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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Damon Gilbert, Equal Justice Fellow at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
5:08:08
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Damon Gilbert, an Equal Justice Fellow with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, testified about environmental justice and disability justice programs. He highlighted concerns about sewer backups and flooding in Queens, implementation of Local Law 97, and housing discrimination against people with disabilities.
- Called for additional funding to DEP to address flooding issues, particularly in communities like South Jamaica
- Requested 3-5 staff positions at HPD dedicated to affordable housing's Local Law 97 compliance
- Emphasized the need for prioritized enforcement of building code accessibility requirements to ensure housing for seniors and residents with disabilities
Damon Gilbert
5:08:08
Good afternoon.
5:08:09
Thank you, chair Sanchez, committee members, and Yaya for the chance to testify.
5:08:15
My name is Damon Gilbert.
5:08:17
I'm an equal justice fellow with New York Lawyers for the Public Interests.
5:08:21
I'm here to testify today about some of our programs in the environmental justice and disability justice programs that we have.
5:08:27
First, one major area of concern for our community clients is the issue of sewer backups and flooding suffered by many low income homeowners in Queens.
5:08:36
My colleagues spoke about this at the DEP budget hearing last week and asked that you can potentially affirm and amplify our call for additional funding to DEP to ensure that it addresses the intolerable flooding caused by increasing extreme weather issues, and that DEP prioritized communities like South Jamaica that have been unjustly left out of city investments.
5:08:57
Furthermore, we've been working to ensure the implementation of the landmark local law 97, and we think it's especially important that frontline communities can make sure that city funding goes towards agencies that are actually enforcing the law.
5:09:14
And specifically ask that three to five staff positions at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development be allocated to increase capacity dedicated to affordable housing's Local Law 97 compliance.
5:09:26
And finally, our work in the disability justice sphere has, despite the Federal Fair Housing Act and our long standing city and state human rights laws, still allowed a number of communities to face discrimination when it comes to their housing needs.
5:09:44
New York City is one that prides itself on the diversity of its people and we support all efforts to ensure that housing is accessible and otherwise free of discrimination.
5:09:53
So we hope that enforcement of building code accessibility requirements should be prioritized for the city funding.
5:09:59
Funding to support an aggressive enforcement mandate by the Department of Buildings and the Department of Housing and Preservation and Development will ensure accessible spaces for New York City Senior Citizens and residents with disabilities to continue to be a part of their communities and live independently.
5:10:12
Thank you.