Q&A
Council Member Gennaro and Eric Goldstein discuss groundwater issues and water rental payments
2:59:22
·
151 sec
Council Member James F. Gennaro and Eric Goldstein from the Natural Resources Defense Council engage in a discussion about groundwater problems in Southeast Queens and the city's water rental payment practices. Goldstein emphasizes the city's responsibility for addressing the groundwater issues and criticizes the current administration's reinstatement of water rental charges.
- Goldstein suggests that the groundwater problem in Southeast Queens was anticipated when the city acquired the Jamaica water supply.
- The conversation touches on the possibility of legal action regarding the groundwater issues.
- Goldstein criticizes the Adams administration for planning to take $1.4 billion from water ratepayers over four years through rental payments.
James F. Gennaro
2:59:22
Eric, I think you had a few more thoughts you wanted to put on the record.
Eric Goldstein
2:59:26
Mhmm.
2:59:26
Yeah.
2:59:27
Thank you.
2:59:27
Well, first So
James F. Gennaro
2:59:28
let me formally ask you to
Eric Goldstein
2:59:29
do that.
2:59:29
Just Just on this bill, again, one of the reasons while there may be details to be worked out.
2:59:39
There could be no question that this issue was one of importance.
2:59:42
The city has responsibility for dealing with this groundwater problem in South these queens since
James F. Gennaro
2:59:49
it
Eric Goldstein
2:59:49
was known at the time that the Jamaica water supply was acquired by the city and then ultimately shut down that there would be a groundwater intrusion problem.
2:59:59
This was known and discussed that hearings and environmental reviews.
3:00:03
So this Wouldn't
James F. Gennaro
3:00:04
not make it a lawsuit?
3:00:05
Wouldn't not make it a lawsuit at that point?
Eric Goldstein
3:00:08
It it certainly is something where lawyers would be well advised to take a look at this issue.
3:00:14
I think that there may well be some basis for compensation in this instance.
3:00:22
And again, the my one point on this issue is it was this is not an unexpected problem.
3:00:33
The city knew when it acquired the Jamaica water supply and started using the water for water supply purposes.
3:00:42
Than abandon the water system because of quality concerns that there would be a groundwater intrusion problem.
3:00:49
And at least we believe they have a responsibility to help the residents and the community deal with it.
3:00:55
I'd like to turn back for one second to the rental payment because this is this is a really important issue if you care about avoiding regressive charges for city water ratepayers.
3:01:09
And I'll just say that mayor Bloomberg, in his time, his administration recognized this as a problem.
3:01:17
Mayor De Blasio moved away from this unwarranted charge but mayor Adams and his budget chieftains have restored the George.
3:01:26
They're planning to take, as you know, $1,400,000,000 from the water rate payers over the next 4 years.
3:01:32
And the council can and must reduce, if not completely eliminate this as part of its budget negotiations in FY 26.
3:01:41
Now, of course, if we can get some state legislation, that would be enormously helpful too, but the council has a direct role in budget negotiations which we hope will be advanced next.
James F. Gennaro
3:01:53
Let me just kinda speak to that for a second just, you know, because now we're just talking about the way things are.
