PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Daniella Mendoza on MSK Pavilion Project's Impact on PS 183 Children
1:56:42
·
3 min
Daniella Mendoza expresses concerns about the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Pavilion project's impact on children attending PS 183. She emphasizes the need for strict environmental protections and mitigation measures to safeguard the health and well-being of the young students during construction.
- Highlights the unique vulnerabilities of children to environmental hazards from demolition and construction projects
- Calls for MSK to provide specific protections such as a canopy for the play space, medical-grade air filtration systems, and deep cleaning services for the school
- Urges consideration of the project's effects on children's quality of life and learning environment
Daniella Mendoza
1:56:42
Okay.
1:56:44
Although it is fair to consider the necessity of constructing this hospital through the perspective of potential cancer cases It is equally important, if not more important, to consider quality of life for the children who attend.
1:57:02
PS 183 right now.
1:57:04
Sorry.
1:57:07
I have done My best to read as many of the public documents about this project, and there are a lot of documents.
1:57:14
However, I noticed that there is little if no mention of how the demolition and construction will specifically affect the pediatric population.
1:57:23
The environmental hazards and risks are serious in many for this young population with developing minds and bodies.
1:57:30
There are children in the community with disabilities like hearing loss, like my son who will be even more affected by the pollution and the noise.
1:57:42
Sorry.
1:57:44
It is important to remember that the the children at PS 183 range in age from three years old to ten years old.
1:57:52
Environmental protection agency website explains why and how environmental hazards from demolitions and constructions projects affect children differently than adults with greater consequences.
1:58:06
One article entitled children are not little adults, explains that this is because children have unique physiological differences like eating, breathing, and drinking more relative to their body mass than adults do.
1:58:20
And unique activity patterns like crawling and playing close to the ground, making them more likely to come into contact with dirt and dust, which can include toxicants.
1:58:32
Can children often put their hands, toys, and other items into their mouths.
1:58:38
I feel that constructing this pavilion and changing the zoning in this location is not safe for the children at PS 183.
1:58:45
If MSK is to proceed with this project, it is important that the hospital be held the highest and strictest standards of accountability and not the minimum.
1:58:54
It is our responsibility to protect this vulnerable population.
1:58:59
To that end, I think MSK should provide and pay for certain protections for the pediatric population.
1:59:06
This action would demonstrate to the community that they are not only interested in treating cancer, but in preventing exposures.
1:59:16
Thanks.
1:59:16
Sorry.
1:59:17
That can and will eventually cause cancer.
1:59:21
MSK should provide a canopy for the entire open play space.
1:59:26
The entire play space needs to be functional and usable for every day, but should have covered to prevent dust fall and contamination of play surfaces.
1:59:34
In addition, the play space should be hosed down
UNKNOWN
1:59:37
right there.
Kevin C. Riley
1:59:38
If you could wrap it up now.
Daniella Mendoza
1:59:39
Yes.
1:59:39
I have 2.
1:59:41
MSK should provide medical grade air filtration systems for the school.
1:59:45
There are many research papers post COVID that demonstrate the effectiveness of using filters.
1:59:51
MSQ should provide deep cleaning services to the school on nights and weekends to manage dust and dirt going into the school.
1:59:58
This is not this list is not comprehensive, but rather I hope a starting point for us to think about ways to keep the children at PS 183 physically safe, create a healthy learning environment, and protect their quality of life.
2:00:11
Thank you.