REMARKS
Council Member Lincoln Restler introduces Intro 994
0:55:28
·
115 sec
Council Member Lincoln Restler introduces legislation to combat heat-related deaths in New York City.
- Restler introduces Intro 994 to address heat as the leading climate-related killer in NYC.
- The bill proposes requiring landlords to provide cooling in summer, similar to heating in winter.
- 350 people die annually in NYC from heat-related illnesses, mostly in homes without air conditioning.
- Heat disproportionately affects low-income African American and Latino New Yorkers.
- Restler calls for co-sponsorship, emphasizing the urgency of the legislation to combat climate change effects.
Lincoln Restler
0:55:28
Thank you, majority leader.
0:55:29
I'd like to join council members, Javier, and and I'm sure Krishnan and just expressing my most profound condolences to the family of David Lopez.
0:55:38
David was a an inspiration, a fighter, a real champion for justice, and he is sorely missed.
0:55:45
I am proud to be introducing intro 994 today It has been hot this summer, like crazy hot.
0:55:56
And we need to do something about the fact that heat is the number one climate killer.
0:56:02
We need new regulatory and enforcement models that can actually ensure that people are safe in the face of climate change.
0:56:09
Here in New York City, 350 people are dying each and every year from heat related illnesses, and the majority of those people are dying in their homes.
0:56:18
And not in a single one of those homes, can you find an air conditioner?
0:56:21
These are preventable deaths.
0:56:24
Just a few weeks ago on June 21st, 51 New Yorkers found themselves in an emergency room due to heat related illnesses.
0:56:30
It is getting worse each and every year.
0:56:33
And just like we ask landlords to provide heat in the winter, we need our landlords to provide cooling in the summer.
0:56:39
And that is what interim994 would accomplish.
0:56:44
This is a real solution to combat the realities of climate change, and it's a piece of legislation that is urgent.
0:56:52
And so I hope that you will join me in co sponsoring this legislation.
0:56:56
I wanna thank council's member council member's nurse, Joseph Hudson, Jose Krishnan, for already signing up as co sponsors, and I hope many others will join.
0:57:07
He is is a dangerous killer.
0:57:09
It is disproportionately affecting low income African American and Latino New Yorkers, and we need real solutions to ensure that every New Yorker, every tenant has access to cooling so that every apartment in New York City is safe and habitable.
0:57:22
Thank you.