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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Max Barton, Union Representative from Laborers Local 1010 (Pavers and Road Builders)
2:09:29
ยท
137 sec
Max Barton, representing Laborers Local 1010, advocates for the full restoration of New York City parks budget and the rehiring of workers. He raises concerns about the use of current and future budgets, particularly focusing on issues with park contractors and the need for better procurement processes.
- Highlights the importance of the Vital Parks tool in empowering New Yorkers with data for budget decisions
- Addresses concerns about felony park contractors, specifically mentioning Griffin's Landscaping and Glenn Griffin's pending sentencing for conspiracy and wire fraud
- Calls for proper contractor vetting, public oversight, and greater transparency in the city's procurement process to ensure accountability and eliminate waste
Max Barton
2:09:29
Hi.
2:09:30
Good.
2:09:30
My name is Max Barton.
2:09:32
I'm a union representative from Labour's Local ten ten, Pavers and Row Builders.
2:09:36
Union representation gives a worker a voice, and it's a powerful thing to have a voice.
2:09:40
Members of the City Council, Chair Krishnan, thank you for giving me the opportunity to have a voice today.
2:09:46
My union is proud to advocate alongside Playfair Coalition for the full restoration of New York City parks, alongside the for year '26 budget, and I'm excited to use the Vital Parks tool and testimony for the first time today, a tool used to empower New Yorkers with data which then they use to empower their elected officials to make budget decisions.
2:10:03
And, well over 75% of our community board's parks fall below the Vital Parks high condition scores as, once clean, safe, and green, and resilient parks have been replaced by budget cuts we've been talking about today.
2:10:15
And how do we solve this problem?
2:10:17
We've been talking about it, play fair, restore our budget, hire back our workers.
2:10:21
I would also like to use my opportunity to voice my raised concerns about the use of the budget that we both currently have and will going forward.
2:10:28
I'm gonna talk about the felony parks contractors, not Dragonetti that we usually talk about.
2:10:33
Our union's been raising concerns about Dragonetti for years, Nicholas Envedo, who pled guilty 02/2022 to insurance fraud and offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree.
2:10:43
I'm gonna talk about Griffin's landscaping and Glen Griffin today in 2025.
2:10:48
03/13/2025, '1 week ago, last Thursday, Glenn Griffin motion withdraw guilty plea was denied.
2:10:55
His sentencing for one count conspiracy to commit bribery and one count wire fraud will take place on April 22 in thirty three days.
2:11:03
Glenn Griffin is set to receive up to ten years in federal prison and over $20,000,000 in capital projects.
2:11:11
Nine years to plant your tree.
2:11:12
Will he be in prison when he does that for you?
2:11:17
This is real and relatable.
2:11:19
Is it solvable?
2:11:20
Proper contractor vetting and public oversight in the city's procurement process will ensure accountability and eliminate waste and inefficiency.
2:11:27
Procurement should be better.
2:11:28
Contractors awaiting federal sentencing and receiving awards is not an efficient use of resources.
2:11:33
With greater transparency, oversight, and accountability, you better believe this issue can be solved.
2:11:39
Ten seconds.
2:11:40
I thank you for your time and consideration to improve our parks budget, to create a budget that all New Yorkers can feel proud of.