PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Bryce Stack, Member of the Public, on the Citizens Air Complaint Program
3:33:49
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121 sec
Bryce Stack, a regular New Yorker and public sector union member, testified in support of the Citizens Air Complaint Program. He shared personal experiences with air pollution's health impacts and emphasized the program's importance in allowing citizens to address idling issues in their neighborhoods.
- Stack opposed the proposed reduction in pay for program participants in Intro 941, arguing it would discourage participation, especially in environmental justice zones.
- He suggested expanding the program and increasing the number of DEP air inspectors for better enforcement.
- Stack expressed gratitude to the council and staff for their work on addressing air pollution in New York City.
Bryce Stack
3:33:49
Yes.
3:33:49
Hello.
3:33:50
My name is Bryce Stack.
3:33:52
And I just am a regular New Yorker.
3:33:56
I have a full time day job.
3:33:57
I'm a union member and I work for in the public sector, and I took the afternoon off to come here and testify.
3:34:03
The first time I saw the inside of an emergency room is on my brother hadn't as my tech.
3:34:08
When he was six years old.
3:34:09
And today, the New York City Department of Health And Hospitals estimated that 1400 people in New York City died directly attributable to air pollution, and that's not counting the number of hospital visits of those who went to the hospital, but thankfully made it out alive.
3:34:27
I just wanted to say that, you know, everyone who's come up here and testified, the ones who participated in this citizen complaint program like myself, we all have a story about why we got into it.
3:34:39
And I just wanted to say that, you know, I think we should expand the program.
3:34:43
I think this program is special because it allows New Yorkers in every neighborhood to make a difference where they live.
3:34:50
If they have a truck that idles every day, they can go out there, and they can make the complaint, and then the idling will stop.
3:34:57
So I think with respect to 9 10 to 941, I think the reduction in pay that's proposed would have a negative impact.
3:35:07
I think it'd be tough to get people in the environmental justice zones to participate in this program when it already takes a very long time to get paid because participants only get paid after the company has paid.
3:35:20
And I think it would be difficult in those neighborhoods if you said to them that the pay has been reduced by 50% as is currently proposed.
3:35:29
So I think we should give DEP more air inspectors in the next budget let's get more enforcement.
3:35:36
We're at the finish line.
3:35:38
We can stop idling in New York City.
3:35:40
So thank you, Mister Chairman, for all the hard work that you've done over the years in this council.
3:35:45
And thank you to the legislative staff who've been here all day.
3:35:48
And who are working on this as well.
James F. Gennaro
3:35:49
Thank you.
