PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Christina Taylor, Deputy Director of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, on Parks Funding and Brush Fire Prevention
2:05:30
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145 sec
Christina Taylor, Deputy Director of Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, testifies about the need for consistent parks funding to prevent brush fires and maintain natural areas. She expresses frustration with annual budget cuts and advocates for allocating 1% of the city's budget to NYC Parks.
- Highlights the impact of drought and brush fires in Van Cortlandt Park last fall
- Supports the Playfair Coalition's request for funding in the FY26 budget
- Expresses concern that proposed legislation without proper funding may result in unfunded mandates for the Parks Department
- Emphasizes the importance of a fully funded, safe, clean, green, and resilient park system for all New Yorkers
Christina Taylor
2:05:30
Good afternoon.
2:05:31
Hi.
2:05:31
I'm Christina Taylor, deputy director for the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance.
2:05:34
We are a member of the Playfair Coalition.
2:05:38
Thank you for allowing me to testify virtually.
2:05:40
Once again, I was down at city hall last week for the park's rally on the steps.
2:05:43
I would rather not add up the number of hours that I've spent advocating for parks funding over the last 2 decades.
2:05:49
It is extremely frustrating that we have to continue to do this dance every year.
2:05:55
Last fall, we had a new obstacle to overcome as you guys have been discussing.
2:05:59
We added drought and brush fires to the list of climate change impacts on our parks when New York City experienced a record level drought.
2:06:07
Lack of water combined with high winds resulted in Van Cortlandt Parks experiencing numerous fires in a concentrated period of time.
2:06:14
We have 3 locations in our parks for us severely impacted by brush fires.
2:06:19
We believe inconsistent funding in for our natural areas, and for forest management staff directly increase the risk of brush in natural areas forest fires and will lead to an insufficient response and recovery plan.
2:06:33
We are supportive of Playfair Coalition's request for funding in the f y 26 budget.
2:06:38
Luckily for Van Cortlandt Park, we have a small but dedicated park staff, we have a small but dedicated alliance staff, and a small but dedicated vital volunteers who work together prior to, during, and after the brush fires to reduce the impact.
2:06:51
While we understand the desire for bills such as intro 8122024 and the preconsidered bill, but we believe that more consistent baseline funding for parks is what is ultimately needed to advance the intent of these bills.
2:07:05
There is concern that further legislating these processes will amount to an un unfunded mandate for the agency.
2:07:12
It is not fair to once again ask New York City Parks to do more but with less funding.
2:07:18
New York City New Yorkers deserve a fully funded, safe, clean, green, and resilient park system.
2:07:24
The ongoing budget cuts to New York City Parks and the proposed budget for next fiscal year jeopardize the very heart of our communities.
2:07:30
These cuts will make it even more difficult for the already understaffed, under resourced parks department to carry out the basic needs to ensure parks are equitable and accessible for all New Yorkers.
2:07:42
Year after year, New York City parks staff does more with less.
2:07:45
The staff is already stretched too thin.
2:07:48
They are tired and frustrated and so are we.
2:07:51
We demand 1% of the city's budget for New York City Parks.
2:07:54
Thank you.