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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jo-Ann Yoo, Former Executive Director of Asian American Federation, on Queen's Future/Metropolitan Park Proposal
2:37:34
ยท
108 sec
Jo-Ann Yoo, former executive director of a nonprofit supporting Asian American small businesses, testifies in strong support of the Queen's Future plans for Metro Park. She emphasizes the project's potential to provide crucial economic support and job opportunities in the face of current funding cuts to community organizations.
- Highlights the need for support of nonprofits serving vulnerable immigrants and providing social services
- Praises Metro Park's commitment to creating a funding pool for community groups
- Urges the city council to approve the project, citing benefits such as good-paying jobs, improved fiscal space, and community philanthropy
Jo-Ann Yoo
2:37:34
Good afternoon.
2:37:35
My name is Joanne Yu.
2:37:36
And until recently, I served as the executive director of a nonprofit organization that worked with hundreds of Asian American small businesses in New York City, in particular, Flushing, Queens, and the surrounding area for the for at least twenty years.
2:37:50
I am testifying to express my strong support for the Queen's future plans for Metro Park.
2:37:56
I don't wanna echo what everybody else has said in support, but I wanna talk about a reality right now.
2:38:04
Private I want to shout out all the nonprofit organizations and the community groups that are holding up our community in this economic climate.
2:38:14
Right now, philanthropy is withdrawing support from nonprofits who support vulnerable and scared immigrants who refuse to ask for help because of their immigration status.
2:38:23
Federal government has cut funding to local nonprofits that run food programs, protect victims of domestic violence, and other social service safety net programs.
2:38:33
I am most excited about the the Metro Parks commitment to creating a funding pool to support the great work that's being done by the community groups because we really need the support to be able to maintain this maintain, helping our the most vulnerable members of our community.
2:38:51
During this time, as we're all trying to recover from the economic devastations of COVID that resulted in the lot in the loss of thousands of jobs.
2:39:00
And now with the draconian funded federal funding cuts, this project has a chance to inject the economy with real pipeline of good paying jobs, improvements to fiscal space, and community philanthropy.
2:39:11
I ask this body and city council to put their visionary hats on and say yes to this opportunity that will surely benefit Queens and our entire city.
2:39:20
Thank you for your time and consideration.