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Q&A
Discussion of delayed playground project at PS 217
5:41:11
ยท
112 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph expresses frustration over the delayed ADA-compliant playground project at PS 217, which was funded in FY 2023 but has not yet started. The discussion highlights the impact of delays on students and the need for better communication and follow-through.
- The PS 217 playground project was initially funded at $400,000, then increased to $950,000 after SCA requested additional funds
- Despite being funded in FY 2023, the project has not started as of FY 2025
- Joseph emphasizes the importance of delivering on promises made to students and the community
Daniel Weisberg
5:41:11
And so before president Kubota and and chief Moran are gonna respond, chair, let let me just say that I totally agree.
5:41:22
And it's the worst thing in the world when you promise kids something, and then they're asking you again and again.
5:41:27
So we've gotta do better collectively.
5:41:30
You're gonna hear from my colleagues, like, what the process is and how we're trying to expedite it, but I'm gonna just short circuit it a little bit and say and suggest that because I you're also a % right that you are not the only council member who has had issues with delays in in RESO A projects.
5:41:47
So, you know, we would love to engage with you and colleagues to really go through with a fine tooth comb, this is what's happening now, here's what we're doing to clear the backlog, here's what we're having, frankly, our own, you know, obstacles, and see if we can collectively figure out how to solve it.
5:42:02
Because we want when you fund a project, we want you to have a very clear timeline.
5:42:08
We want you to be able to look people in the eye and say this is when it's going get done, this is it's going to get started, etcetera.
5:42:13
And we we we hear you that we are not there now, and so we wanna fix it.
5:42:18
But we think we we we'd ask for your your help in in coming up with the the right range of solutions.
Rita Joseph
5:42:23
And that's what we talked about in terms of communication, and that's one thing I expressed to SCA.
5:42:28
I was not happy in the way we were communicated.
5:42:31
I promised New York City kids one thing that I would be their champion and I promise and I would never want to let them down right.
5:42:37
If I if I say I'm gonna deliver they have to get what they want.
5:42:40
So talk to me, this is an opportunity to talk to New York City kids because they watch and they're here today right because they want to be involved in government, they're here today, shout out to them for being here today and for advocating for themselves always.
5:42:53
They're here also to testify for things they want to see in the budget, first deputy chancellor.
5:42:58
Restorative justice, community schools, those are the things they're here to tell me.