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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Michelle Luebke, Program Manager of SWIM Coalition
4:18:33
ยท
129 sec
Michelle Luebke, representing the SWIM Coalition, addressed the NYC Council Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency, and Waterfronts. She emphasized the importance of sustainable stormwater management and the need for increased funding and resources for the Department of Environmental Protection in light of federal funding uncertainties.
- Advocated for fully funding DEP at $2 billion, a $370 million increase from the preliminary budget
- Called for restoring agency staffing to pre-COVID levels and filling nearly 800 vacancies
- Urged rejection of the $303 million rental payment from the NYC Water Board
- Requested $8.5 million to fully staff the Bureau of Coastal Resiliency
- Advocated for full funding of the Unified Stormwater Rule implementation with an additional $4 million
Michelle Luebke
4:18:33
Hold on.
4:18:33
Thank you.
4:18:35
Good afternoon.
4:18:36
My name is Michelle Lubke.
4:18:37
You got close.
4:18:38
Sheher, program manager for the SWIM coalition.
4:18:41
Thank you, chairperson Gennaro in in absentia, acting chair wrestler, members of the New York City Council Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency, and Waterfronts for your leadership, and thank you also for providing the opportunity for us to deliver public testimony on behalf of the SWIM coalition.
4:18:58
Stormwater Infrastructure Matters, SWIM coalition is a group of 70 plus organizations dedicated to ensuring the mandates of the clean water act, swimmable and fishable waters in New York City through sustainable stormwater management practices, including both gray and green infrastructure.
4:19:13
SWIM coalition member organizations endorse a truly sustainable view of watershed management, one that restores ecological systems, creates local economic opportunities, and equitably distributes the numerous benefits of green infrastructure.
4:19:26
The next decade is crucial in terms of how we address our storm water and climate change related challenges in New York City.
4:19:32
At the same time, we are faced with unprecedented attacks from the federal government on climate mitigation and resiliency work on clean air, clean water, and environmental justice.
4:19:42
With federal funding insecure or entirely nonexistent, now more than ever, we need bold leadership from the New York City Council and this administration to ensure that critical agencies receive adequate funding and resources to protect our ecosystems and prepare for a changing climate.
4:19:57
The SWIM coalition echoes our partners at Riverkeeper advocating to, one, fully fund the Department of Environmental Protection at $2,000,000,000, a $370,000,000 increase from the preliminary budget.
4:20:09
Two, restore agency staffing to pre COVID levels and fill nearly 800 vacancies.
4:20:14
Three, reject the 303,000,000 rental payment from the New York City Water Board.
4:20:20
Number four, provide number $8,500,000 to fully staff the Bureau of Coastal Resiliency.
4:20:27
And number five, fully fund implementation of the unified storm water rule with an additional $4,000,000.
4:20:33
We're submitting a more extensive written testimony with key
UNKNOWN
4:20:36
concern time has expired.
Michelle Luebke
4:20:37
Thank you for your time.
Lincoln Restler
4:20:39
Thank you, Michelle.
4:20:40
Sorry about your name.
Michelle Luebke
4:20:41
No worries.