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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Arisleyda Estrella-Skinner, President of Local 5911 of DC 37 (representing NYC 911 Operators)
8:18:39
ยท
3 min
Arisleyda Estrella-Skinner, President of Local 5911 of DC 37, testifies about the crisis in New York City's 911 system due to severe understaffing and its impact on emergency response times. She contradicts the NYPD commissioner's statement about 911 calls not going to voicemail, emphasizing that calls are being directed to recordings due to operator shortages.
- The testimony highlights the critical nature of timely responses in emergencies such as fires, cardiac arrests, and violent attacks.
- Estrella-Skinner points out issues of mandatory overtime, high absence rates, and resignations among 911 operators.
- She urges the City Council to address the crisis by increasing staffing and improving transparency to prevent potential tragedies.
Arisleyda Estrella-Skinner
8:18:39
Good afternoon chair Salaam and distinguished members of the Public Safety Committee.
8:18:44
My name is Addie Slater Skinner.
8:18:46
I am the president of local not five nine one one of DC thirty seven representing the New York City's Nine One One Operators.
8:18:53
My understanding is that the NYPD commissioner Tisch today stated that the 91 calls aren't going into a voicemail.
8:19:01
In correction of her statement, 911 callers are going into recording.
8:19:05
I wanted to play a recording which I will submit of today, March 11 during her testimony by a civilian who called 911 for her mother-in-law whose sugar level was up 500 and was disoriented and unable to speak to a live 911 To only get EMS respond until ten minutes after.
8:19:24
I want you to know that a fire can double its size within thirty seconds transforming a small flame into a ranging inferno in minutes.
8:19:31
However, when you call 911, you might end up going straight into a voice recording.
8:19:37
When someone stops breathing, cardiac arrest can follow within moments.
8:19:40
The brain can only survive for three to four minutes without oxygen.
8:19:43
Moreover, time response for the NYPD is crucial when a person's attack is under attack or in danger.
8:19:50
A reliable 911 system is essential for the safety and well-being of our city.
8:19:55
Chairman, unfortunately, over the past few months and as recently as today, calls to 911 have been directed to a voice recording due to shortage of operators and an increase risk increase in sick call outs caused by burnouts and the fee and fear of not being able to go home after every shift.
8:20:13
After their shifts are due, excessive mandatory overtime is required of every nine one one operator.
8:20:19
It is important to emphasize that nine one one operators are the one group that cannot afford to be short staffed as they're responsible for dispatching or connecting emergency responses such as EMS, FD, and NYPD.
8:20:32
When individuals are in distress, it is our operators who answer those calls.
8:20:37
Calm, calm a mother who's losing a child, talk to someone of off a ledge, and comfort those who are in having difficulty breathing until an emergency response arrives in person.
8:20:48
The emergencies are numerous and we need to be alert and focused and provide the best possible assistance.
8:20:54
With that I conclude New York City's Nine One One system is in crisis due to the severe understaffing with fewer than a thousand active operators handling a population of 1,200,000 plus people in this city.
8:21:08
Again, we are in an emergency situation today.
8:21:11
The number of unanswered calls, mandatory overtime, high absences and resignation rates among operators impacting the well-being of job performance on our operators and the safety of New York City.
8:21:23
The city council was urged to address this crisis by increasing staffing, improving transparency, prevent a to prevent a potential tragedy.
8:21:32
Sir, my full testimony will be submitted with you today as well as a recording of today's audio.
8:21:39
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak and I will take any questions if need.