REMARKS
Council Member Susan Zhuang introduces bill for religious accommodations in garbage collection
1:11:33
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Council Member Susan Zhuang introduces a bill (Intro 1186) that would require the Department of Sanitation to conduct a study on accommodations for religious practices that conflict with set garbage collection times. She emphasizes the importance of respecting religious beliefs and customs in New York City's diverse community.
- The bill aims to address issues faced by religious communities, such as the Jewish community, who have restrictions on activities after sundown.
- Zhuang highlights that current sanitation rules, requiring garbage to be put out after 6 PM, conflict with some religious practices.
- She argues that forcing people to choose between religious beliefs and paying fines is unfair and places a financial burden on hardworking families.
Susan Zhuang
1:11:33
Thank you, madam.
1:11:34
Majority leader.
1:11:36
Today, council member Faroo Louis and I will introduce a bill in trial eleven eighty six.
1:11:41
This bill will require Department of Sanitation to conduct a study regarding the accommodations for religious practice that conflict with set conflict with set out time for garbage.
1:11:55
First, I would like to thank council member Farrah Lewis for her sponsorship of this legislation and her partnership on this important issue.
1:12:04
As we all know, New York City is melting pot, filled with people from many religious backgrounds.
1:12:11
It is part of why New York City is so great.
1:12:14
We should respect everyone's religion and their beliefs and the customs.
1:12:19
Any policy could force a person to go against their own religious practice cannot be a good policy.
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Current rule in sanitation, garbage must be put out after 6PM in a bank.
1:12:33
It is against some religions.
1:12:35
For example, the Jewish community has been limited limited activities after sundown by their religious observations.
1:12:43
In my district, larger numbers of Jewish neighbors got tickets from sanitation because of this reason.
1:12:50
Forcing people to choose between their religious beliefs or paying hundreds of dollars in fines is unfair and put a financial burden for those hardworking families.
1:13:01
This is why I'm sponsoring this bill to get sanitation to conduct a study and look into conditions for different religious groups.
1:13:12
Our city should do better to respect all the religions.
1:13:16
Again, I would like to thank Councilmember Farrah Lewis for letting me to be a prime cosponsor of this legislation, and I urge all the council member colleagues to sign on and support this bill.
1:13:28
Thank you.