PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Chris Coppa, Member of Clove Lakes Civic Association
1:43:23
·
122 sec
Chris Coppa, representing the Clove Lakes Civic Association from Staten Island, testifies against the City of Yes proposal. He argues that Staten Island lacks the necessary infrastructure to support the proposed changes, citing issues with transportation, healthcare, emergency services, schools, and sewage systems.
- Highlights severe traffic congestion on Staten Island's limited highways and poor public transportation
- Points out the lack of adequate healthcare facilities, with only two full hospitals and no city hospitals
- Expresses concerns about overburdened emergency services, including fire departments and police precincts
- Emphasizes that schools are already overcrowded and the sewer system cannot handle additional development
Chris Coppa
1:43:23
I'm Chris Kopra from Staten Island, Cold Lake Service Association.
1:43:27
We're against the city of Yes, proposal in Staten Island because we don't have the infrastructure to support it.
1:43:33
These changes would greatly impact Staten Island's.
1:43:35
We only have 2 highways which are already overly congested as it is for the whole day.
1:43:43
We don't have a subway system and our bus system is poor as well.
1:43:46
In a recent study, it was found that half of the buses were not able to go out because of maintenance issues and lack of drivers.
1:43:53
Just today, I took was normally a 15 minute bus ride to go to the ferry, and it took almost an hour.
1:44:00
I had to take the following ferry, a half an hour later.
1:44:05
The roads are narrow.
1:44:08
Most main roads such as Amboy Road, Victory Boulevard, Forest, Seguin, Post, And Castleton Avenue, all are only a single lane in each direction.
1:44:21
And those are our major roadways.
1:44:24
Those are the roadways that the buses go on.
1:44:27
They're a single lane.
1:44:28
Having this type of these type of changes will just impact stand on the morsel, and we'll just make travel impossible.
1:44:40
To go three miles for a normal 15 minute bus ride that took almost an hour as ridiculous.
1:44:48
We only have 2 full hospitals and no city hospitals.
1:44:51
Emergency personnel won't be able to respond to emergencies in a timely manner.
1:44:56
We don't have enough firehouses and firemen to handle the current fires.
1:45:00
Sometimes when there was a large fire, firemen are sent here from Brooklyn because we don't have enough firemen.
1:45:06
We only have 4 precincts and without an increase of police officers.
1:45:09
When the 121 precinct was built, they pulled policeman from our other precincts to Manit.
1:45:17
Our our schools are overcrowded as it is.
1:45:19
There aren't enough seats.
1:45:21
Our our updated our updated sewer system cannot handle more buildings.
