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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Eisenberg, Member of the Public, on Air Pollution Complaints and DEP Staffing
4:20:51
ยท
129 sec
Eric Eisenberg criticizes the commissioner's complaints about receiving too many air pollution complaints, arguing that the real problem is air pollution itself. He emphasizes the need for better funding and staffing for the citizen air complaint review team at the DEP.
- Highlights that 3,000 New Yorkers die annually due to air pollution
- Points out that the citizen air complaint program has generated about $65 million over the past few years, while DEP staff costs are less than $1 million per year
- Urges the city council to increase funding for air pollution reviewers, arguing it would be beneficial for both air quality and the budget
Eric Eisenberg
4:20:51
Sorry.
4:20:52
I took a second to unmute.
4:20:56
I I was a little bit taken aback by the commissioner's complaints about receiving too many air pollution complaints.
4:21:06
That seems a little bit like complaining about too many rat complaints in New York City when the problem isn't the complaint.
4:21:13
The problem is the rats.
4:21:16
Here, the the problem is the air pollution.
4:21:19
We lose three thousand New Yorkers a year to air pollution.
4:21:24
And I I think the commissioner and I are in agreement with one thing, and that is that our city has been badly underfunding the hardworking men and women of the citizen air complaint review team at the DEP.
4:21:41
We need more of them to be able to handle cleaning our air, and they need to be better compensated.
4:21:47
The commissioner in previous hearings has pointed out they are paid a totally unacceptable unlivable wage, and that needs to stop.
4:21:56
This isn't a matter of choosing between priorities because we can have our cake and eat it too.
4:22:01
The the citizen error complaint program over the past six or so years, more so in the last few years, has taken in about $65,000,000, and the DEP staff costs, I believe, less than a million a year.
4:22:18
We are we are really making a bad choice by overworking these individuals, and we need to appropriately fund them.
4:22:27
And I I don't even know if the commissioner is in in disagreement about that.
4:22:31
But for some reason, this this request has been made year after year, and the city council has not inserted in that line item to make sure that we have enough of these reviewers and they are paid appropriately.
4:22:46
So I just wanna emphasize that this is something that needs to be done.
4:22:49
This has been, a problem, in the budget process that just has not been done.
4:22:55
It will be good for our budget because they take in more money than they cost.
4:23:00
You so
Lincoln Restler
4:23:00
much for your testimony.