QUESTION
What is Commissioner Donoghue's vision for utilizing additional resources in the Parks Department?
3:24:03
·
115 sec
Commissioner Donoghue states that she would welcome additional resources and staff for the Parks Department.
- She highlights the success of the second shift initiative to have more staff during peak park usage times.
- More resources would allow for expanded greening and tree planting efforts.
- Additional support would bolster the dedicated work of Parks Department staff across various roles.
Shekar Krishnan
3:24:03
Taking a step back for a second, looking at the Parks' budget overall, 2 years ago, we work to ensure that we had the largest budget for our parks department in New York City's history.
3:24:13
Instead of building on that, what we've seen every year are cuts since then that we've had to fight as a council to restore each and every time.
3:24:22
Commissioner, my question for you, just to begin with, is if you had more resources for the parks department, whether it's 1% as the mayor campaigned on or even just a larger budget restoring what we achieved 2 years ago.
3:24:36
If you had more resources for the Parks department, how would you use them?
3:24:39
What is your vision personally for the Parks department?
Sue Donoghue
3:24:43
Thank you, Krishna, for the question.
3:24:46
And as I said in my testimony, first of all, the budget conversation is ongoing.
3:24:52
We look forward to continuing to work with the mayor, OMV, and the council to shape the final FY 25 budget.
3:24:59
A process continues.
3:25:01
Obviously, as a commissioner for an agent of an agency, I'd always welcome having more resources and additional staff.
3:25:09
You know, what we talked about earlier, the second shift has proven to be very effective.
3:25:13
We know that we wanna have people in our parks when they're most heavily utilized.
3:25:18
That's in the afternoon, evenings, and on weekends.
3:25:21
So that's why we developed the initiative when I came into.
3:25:25
The agency, and we've seen it's beneficial.
3:25:30
But as I said, it's across the board that cuts impact across the board.
3:25:35
So absolutely things like second shift are important.
3:25:39
More resources for all that we do.
3:25:41
For greening, for tree planting, are all really important.
3:25:46
And we have an incredibly dedicated hardworking staff at the Parks department that we are so proud every day of the work that they do.
3:25:54
And so it's just supporting that in their roles is really important.