Q&A
Council Member Bottcher discusses containerization progress and implementation challenges with DSNY officials
1:17:22
·
4 min
Council Member Erik D. Bottcher commends DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch on the progress made in containerization efforts and discusses implementation challenges, particularly for small building owners. The conversation covers compliance mechanisms, exemptions, and outreach efforts for the new containerization policies.
- DSNY officials explain the flexibility in container storage options and the availability of weekly info sessions for residents.
- Two types of exemption applications are discussed: one for disability and another for pedestrian hazard situations.
- Deputy Commissioner Joshua Goodman provides additional information on franchise agreements related to a previous question from Council Member Menon.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:17:22
Hi, commissioner.
1:17:23
How are you?
Jessica Tisch
1:17:24
Good.
1:17:24
How are you?
Erik D. Bottcher
1:17:25
I'm good.
1:17:26
Thanks.
1:17:27
I want to commend you for all the progress that the city's made on on containerization
Jessica Tisch
1:17:34
Thank you.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:17:35
In just under 3 years when a lot of us were talking about containerization when we were running for city council.
1:17:45
I don't think we would have anticipated making so much progress with respect to all the new policies that have already gone into effect.
1:17:55
When you and I got together when you first got appointed, we talked about containerization for, like, 90 minutes and and you've done a lot.
Jessica Tisch
1:18:02
Thank you.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:18:02
As we see it implemented, including for small building owners, I think one of our big challenges is gonna be working through the individual cases in which it's hard for small building owners to follow the letter of the regulations.
1:18:25
And I wanted to ask, you know, now that the policy is in effect and building owners are being asked to do it, we're we're really going to see who can and who can't, like, physically.
1:18:39
So what is the mechanism going to be for your small building owner who, like, doesn't have any room for the containers?
1:18:50
How do you make sure that that person can get into compliance?
Jessica Tisch
1:18:53
No.
1:18:54
Change is change is hard, and this change is a change that affects how every business and virtually every residence in the city does something that they do several times a week.
1:19:09
So I get it.
1:19:10
This is big change to an important thing, and I, by no means trivialize it.
1:19:16
We when we rolled out the container mandates for businesses, we heard a lot of the same feedback.
1:19:27
Oh, we're never gonna be able to do this.
1:19:28
It's never gonna work.
1:19:29
In my specific circumstance, it just isn't gonna work.
1:19:32
And guess what?
1:19:34
Everyone figured it out.
1:19:37
We certainly see mass compliance among businesses.
1:19:42
And I think that's partially due to the fact that we try to be very thoughtful at the outset in the rule drafting, about the concerns people would have.
1:19:52
So as an example, we were incredibly flexible with where the bins can be stored, indoors, outdoors, along the property line, within 3 feet of the property line.
1:20:04
And so we are happy to work with any business that may be struggling, but I am very confident that what we have put forward is a flexible plan that can be complied with.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:20:18
Okay.
1:20:19
So in the coming weeks, will you be able to have individual consultations with property owners and help them come up with plans that comply?
Jessica Tisch
1:20:32
Josh, is a deputy commissioner who's brilliant, but, among the things he does
Niki Cross
1:20:38
We love Josh.
Jessica Tisch
1:20:39
All of our outreach.
1:20:40
So Josh will take that one.
Joshua Goodman
1:20:41
Thank you, commissioner.
1:20:42
Thank you, council member.
1:20:43
So there are a number of opportunities for individual residents to get assistance with their containerization strategies.
1:20:50
We have weekly info sessions on this topic.
1:20:52
Any member of the public can attend when and ask questions.
1:20:54
So I wanna mention that there actually are 2 forms through which someone can apply for an exemption.
1:20:59
1 is for disability.
1:21:01
Right?
1:21:01
I have a disability that prevents me from complying.
1:21:03
And one is I live in a situation where the bins would present a pedestrian hazard.
1:21:08
There is, you know, no pedestrian access if I have these bins.
1:21:12
We are going to look at every application that comes in on both of those.
1:21:16
We are going to take a a hard look at them.
1:21:18
Obviously, our inclination is to say everyone has to follow this rule.
1:21:21
But you can go to nyc.gov/dsny and tell us your situation now or get assistance now.
Alia Soomro
1:21:28
Okay.
1:21:29
Thank you.
Jessica Tisch
1:21:29
Chair, I I apologize.
1:21:31
I had a hard stop at 11:40.
1:21:32
The rest of the team will remain and answer any questions.
1:21:35
And if anyone wants to follow-up directly with me, I am always available.
Shaun Abreu
1:21:40
Thank you.
1:21:42
And
Joshua Goodman
1:21:42
just mister chair, I'm sorry.
1:21:43
I know we lost council member Menon, but I do have some information on her question before about how many areas may be covered by her bill.
1:21:49
There are 51 just to put it in the record, there are 51 active franchise agreements in the city.
1:21:54
Obviously, many of them have 100 or thousands of locations, but there are 51 franchise agreements.
1:21:59
So that's at least some quantity to to cover her bill.
1:22:02
Thank you.
