PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Suhali Méndez, Policy and Legislative Coordinator at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
1:40:48
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140 sec
Suhali Méndez, representing New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, testified in support of Introductions 5 and 291 while expressing concerns about Intro 941 regarding the Citizens Air Complaint Program. She emphasized the ongoing issue of vehicle idling, particularly near schools, and its impact on public health and the environment.
- Strongly supports Intros 5 and 291 as they align with New York City's climate goals
- Concerns about Intro 941, which could weaken the effectiveness of the Citizens Air Complaint Program
- Recommends expanding and reforming the program to make it more transparent, equitable, and accessible, especially for heavily impacted communities like the Bronx
Suhali Méndez
1:40:48
Thank you.
1:40:49
My name is Suhali Mendez.
1:40:51
I am the policy and legislative coordinator at New York Lawyers for the public interest.
1:40:58
And before I begin my testimony, I wanna offer thanks to the committee as well as chair general for offering this hearing and allowing the public to testify on these important pieces of legislation.
1:41:12
As someone who was born as well as raised in the Bronx, seeing firsthand the impacts of vehicle idling in communities like mine, and seeing the frequency and the idling along with the spewing of dangerous emissions that harms human health and environment.
1:41:30
We strongly support and urge the passing of introductions of bills, number 5, as well as 291.
1:41:40
As these bills will continue to progress the council's commitment to New York City's climate goals.
1:41:46
Last year, we released the report, as you may know, on school bus idling called wake up and small diffused, which we observed that 1 in 4 school buses were found idling longer than 1 minute in front of schools.
1:42:01
This is to say that idling is still an issue.
1:42:07
We do, however, have concerns about intro 941, which will alter regulations on the citizens' complaint programs to enforce iteming law.
1:42:19
This bill was severely weakened the effectiveness of the program by decreasing the financial incentives of New Yorkers by imposing a stricter deadline for the DP to create arbitrary rules which excludes some New Yorkers.
1:42:33
We hope to see mandates for proactive measures to expand and reform the citizen air complaint program to make
Wayne Arden
1:42:39
it more
Suhali Méndez
1:42:40
transparent, equitable, accessible for all New Yorkers namely those are in in heavily impact the communities, such as the Bronx.
1:42:49
Mhmm.
1:42:50
And lastly, we there are additional recommendations
James F. Gennaro
1:42:54
Please complete your sentence.
Suhali Méndez
1:42:57
Pardon?
James F. Gennaro
1:42:57
I said please complete your sentence.
Suhali Méndez
1:42:59
Oh, sure.
1:43:00
Thank you.
1:43:00
I just wanted to say that additional suggestions are included in my testimony at length, which I will submit.
James F. Gennaro
1:43:08
Thank you.
