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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alia Soomro, Deputy Director for New York City Policy at New York League of Conservation Voters
2:41:08
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131 sec
Alia Soomro from the New York League of Conservation Voters testifies about the urgent need for increased funding for New York City's parks department. She criticizes Mayor Adams for not fulfilling his campaign promise to allocate 1% of the city budget to parks and emphasizes the importance of investing in parks and their workforce to address climate change and create stable jobs.
- Calls for $79.7 million to restore and strengthen the city's parks workforce and programs
- Highlights the loss of almost 800 critical positions in the parks department due to budget cuts and attrition
- Urges the city to commit $1 million for planning the urban forest plan (Local Law 148) and emphasizes the need to address climate-related challenges like air quality emergencies and extreme heat waves
Alia Soomro
2:41:08
Good afternoon.
2:41:09
My name is Alia Sumro and I'm the deputy director for New York City policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters.
2:41:15
Thank you chair Christian and members of the committee on parks and rec for the opportunity to testify today.
2:41:21
Despite the fact that mayor Adams committed to funding parks at 1% of city budget three years ago, he's basically done the opposite.
2:41:28
Our city's parks department was the only agency that did not receive its full budget restorations last year.
2:41:34
On top of this, the mayor's preliminary budget once again under resources the staff and stewards that maintain our city's parks.
2:41:41
This lack of investment in our city's park system directly contradicts the mayor's campaign pledge and also contradicts all the climate goals outlined in the administration's plan NYC getting sustainability done.
2:41:54
That's why we stand with council members and fellow advocates and parks workers calling for 79,700,000.0 to restore and strengthen the city's parks workforce and programs.
2:42:05
This to be clear is not enough but this is what we're asking for at the bare minimum.
2:42:11
New York City Parks has lost almost 800 critical positions due to budget cuts and attrition and the city's parks workforce is operating at a historic low.
2:42:20
While we appreciate that the mayor's preliminary plan included additional funding for second shift workers to cover more parks hotspots, fully restoring these lost DPR positions will create stable good paying union jobs.
2:42:33
So as members of Playfair and Forest for All NYC coalitions, NYLCV urges the city to restore the almost 80,000,000 to DPR, commit 1,000,000 in funding for a robust multi agency planning process for local law one forty eight, that's the city's urban forest plan, and I outlined more in my written testimony.
2:42:56
But I just want to emphasize that the climate crisis is here.
2:42:59
We get air quality emergencies a lot.
2:43:01
Extreme heat waves impact the most vulnerable residents of our city, we have to invest in our parks workers.
2:43:08
It's here.
2:43:08
We're waiting for the mayor to make good on his campaign pledge.
2:43:13
We really appreciate the council and the speaker Adam's support, and we look forward to working with you all.
2:43:18
Thank you.