PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gregory Gonzales, Member of the Public, on the Citizens Air Complaint Program
3:35:57
·
115 sec
Gregory Gonzales, a father and former teacher, expresses strong support for the Citizens Air Complaint Program, emphasizing its importance in improving air quality, especially near schools. He urges the council to reject Intro 941, which he believes would restrict the program's effectiveness.
- Gonzales regularly observes commercial vehicles idling near schools, endangering children's health
- He reports that the program has been successful in getting many vehicles to shut off their engines
- Gonzales argues that Intro 941's proposed changes, such as the 5-day complaint submission limit and reduced payments, would decrease participation and effectiveness
Gregory Gonzales
3:35:57
Thank you.
3:35:57
My name is Gregory Gonzales.
3:35:59
Thank you.
3:36:01
The system's air complaint program means a lot to As a father of a young child in preschool and a former teacher, I think air quality is very important, especially the air quality in front of our schools.
3:36:14
I am active in the air complaint program part time and in my spare time.
3:36:18
I make it a point to walk past several schools while I'm walking through Queens in Manhattan or whatever burrow I'm walking in that day.
3:36:25
Almost every time I have gone out, I found commercial vehicles idling in front of in front of a school, and these vehicles are poisoning the air of New York City's children.
3:36:37
I will often find several vehicles idling at lunchtime in front of school yards where children are actually playing outside.
3:36:44
In fact, I saw the scenario yesterday.
3:36:48
The air complaint program is a spectacular tool to fight air pollution and gives us the power to get vehicles to shut off their engines.
3:36:55
The program needs to be given a chance to grow and not be restricted.
3:36:59
For every item complaint I issue to a vehicle, there are 1 or 2 more that turn off their engines before they are in violation.
3:37:08
I know that the operators of the vehicles are aware of the program and are now shutting off their engines.
3:37:14
I have had hundreds of vehicles shut off their engines specifically in front of schools.
3:37:19
From my experience, the air complaint program has been extremely successful in improving air quality.
3:37:25
I am asking it to the council to reject 941 Interior 941 specifically imposes a 5 day limit to to submit complaints and lowers the payment for someone who submits from 14th to 18th.
3:37:40
Interior 941 would lower participation in this is an air complaint program.
3:37:44
And as a family man with many responsibilities would make it extremely burdensome for me to participate in the program further.
3:37:51
Thank you.
