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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Eisenberg on Air Quality and DEP Authority
3:27:09
ยท
3 min
Eric Eisenberg provides testimony on the proposed bills related to air quality monitoring and indirect source rules for warehouses. He expresses support for additional air quality monitoring but raises concerns about giving broad authority to the DEP commissioner for creating rules.
- Criticizes Intro 941 as a "poison pill" that could violate civil rights of environmentalists
- Warns against giving DEP commissioner broad rulemaking authority in Intro 1130, citing past issues with DEP's handling of air quality initiatives
- Suggests City Council should write the rules instead of deferring to the current administration, which he views as anti-environmental
Eric Eisenberg
3:27:09
Hi.
3:27:09
Sorry.
3:27:10
There was some, issue with, me unmuting myself.
3:27:13
I'm Eric Eisenberg.
3:27:15
A lot of the testimony I was, planning to give was covered by the the excellent testimony of Hayden Brockett.
3:27:23
I do want to expand a little bit on the concern that Hayden expressed about giving the administration and the DEP commissioner a blank check to write their own rules rather than relying on city council to create a well formed indirect source rule law.
3:27:45
I do think that both of the bills that miss Aviles proposed today are well intentioned.
3:27:52
I fully support additional monitoring.
3:27:57
We already know we lose about three thousand New Yorkers a year to air pollution and knowing where in particular is the most deadly, you know, might help us help us a bit.
3:28:08
With respect to the giving of power, to the DEP commissioner, I think the DEP commissioner tips his hand in a few ways.
3:28:20
One of them is the DEP's commissioner's Orwellian doublespeak today on multiple occasions that Intro nine four one will somehow help air quality.
3:28:32
Intro nine four one is a poison pill.
3:28:37
Numerous environmental groups have provided testimony against Intro nine four one.
3:28:42
The American Civil Liberties Union has also provided testimony that intro nine four one is a violation of the civil rights of environmentalists by cutting off their speech.
3:28:53
It's clear that the commissioner is really just interested in a in a power grab.
3:28:58
We've seen other examples of this with respect to the Adams administration and the DEP commissioner with respect to air quality previously.
3:29:08
Miss Aviles sponsored and passed an excellent bill to increase anti idling to increase anti idling enforcement around parks.
3:29:19
The DEP used that as an opportunity to weaken anti idling enforcement near schools.
3:29:25
And I I I thank council member Aviles for speaking out against the DEP's wrongful usurpation of power.
3:29:35
I I also note that the commissioner has previously tipped his hand by speaking out and questioning the legality of Spanish language speakers reporting air pollution.
3:29:48
Of course, it's legal for Spanish language speakers to report air pollution.
3:29:53
Again, these are warning signs that the broad rulemaking authority in Intro eleven thirty to the DEP, and the Adams administration, is dangerous.
3:30:05
And instead, we should have city council write the rules, instead of deferring to this very dangerous and frequently anti environmental administration.
3:30:16
Thank you.