PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Caleb Smith, Resiliency Coordinator at WE ACT For Environmental Justice, on Introduction 994
2:26:58
·
123 sec
Caleb Smith from WE ACT For Environmental Justice testified in support of Introduction 994, which would require cooling in residential units. He emphasized the disproportionate impact of extreme heat on Black and low-income communities, linking it to historical redlining and policy decisions.
- Smith highlighted the health equity implications of the bill, noting that Black New Yorkers are twice as likely to die from heat stress as white New Yorkers.
- He stressed the importance of home cooling as a holistic response to the increasing threat of extreme heat in NYC's changing climate.
- WE ACT offered support for the bill while suggesting potential amendments to address implementation feasibility, energy affordability, and housing stability for vulnerable tenants.
Caleb Smith
2:26:58
Hello.
2:27:00
Good morning, committee chair Purina Enno Sanchez, and committee on housing and buildings.
2:27:05
My name is Caleb Smith.
2:27:06
I'm the resiliency coordinator at WE ACT For Environmental Justice.
2:27:10
WE ACT, a community based organization headquartered in Harlem, has been fighting environmental racism at the city, state, and federal level for more than 30 years.
2:27:21
My role is focused on advancing health equity by advocating for extreme heat and flood adaptation policies.
2:27:28
I am here in support of introduction 994 because the map of New York City's most heat vulnerable communities bears a striking resemblance to a map of its formerly redlined neighborhoods.
2:27:39
It's no mistake that black New Yorkers are twice as likely to die from heat stress as white New Yorkers.
2:27:45
It's a consequence of policy decisions, decisions that perpetuate a lack of green space, limited access to air conditioning, and poor housing quality for low income and black communities.
2:27:57
Introduction 994 closes a policy gap we can no longer ignore.
2:28:01
Now that we are in a humid subtropical climate zone experiencing sustained and extreme heat, everyone must have a right to cooling.
2:28:10
Cooling at home is the most holistic response to address the unpredictable, indiscreet, and cumulative threat of extreme heat.
2:28:18
The n NPCC 4 report shows that heat exacerbated mortalities are increasing at non extreme temperatures between 82 90 degrees, which are increasingly frequent.
2:28:31
This indicates delayed plans to acclimatize residents and adapt our built environments put our lives at risk.
2:28:38
We will continue to support this bill, ensuring that it uplifts the most protective health standard, feasibility of implementation for nonprofit and low income building owners, energy affordability, and housing stability for heat vulnerable tenants.
2:28:53
In our written comments, we detailed the potential amendments to help directly address these priorities.
2:28:57
Thank you again, committee chairs, for allowing me to testify on this matter.
