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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Chris Hartman, Public Health Professor and Citizen Participant in the Citizens Air Complaint Program
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Chris Hartman, a New York City citizen, father, and public health professor, testified in support of the Citizens Air Complaint Program (CACP) and called for increased staffing and compensation for DEP's air and noise administrative staff and inspectors. He emphasized the program's importance in holding polluters accountable and empowering citizens to improve air quality in their neighborhoods.
- Hartman refuted the commissioner's claim that the CACP fails to focus on disadvantaged communities, citing data showing 26% of idling complaints were from such areas.
- He highlighted support for the CACP from WE ACT, a black-led environmental justice organization in Harlem.
- Hartman stressed the program's value in environmental justice and public health equity efforts.
Chris Hartman
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Okay.
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Good afternoon.
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I'm a New York City citizen, father, and public health professor.
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My name is Chris Hartman.
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I'm also a participant in the Citizens Error Complaint Program.
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And as this council is aware, the Citizens 's air complaint program here after CACP has done tremendous work to hold to account some of the worst polluters, thank you, in this city.
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We all breathe a little easier, just a little bit because of this program.
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I'm here today to ask council to increase staffing and compensation for the air and noise administrative staff and inspectors at DEP.
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They along with the citizen complainants are doing fantastic work to ensure our constitutional right that all New Yorkers enjoy cleaner air.
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From a public health and environmental justice perspective, the CACP is remarkable because it empowers everyday New Yorkers to hold polluters accountable.
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The CACP lets us document polluters and turn over the proof to DEP.
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We know our neighborhoods best.
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We know the sources of pollution best.
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We are on our stoops and on our sidewalks at times when there are no inspectors around.
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Let me end by rebutting something that the commissioner stated today.
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He said that the CAP is quote currently failing to focus on neighborhoods where air quality related health impacts are disproportionately located.
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This is not true and I kindly ask that he and his staff look at the data from open data.
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The last time I checked which was two hours ago, yeah I've been here five six hours like you all have been, 26% of idling complaints were for violations in what New York state calls disadvantaged communities.
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Let me state that again.
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26% of all idling complaints were in disadvantaged communities including mine in Northern Manhattan.
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But don't listen to me, let's listen to WE ACT, a well known black led environmental justice organization in Harlem in September of last year.
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Here, WE ACT testified that quote, the CACP empowers these communities to report air quality issues, advocate for healthier living conditions, and hold polluters accountable, advancing both environmental justice and public health equity, end quote.
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Thank you for your time.
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Thank you for dedication to improving New Yorkers'
Lincoln Restler
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health and well-being.