REMARKS
Council Member Menin expresses concerns about agency resources and concludes the hearing
0:36:59
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99 sec
Council Member Julie Menin expresses concerns about the lack of resources for the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, particularly in light of the agency's extensive responsibilities. She recommends expanding agency staffing through new needs funding. Assistant Commissioner Carlos Ortiz responds by highlighting the agency's efficiency and impact.
- Menin emphasizes the time-intensive nature of investigating and closing cases related to worker protections.
- Ortiz defends the agency's effectiveness, citing the delivery of nearly $1 billion in benefits to New Yorkers.
- The hearing concludes with mutual appreciation and a commitment to continued engagement.
Julie Menin
0:36:59
So I just have a a sort of a question and a comment in closing.
0:37:03
Following up on council member nurse's question, so about with the 36, members of the office of labor policy standards that are working, you said, in sort of investigatory roles or investigators or attorneys or in data.
0:37:19
It's still I am concerned about the lack of resources, because certainly when I was commissioner of the agency and we launched a paid sick leave division, you know, I know how much work has to go into those cases and how much time it takes to investigate and close those cases, and when you have to do that, fair work week, delivery worker pay issues, it's it it is obviously these are time intensive, matters.
0:37:45
So I would recommend that that go into the new needs because, you know, if you're gonna be getting anything on new needs, this would be a wonderful area to expand the agency staffing.
0:37:56
So I just wanted to close with that.
Carlos Ortiz
0:37:58
Thank thank you, chair.
0:37:59
And I think, you know, one aspect I I think we like to describe ourselves as probably, pound for pound, one of the most effective agencies in the city in terms of being able to deliver results for New Yorkers.
0:38:11
I think you can see that in the Commissioner's testimony about delivering almost $1,000,000,000 to folks, or more than $1,000,000,000 to folks across our entire portfolio, and we only want to see that work increase and to make sure that we have the resources for that work to increase.
0:38:23
Thank you.
Julie Menin
0:38:23
Great.
0:38:24
Thank you so much for being here today.
0:38:25
We really appreciate it.
0:38:26
That's it.
0:38:27
Okay.
0:38:27
Thank you.
Carlos Ortiz
0:38:28
We'll make sure we have folks watch the rest of the hearing too.
Julie Menin
0:38:30
Oh, good.
0:38:30
Yes.
0:38:30
Please do.
0:38:31
Okay.
0:38:31
Thank you.
0:38:38
Okay.
