REMARKS
Impact of vacancy crisis on HRA and Parks Department
0:04:09
·
59 sec
Council Member Restler provides specific examples of how the vacancy crisis is affecting city services, focusing on the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Parks Department.
- Long lines and increased wait times at HRA benefits centers
- Significant decrease in timely processing of cash assistance and food assistance applications
- 35% increase in complaints about park conditions due to a 40% reduction in seasonal workers
Lincoln Restler
0:04:09
Thank you so much, chair De La Rosa, and thank you for your leadership on this issue.
0:04:13
You know, every day, I walk out of my office in downtown Brooklyn, and I see long lines at the HRA benefits center on Skirmaherhorn stretching down the block and around the corner.
0:04:25
Children, elderly individuals, people with disabilities waiting outside in blistering cold and extreme heat.
0:04:33
Just last week, I counted over 260 people waiting on the street for help.
0:04:39
The average wait time for New Yorkers visiting in person benefit centers has jumped from 33 to 72 minutes, and only 42% of cash assistance and 65% of food assistance applications are processed on time.
0:04:51
That's compared to 94 and 93% respectively prior to the pandemic.
0:04:56
And complaints about the conditions in our city parks this summer have gone up by 35%.
0:05:01
Why?
0:05:02
Because the parks department has been forced to eliminate nearly 40% of the seasonal workers who keep our parks safe and clean.
