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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ryan Lokey, Amazon Driver on Air Quality and Last Mile Deliveries
2:51:19
ยท
5 min
Ryan Lokey, an Amazon delivery driver, provided testimony on Intro 1130 and Intro 107, offering insights from his unique perspective as both a driver and an active participant in citizen air, noise, and sanitation programs. He expressed concerns about the current drafting of Intro 1130 and supported the implementation of Intro 107.
- Lokey argued that Intro 1130 gives too much power to the executive branch and only applies to warehouses exceeding 50,000 square feet, potentially missing smaller but high-traffic polluters.
- He supported Intro 107, emphasizing the need to study and track pollution from high-volume vehicle traffic around Amazon warehouses in various locations.
- Lokey offered detailed observations on truck traffic patterns, warehouse operations, and potential environmental impacts in specific council districts.
Ryan Lokey
2:51:19
Good afternoon.
2:51:20
I'm here to speak about Intro eleven thirty and Intro one zero seven.
2:51:24
My name is Ryan Lokey.
2:51:26
As you have likely noticed, I am wearing an Amazon delivery vest.
2:51:30
That's because I deliver packages and and groceries for Amazon.
2:51:35
I am not speaking on behalf of Amazon, but I am speaking as an Amazon delivery driver who spends most of his day in environmental justice neighborhoods.
2:51:42
Further, I am a frequent participant in the citizen air, noise and sanitation programs.
2:51:47
In fact, I appear to be the most active participant in Councilmember Holden and Aveal's districts.
2:51:54
I am also one of the only participants who actually participates at night.
2:51:59
In fiscal year twenty twenty four, I gathered information that supported several thousand idle, dust, and noise complaints, as well as over 100 illegal dumping, theft of recycling, and graffiti cases.
2:52:10
In fact, the injuries and the stamina you're probably hearing in my voice were sustained just the other day while holding a city contractor accountable for violations of the law.
2:52:23
My experience gives me a unique perspective on these bills, and I ask for a little latitude in addressing them.
2:52:28
Once I finish my main testimony, I would like to offer to speak further on the 53 foot truck issue.
2:52:34
I have significant experience as a commercial driver and have worked with sanitation and BIC officers to target operators in council member Holden's district.
2:52:41
I have captured 53 foot trailers and trucks taking out fences, hydrants, vehicles, and other items throughout Holden's district and then a little as well in your district as well, Miss Aviles.
2:52:55
Let me begin with Intro 11:30.
2:52:58
Regulating indirect sources is an excellent idea, but as currently drafted, Intro eleven thirty hands too much power to the executive branch.
2:53:05
This is not good policy.
2:53:07
It is especially bad policy under the current administration.
2:53:10
Further, it only applies to warehouses and other sources exceeding 50,000 square feet.
2:53:15
Many of the worst polluters by traffic volume are considerably smaller.
2:53:19
Throughout the Maspeth IBZ, the North Brooklyn IBZ, and the Southwest Brooklyn IBZ, I have personally witnessed smaller warehouses, approximately 10 to 20,000 square feet, receive a dozen long haul trucks, the 53 foot trailers, and 50 plus smaller distribution trucks in just under three hours.
2:53:38
This may occur usually at about four to 7AM.
2:53:42
It happens day after day, and in many cases, even on Saturdays and Sundays.
2:53:46
I can point out a dozen such locations in your district, miss DeVils, and another dozen or so in Holden's district without a problem.
2:53:54
I would be happy to provide footage to anybody who would like to see it.
2:53:58
Further, a council member raised concerns about this simply transferring truck track truck traffic to New Jersey.
2:54:03
This is a very valid concern.
2:54:05
It may surprise the council to hear this, but a significant amount of Amazon vans that service Manhattan already come from New Jersey each and every day.
2:54:12
Anytime that they have excess capacity for the vans and they need to fill it, they send them in from Jersey to operate in New York City.
2:54:18
It's just how it works.
2:54:20
Now, as a driver, I'm not privy to Amazon corporate decisions, but I do have corporate or I do have common sense.
2:54:27
One would imagine the company would simply dispatch more vans from New Jersey until they could secure warehouses in New York City that are under the square foot threshold.
2:54:34
I'd now like to address Intra 107.
2:54:37
I work from a number of different Amazon warehouses.
2:54:41
Most, once again, are within Holden And Aviles District.
2:54:45
3 are located in Red Hook.
2:54:46
Two are located in Sunset Park.
2:54:48
Two are in Mass Path.
2:54:50
Three of these warehouses are located immediately adjacent to the Red Hook Recreation Zone.
2:54:55
2 are adjacent to Basis Independent School, a k through 12 school.
2:54:58
Mhmm.
2:54:59
Two are adjacent to the Mass Path Waterfront.
2:55:01
Public School 9 Walter is only a block away from the Amazon Grand Ave location.
2:55:08
These warehouses, known as stations in Amazon lingo, have extensive vehicle traffic.
2:55:15
If I recall correctly, the DEP commissioner said nobody had really counted the truck traffic.
2:55:20
I can tell you I did.
2:55:22
I have been for over a year now.
2:55:25
Each station receives an average of five to 40 long haul trucks a day.
2:55:28
These are the tractor trailers you see pulling 53 foot trailers.
2:55:32
Roughly 90% of their traffic is 53 foot trailers.
2:55:36
Each station has another 100 to two fifty local vans coming and going eighteen hours a day.
2:55:42
During the peak season, that's roughly twenty one hours a day.
2:55:45
But most of the most of the year, it is eighteen hours.
2:55:49
Then add employees and independent contractors, the surge workers.
2:55:53
They bring an additional 100 to 400 personal vehicles each and every day to each location.
2:55:58
The Grand Ave location swells to almost 800 vehicles on the busiest of periods.
2:56:04
Again, I am happy to provide footage to any council member who would like to see it for themselves.
2:56:09
As you can imagine, this volume of traffic generates considerable local pollution.
2:56:13
It is very important that we as a community study just how much pollution this traffic is causing.
2:56:17
If we don't track the source pollution, how are we going to ever propose a solution that would work?
2:56:22
In conclusion, I respectively urge the committee to proceed with Intro 107 and perhaps reconsider the scope and language of intro 11:30.
2:56:30
Thank you.