PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo, Director of Advocacy and Programs at Green Guerillas, on Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens
2:22:22
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160 sec
Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo, representing Green Guerillas, testified in support of Intro 693 while raising concerns about challenges faced by community gardens. She emphasized the importance of community gardens to the city's social, economic, and environmental health, but highlighted issues such as aging membership, financial burdens, and undervaluation by the city.
- Called for legislation to secure permanent protection for community gardens and establish green equity
- Requested that Intro 693 fully define urban agriculture and explicitly include community gardens
- Emphasized the need for more support and resources for community gardeners, especially in underserved areas
Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo
2:22:22
Thank you, chairwoman Reyes and committee, of economic development for the opportunity to testify.
2:22:31
My name is Aishima Harris, Huizago, and I'm the director of advocacy and programs at Green Gorillas, a nonprofit organization supporting community gardeners and youth in the food justice movement across New York for over 50 years.
2:22:47
I'm here in support of intro 693.
2:22:51
But before I jump into the reason why I'm supporting, I also wanna raise some concerns, that community garden our community gardeners are facing.
2:23:02
And we know that these spaces are crucial to our city's social and economic and environmental health.
2:23:09
However, due to their challenges, community gardeners are facing a threat for longevity and sustainability.
2:23:17
And some of these challenges are that our community gardeners are aging out, and there are socioeconomic challenges that are leading to decline in membership in community gardeners, particularly among our young generations.
2:23:30
Community gardeners bear heavy financial burden to sustain, our city green spaces.
2:23:36
Even though the city funds ring down, there's still a lot more that can be done.
2:23:40
Community gunners are still having to come out of their pocket to pay for the basic necessities that they need.
2:23:47
Nearby housing developments have been causing a lot of increased rodent, infestation, and illegal dumping that affects, the livelihood of community gardeners and the neighborhood in general.
2:24:00
And community gardeners feel that their long standing contributions are undervalued by the city.
2:24:08
I've done a lot of training with community gardeners, and they always ask, like, does the city really cares about us?
2:24:15
And to address these challenges, we're asking for the city to enact legislation that secure the permanent protection for community gardens, establish, green equity
Alex Paulenoff
2:24:27
Thank you.
2:24:27
Your time is expired.
Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo
2:24:29
Community gardeners with resources to underserved and for the support of intro 693.
2:24:37
We just want the bill to fully define what does urban agriculture mean and to incorporate community garden as a part of that, and to also see explicit behavior and concern.
2:24:49
Your
Amanda Farías
2:24:49
time has expired.
2:24:50
Alright.
2:24:51
Can you please make
Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo
2:24:51
sure to for the opportunity.
Amanda Farías
2:24:53
Absolutely.
2:24:53
Thank you for coming to testify.
2:24:54
Can you please make sure to email us your full explanation of what you'd like to see within intro 693?
Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo
2:25:01
Thank you.
Amanda Farías
2:25:01
Oh, sure.
