Yorkers, these parks are their backyards, and the and the present budget outlined will threaten the cleanliness, maintenance, and safety measures to ensure New York City parks remain secure in havens for children and families to enjoy together.
7:53:37
I grew up and continue to live in Cyprus, which is home to Highland Park.
7:53:41
As a former New York City council member, I secured over $40,000,000 in capital funds for the restoration of its playgrounds, gardens, athletic fields, pathways, and several free cultural and sports programs.
7:53:53
I'm seeing firsthand those positive impacts that is happening on my community.
7:53:56
There is now a tremendous increase in park, viewership, and more respect for Highland Park, which when I was growing up, felt abandoned by the city, and was deemed unsafe for residents.
7:54:05
These cuts will roll back years of progress that has been made to make the park more habitable for the people of Saint Priscilla's and East New York.
7:54:13
These cuts will also disturb the health of our natural areas.
7:54:15
And the parks contribution to locally reducing impact of climate change.
7:54:19
Forest And Highland Parks, forested areas contribute to significant role in maintaining a greener, and more climate resilient city, especially in communities like ours.
7:54:28
I would also like to learn my voice in advocating towards a push of restoring funding to the composting program.
7:54:33
A PROGRAMME WAS A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR AND HAVE BEEN SURPRIVED TO GO BACK OVER THE YEARS, GIVEN HELP DIED.
Christopher Marte
7:54:38
TIMES EXpired.
Mark Focht
7:54:39
TIMES EXpired.
7:54:40
THANK YOU.
Rafael Espinal
7:54:41
Thank you all for your leadership including New York City Parks.
Justin L. Brannan
7:54:45
Thank you, sir.
Rafael Espinal
7:54:46
Thank you.