PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Leslie Brahm, Member of the Public, on the Citizens Air Complaint Program
2:55:32
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129 sec
Leslie Brahm, a resident of the Upper East Side, testified in support of the Citizens Air Complaint Program and urged the committee to maintain its effectiveness. She shared her experiences with idling vehicles and emphasized the program's importance in reducing emissions from professionally operated trucks and buses.
- Brahm opposed Intros 941 and 747, which would weaken the program by reducing incentives and adding exemptions
- She supported Intro 291 to increase penalties for idling infractions and Intro 5 to expand language access to the program
- Brahm highlighted the city's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and the need for strong enforcement of environmentally friendly policies
Leslie Brahm
2:55:32
Good afternoon chair and environmental the environmental committee and staff.
2:55:37
My name's Leslie Brahm, and I live on the Upper East side.
2:55:40
When I arrived in the city and I noticed all the idling, at first, I would politely ask some of the drivers if they were standing outside their vehicle.
2:55:50
Could they turn off their engines?
2:55:53
I was told they couldn't, that the battery might die.
2:55:57
I was told they couldn't because they had to leave the engine running.
2:56:04
They they were trained that way.
2:56:06
Some people have told me they were trained to leave their engines running.
2:56:09
I was told my to my my own business, I was asked if there was something better for me to do and much nastier comments.
2:56:19
And so I decided to start filming what I saw because the flightway was not getting me anywhere.
2:56:25
And then I became a citizen complaint, a participant in the citizen complaint program, and I'm a newcomer to it.
2:56:34
And I think this program is the most effective way of getting these professionally operated trucks and buses to stop idling.
2:56:42
I ask you please do not weaken the DEP Citizens complaint program by reducing incentives.
2:56:49
Penalizing mistakes or giving more exemptions to companies.
2:56:53
I urge you to vote no on intros 941 and 747.
2:57:00
I applaud the work of this committee and your statement of holding the city accountable to its stated emissions goals, which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
2:57:13
In order to do that, You need to vote yes on intro to 91 to increase the penalties for idling and fractions by buses and trucks, and to uphold and enforce the environmentally friendly policies.
2:57:27
Also vote yes on intro 5, which will end the Adams administration's discriminatory policy of refusing access to the citizen complaint program to the 25%.
2:57:40
Of the the tune speaking.
James F. Gennaro
2:57:41
Thank you.
