PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Peder Wessel on Citizens Air Complaint Program and Intro 941
2:59:13
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132 sec
Peder Wessel, a Manhattan resident with two small children, shares his positive experience with the Citizens Air Complaint Program and expresses concerns about Intro 941. He credits the program for significantly reducing excessive idling in his neighborhood, improving air quality and addressing high asthma levels in New York City.
- Wessel was one of five members prosecuted by DEP for allegedly making a false statement, which he attributes to a time zone bug in the DEP platform.
- He emphasizes the importance of due process, noting that he was able to address the false allegation through a hearing with OATH, but expresses concern that Intro 941 may limit such opportunities for others.
- Wessel highlights the prevalence of excessive idling before the program and its effectiveness in reducing it.
Peder Wessel
2:59:13
Sure.
2:59:14
Thank you.
2:59:15
My name is Peter Wessel.
James F. Gennaro
2:59:16
I
Peder Wessel
2:59:16
wanna thank you, first of all, taking the opportunity to allow me to speak here today, taking out recent events in World Affairs.
2:59:22
I don't take that lightly or granted.
2:59:25
Do wanna share my perspective and experience with the program.
2:59:28
I have 2 small children.
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I live in Manhattan.
2:59:32
I started out to the program as many others have said by reading a New York Times article about the asthma levels in New York City.
2:59:39
I was appalled and frankly quite saddened by the fact that asthma levels are excessively high in the city.
2:59:45
At the same time, I was very encouraged to see that the city had taken actions to allow people to enforce the air code and air quality in New York City.
2:59:54
So I wanna thank you chair and other committee members for making that possible.
2:59:59
I can speak firsthand of the experience when I started reporting.
3:00:03
Our neighborhood was completely filled with excessive idling.
3:00:07
We're now talking a little bit of idling.
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I have 2 minutes of time.
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The management requirement is 3 minutes even longer, and this is something that was prevalent everywhere.
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I can say, firsthand in the neighborhood, I live.
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That amount of excessive idling is severely reduced, and I think it's very much thanks to the program.
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So thank you.
3:00:26
I don't think that recommended.
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And I also wanna share some of my concerns with intro 941.
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I was one of the 5 members that has been basically prosecuted by the DP for, quote unquote, knowingly making a false statement.
3:00:39
In my case, it was my very first admission with the DP platform.
3:00:42
There is a time zone bug that they have there.
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They apparently know about it.
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To my knowledge.
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I'm not sure if it's been addressed at this point of time, but they would decided to go ahead and prosecute me for what was a time zone challenge.
3:00:53
And I'm very happy that at that point of time, it was possible to have a hearing with the oath I recognize many members have said it's a long process, a due process, but it's a fair process.
3:01:04
I was allowed that opportunity, and thanks to legal representation.
3:01:07
This has now been addressed and it's been clarified that there was no false statement.
3:01:12
But I also recognize I come from privileged background, I have the means, so I could have representation.
3:01:17
Mhmm.
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Not everyone can, intro 9 for 1.
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I recognize someone time.
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I'm not sure that's gonna be allowing others to take the same actions, and that concerns me.
