REMARKS
Council Member Keith Powers discusses Introduction 900 to increase public drinking fountains
0:17:01
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162 sec
Council Member Keith Powers presents Introduction 900, a bill to increase access to drinking fountains and water bottle refill stations in public spaces across New York City. He emphasizes the importance of this initiative for public health, environmental sustainability, and equitable access to clean drinking water.
- The bill requires the addition of 500 new drinking fountains with water bottle refill capability by 2030.
- It aims to distribute these fountains equitably throughout the five boroughs.
- Powers highlights the benefits for park users and the potential to reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles.
Keith Powers
0:17:01
Thank you, Chair of Generale, and nice to see everyone here today, and thank you to the committee for letting we speak about introduction 900 with my bill to increase access to drinking fountains and water water bottle refill stations in public spaces across our city.
0:17:16
I think this summer's heat wave underscore an issue that has long remained under the radar for many New Yorkers, which is the lack of water fountains and reusable water bottle stations in our city parks.
0:17:28
While the city's efforts to expand, the number of publicly accessible drinking fountains in recent years have been admirable, and I wanna give them credit for that.
0:17:35
Many of New York's most densely populated neighborhoods, the number of water fountains fell short of meeting the community's needs.
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Access to drinking water is a fundamental right for all New Yorkers and visitors, and ensuring this right to safeguard is essential for public health and our city's overall well-being.
0:17:52
The lack of convenient refilling stations promotes reliance on single use plastic bottles, which, of course, undermines the city's efforts to reduce waste and combat pollution.
0:18:03
Inter Ninety 900 will require the addition of 500 new drinking fountains in our public spaces by 2030, including water bottle refill capability and an emphasis on accessibility.
0:18:15
Will require these new founders to be distributed equitably throughout the 5 boroughs so that all of our neighborhoods have access to this.
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It also requires our city agencies to make recommendations on whether the program should be expanded and what challenges and issues are presented in the program.
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Each refillable water bottle filled at a public fountain represents a step towards reducing our environmental impact and increasing access to clean drinking water for our constituents.
0:18:40
Of course, anybody who spends time inside of a city park whether you are a family with children or walking your dog or just taking a walk through, having access to that to that water fountain, particularly on a hot day, is extremely meaningful.
0:18:54
And for people who spend a lot of time in those parks that don't have access to it, It can mean a whole lot to them and their family to have access to drinking water and, of course, to not have to rely on single single plastic bottles in order to do that.
0:19:08
I wanna give a lot of credit.
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I have some constituents and friends who are here today who've been working on this.
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I wanna give them it for being here and their work and their idea to continue to build on existing efforts inside
William Scarborough
0:19:21
in
Keith Powers
0:19:21
the city to to expand access to water.
0:19:24
I, of course, look forward to hearing from testimony from the DEP who I know will certainly be in support of this bill and working closely with the administration to make this goal a reality.
0:19:34
I wanna thank Chair General for hearing this bill today and giving me an opportunity to speak on this important issue and looking forward to hearing from the public as well.
0:19:42
Thanks so much.
