REMARKS
Criticism of mayor's use of rental payments from water system
1:32:21
ยท
4 min
Council Member Jim Gennaro expresses strong criticism of the mayor's practice of using rental payments from the water system for the general fund, characterizing it as a misuse of funds that could otherwise support water infrastructure improvements.
- Gennaro argues that the rental payment was originally intended for specific purposes, not general fund use
- He estimates the mayor plans to take $1.4 billion in rental payments over four budget years
- Gennaro suggests this practice negatively impacts DEP's ability to finance necessary infrastructure improvements
- He commends the Water Board for opposing the continued use of rental payments in this manner
Jim Gennaro
1:32:21
The water board are my friends these days, because they have, you know, called out, you know, the mayor's use of the rental payment.
1:32:31
I'm not asking anyone here on this panel to comment on it.
1:32:34
You know, the rental payment was in existence.
1:32:36
There was a good reason for it to be in existence.
1:32:40
That reason went away.
1:32:41
The use of the, you know, the rental payment, you know, the mayor requesting the rental payment.
1:32:49
Don't worry, you're not gonna get a question on this now.
1:32:51
I'm just pontificating for the record.
1:32:53
And so, and so what the mayor, declaring that he was going to ask for 1.4 $1,000,000,000 in rental payments over a total of 4 budget years.
1:33:20
That's, you know, a 100 well, it was $440,000,000 this year, which was the rental payment for FY yeah, we're in FY 'twenty 5 now, right?
1:33:33
We're in FY 'twenty 5.
1:33:36
And then, so he took the whole rental payment for FY 'twenty 5.
1:33:39
He reached back to get half a rental payment from FY 24 for a total of $440,000,000 and then he has indicated he is going to ask for full rental payments in the next 3 budget years, totaling 1,400,000,000 which is audacious, and really, really impacts DEP's ability to, you know, to borrow money and pay for the needed improvements in so in in, you know, stormwater infrastructure, that we need, because we have 100 of 1,000,000 of dollars in water and sewer fees that are going to the, to the general fund that I'm I'm doing.
1:34:28
And the water board came on board with, I guess, a resolution, you know, declaring that it did not like to see this practice and it condemned that action by the mayor.
1:34:43
So I don't have the ability to stop him from doing it, but people in the state legislatures do.
1:34:48
And, and and and we're trying to get that, done.
1:34:54
And so, yeah, I I no way I would ever ask you to comment on that.
1:35:04
Okay.
1:35:05
With regard to one of the bills, about the comprehensive stormwater management plan is a good question developed by staff.
1:35:13
DP has stated that the intensity of the 5 year storm for the New York City region will likely be redefined as one that produces 2.1 inches of rain per hour, rather than the current definition, or the current standard, which is 1.75 inches of rain per hour, in order to be assimilated into the system.
1:35:38
The DEP commissioner himself has testified before this committee that it looks like 2.1 inches is the number.
1:35:47
Does DEP expect that it would select 2.1 inches as its new level of service pursuant to to the comprehensive stormwater plant bill?
1:36:02
Because one of the things it calls for in the bill is what is the new target gonna be in the ability of the DEP, you know, stormwater system, you know, to accommodate.
1:36:16
Now, of course, you can't you know, there's only so much room under the street, you can't wave a magic wand and have this all done at once, have it financed, have it built, and there will be, of course, you know, methods to try to use, you know, green infrastructure to bring that, that, that, you know, capacity to assimilate stormwater up to 2.1 inches per hour.
1:36:41
But the really the question is, is 2.1 inches the number?
1:36:47
Is it looking like that?
1:36:49
Or what do they have to say about that?