AGENCY TESTIMONY
Introduction and background of DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala
0:14:31
·
99 sec
Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala introduces himself and provides context for the hearing on the Citizens Air Complaint Program (CACP). He emphasizes that the goal is to reduce vehicle emissions, not just issue tickets for idling.
- Introduces Julie Lubin, Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Compliance
- Highlights the creation of a new deputy commissioner role focused on air, noise, and asbestos work
- Mentions the main message: idling tickets are a tool to reduce vehicle emissions, not an end in themselves
Rohit T. Aggarwala
0:14:31
You've got you've got printouts, but we didn't have enough for everybody here.
0:14:37
Good afternoon.
0:14:38
Mister Chairman and members of the Environmental Protection Committee, I'm Rohit Tiegarwal, commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
0:14:46
I'm joined today by Julie Lubin, DEP's Deputy Commissioner of Environmental Compliance.
0:14:52
Julie oversees the Bureau of Environmental Compliance BEC, which manages the enforcement of the noise and error codes, including the citizen complaint programs.
0:15:01
Until earlier this year, BEC was managed as part of our Bureau of Sustainability.
0:15:06
But I made the decision to bring in a new deputy commissioner specifically focused on the agency's air noise and asbestos work reporting directly to me to ensure that BEC receives the attention it deserves.
0:15:18
And I will say Julie's done an amazing job, and, of course, is a council alum, I will point out.
0:15:24
Not not an elected, but council staff alum.
0:15:27
While today's focus is the is on DEP's citizen complete programs, And our main message is that writing tickets for idling is not an end in itself, but rather is one tool to reach the goal of driving down vehicle emissions.
0:15:44
While successful, the program has flaws, particularly in its failure to address pollution in many environmental justice communities.
0:15:53
With some edits we would like to discuss with the committee, we believe the combination of intros 5291and941 can significantly improve the program's impact on air pollution.
0:16:05
Mister Chairman, you and I have worked together on this issue of air quality for nearly 2 decades.
