TESTIMONY
Vanessa Butler, Speaking on behalf of Executive Director Heather Lubov of City Parks Foundation, on Advocating for Increased Funding and Staffing for NYC Parks
6:37:42
·
142 sec
Vanessa Butler advocates for restoring budget cuts and hiring freezes impacting the NYC Parks department's staffing and ability to maintain parks equitably across the city.
- She represents the City Parks Foundation, a nonprofit supporting NYC parks through programs and public-private partnerships.
- Budget cuts have depleted the Parks department workforce, hampering crucial services when demand is high.
- Private organizations cannot fully compensate for the city's disinvestment in parks maintenance and staffing.
- Butler calls for allocating 1% of the city's budget to the Parks department to address inequities and prioritize public spaces.
Vanessa Butler
6:37:42
Good afternoon, sir Krishnan.
6:37:44
I'm Vanessa Butler, speaking on behalf of Heather Lubov, executive director of City Parks Foundation, a city wide nonprofit that supports a vibrant thriving park system by offering free environmental performing arts, sports, and community building programs.
6:38:00
We work closely with the Parks department to manage partnerships for Parks, a public private partnership.
6:38:06
Fusiti agencies resonate as deeply with New Yorkers as the parks department does.
6:38:11
Last year alone, partnerships or parks engaged 28,000 volunteers stewarding neighborhood parks, a network funded and part things to the NYC Council's visionary Parks Equity Initiative.
6:38:23
These grassroots efforts are fueled by genuine love for parks and community.
6:38:27
However, volunteers cannot and should not bear the city's maintenance responsibilities.
6:38:33
NYC Parks is staffed with individuals who harbor a profound passion for open spaces and are unwaveringly dedicated to their mission.
6:38:41
However, the ability to fulfill their duties is severely hampered by the relentless budget slashing.
6:38:46
The executive budget exacerbates this with a hiring freeze eliminating over 600 parks job lines, depleting an under staff workforce when demand for crucial services is at its peak.
6:38:58
The workforce is now leaner than during the pandemic, a period whose challenges disproportionately impacted low income communities.
6:39:05
Through initiatives like the NYC Green Fund, City Parks Foundation, Endevers, to explore innovative avenues for generating private support and identifying alternative revenue streams.
6:39:17
Supportive community led effort.
6:39:19
However, it is imperative to emphasize that the responsibility for funding and maintaining our parks ultimately lies with the city administration.
6:39:27
No single organization or coalition can fully compensate for ongoing disinvestment.
6:39:32
Today, I stand united with play fair coalition to unequivocally denounce the mayor's proposed budget cuts.
6:39:38
We implore the mayor and other decision makers to break recognize the existing inequities in our city's open spaces and commit to addressing them by investing in staffing, maintenance, and infrastructure.
6:39:49
We call upon the administration to allocate 1% of the city budget to the parks department, ensuring adequate funding for the parks equity initiative and prioritizing the health and well-being of all new workers by investing in public spaces.
6:40:03
Thank you.
← Previous Chapter
Keri Butler, Vice President of Planning and Policy of the Municipal Art Society of New York, on the Essential Role of Parks as Infrastructure and Need for Budget Restoration
Next Chapter →
Morgan Monaco, President of the Prospect Park Alliance, on the Vital Role of Parks, Impacts of Budget Cuts, and the Need for Adequate Funding