PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Maité Duquela, Climate Policy Fellow at Waterfront Alliance
3:23:16
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109 sec
Maité Duquela, representing Waterfront Alliance, testified in support of Intro 816, Resolution 83, and Intro 1067-A. She expressed opposition to the city charging the Water Board for rental payments and advocated for transparency in water rate adjustments and support for residents experiencing groundwater flooding in Southeast Queens.
- Waterfront Alliance does not support the city charging the Water Board for rental payments, viewing it as a regressive tax on ratepayers.
- They strongly support Intro 1067-A to address groundwater flooding in Southeast Queens and suggested potentially expanding the bill to address inland flood risks more broadly.
- The organization is willing to work with the council to explore options for addressing flood risks citywide.
Maité Duquela
3:23:16
That open.
3:23:16
Alright.
3:23:18
Alright.
3:23:19
Thank you for hosting this hearing.
3:23:21
My name is Mike there.
3:23:22
The the climate policy fellow at Waterfront Alliance, an organization dedicated to advocate for climate resilience policy in the New York and New Jersey region.
3:23:32
Waterfront Alliance is pleased to testify in support of 2 bills and 1 resolution brought to today's hearing, intro 86, resolution 83, and intro 1067.
3:23:45
First, like many others here here have said we also want to express the Waterford Alliance does not support the city charging, the water board for rental payment.
3:23:55
We find this to be a regressive tax on ratepayers.
3:23:59
While discussions are eliminating the water rental payment aren't going, we would like to express our support for 816 in Resolution 83.
3:24:07
We thank the Chairman Arrow for this leadership on this issue, and Waterfield Alliance strongly believes in in transparency for residents and ratepayers on any water rate adjustments.
3:24:18
We would also like to express strong support for 1067, and we thank council member Williams for her leadership on this important issue.
3:24:28
This would provide meaningful and necessary support to residents in Saudi's queens who are experiencing groundwater flooding and waterfront alliance supports the Saudi's queen's residence environmental justice school coalition who have been advocating for solutions like 1067.
3:24:44
Given the overlap in groundwater and storm water flood risk, not just in Saudi's queens, but across the entire city, we see an opportunity to potentially expand this bill.
3:24:55
To address inland flood risks more broadly.
3:24:58
We are willing to work with the council to explore this option now or in the future, and thank you to the committee for this hearing.
