Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
New York City Council
Committee on Health
Apr 08, 2025
·
10:00 AM
1 hr 50 min
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Summary
A hearing on Introduction 998, which aims to codify and improve New York City's cooling center program.
Discussions focused on:
- The current state of cooling centers
- The impact of extreme heat on public health
- Proposals to enhance the program's effectiveness
Key topics included increasing the number and accessibility of cooling centers, extending operational hours, improving public awareness, and addressing funding challenges.
The hearing also touched on the potential expansion of the program to address poor air quality events.
Features testimony from New York City Emergency Management, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Council Member Lynn Schulman's opening remarks on cooling centers and extreme heat
Council Member Lynn Schulman opens the hearing by introducing Introduction 998, which aims to codify the cooling center program, and Resolution 822, calling for the passage of the Fair Pricing …
0:00:19
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4 min
Council Member Keith Powers discusses the importance of cooling centers and introduces his bill to improve the program
Council Member Keith Powers presents his remarks on the importance of cooling centers in New York City and introduces his bill to improve and codify the cooling center program. He …
0:04:40
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157 sec
Introduction and purpose of testimony
Christina Farrell, First Deputy Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management, introduces herself and the purpose of the testimony. She is there to discuss Introduction 998, a bill to codify …
0:07:53
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21 sec
Overview of NYC's heat emergency response
Emergency Management, along with the Department of Health and other agencies, maintains plans and protocols for responding to heat emergencies in New York City. These plans include strategies for cooling …
0:08:15
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53 sec
Details of the cooling center program
The cooling center program provides air-conditioned spaces for public use during heat emergencies. These centers are an important part of NYC's heat response strategy. - Cooling centers are typically located …
0:09:08
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35 sec
Recent improvements to NYC's heat response
New York City Emergency Management has made several recent improvements to its heat emergency response, focusing on expanding options and accessibility for residents during extreme heat events. - Revised the …
0:09:43
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54 sec
Legislation and reporting requirements for cooling centers
The testimony addresses the proposed legislation (Introduction 998) and existing reporting requirements for the cooling center program. The speaker notes that much of what the legislation proposes is already in …
0:10:39
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50 sec
Concerns about linking cooling centers to air quality
The testimony expresses significant concerns about tying air quality indices to the cooling center program. This proposal is seen as potentially counterproductive and not scientifically supported. - Pushing people to …
0:11:30
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22 sec
Air quality monitoring and associated challenges
The testimony highlights the complexities and challenges associated with monitoring and responding to air quality issues in New York City. - Forecasting air quality indices, especially for smoke, is difficult …
0:11:53
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65 sec
Cost and implementation challenges for air quality centers
The testimony outlines significant cost and implementation challenges associated with establishing clean air centers as part of the cooling center program. - Estimated initial cost of at least $260 million …
0:12:58
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45 sec
Lessons from other cities on air quality response
The testimony references experiences and lessons learned from other cities, particularly on the West Coast, regarding their approaches to air quality issues. - Conversations with partners in LA, Seattle, and …
0:13:43
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99 sec
Current air quality response measures in NYC
The testimony outlines the current measures and procedures in place for responding to air quality issues in New York City. - Air quality has been monitored and incorporated into response …
0:15:23
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43 sec
Conclusion and recommendations on cooling centers and air quality
The testimony concludes with key points about the purpose of cooling centers and recommendations for addressing air quality concerns. - Cooling centers are specifically a response to extreme heat, not …
0:16:07
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23 sec
Introduction and background of the Department of Health testimony
Carolyn Olson, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Surveillance and Policy at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, introduces herself and provides context for her testimony on cooling …
0:16:34
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25 sec
Importance of cooling centers in heat emergencies
Carolyn Olson explains why cooling centers are a crucial component of the city's response to heat emergencies. - Extreme heat events are the most dangerous type of extreme weather, killing …
0:16:59
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59 sec
Health risks associated with extreme heat
Carolyn Olson details the specific health risks associated with extreme heat and the importance of air conditioning. - Health risks increase rapidly when the heat index reaches about 95 degrees …
0:17:58
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61 sec
Concerns about opening cooling centers during air quality advisories
Carolyn Olson expresses concerns about the proposal to open cooling centers on days with air quality health advisories, regardless of the forecasted heat index. - The proposal might not reduce …
0:19:00
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100 sec
Air quality health messaging and protocols
Carolyn Olson explains the city's approach to air quality advisories and the messaging used to protect public health. - The city developed a detailed emergency response protocol after the 2023 …
0:20:41
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88 sec
Conclusion of the Department of Health testimony
Carolyn Olson concludes her testimony and offers to answer questions. - Olson thanks the committee for the opportunity to testify - She indicates that both she and First Deputy Commissioner …
0:22:10
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7 sec
Discussion on codifying NYC's cooling center program
Council Member Keith Powers and Christina Farrell discuss the core aspect of the proposed bill to codify cooling centers in NYC. Farrell provides an overview of the existing cooling center …
0:22:27
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124 sec
Plans and challenges in expanding NYC's cooling center network
Council Member Keith Powers inquires about plans to expand the number of cooling centers, particularly in vulnerable communities. Christina Farrell discusses the ongoing efforts to increase the number of centers …
0:24:32
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3 min
Update and explanation of heat-related mortality data error
Council Member Keith Powers inquires about the significant increase in reported heat-related deaths from 350 to 580. Carolyn Olson from the Department of Health explains the reason for this update …
0:28:08
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3 min
Funding situation for NYC's cooling centers
Council Member Keith Powers inquires about the funding situation for cooling centers in NYC. Christina Farrell explains that there is no direct city funding for the program. - The city …
0:31:17
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46 sec
Operating hours of NYC's cooling centers
Council Member Keith Powers inquires about the operating hours of cooling centers in NYC. Christina Farrell explains the typical hours and the considerations for extending them during extreme heat events. …
0:32:02
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81 sec
Minimum standards and criteria for NYC cooling centers
Council Member Keith Powers inquires about the minimum standards and criteria for a facility to be eligible as a cooling center. Christina Farrell outlines the basic requirements for cooling centers …
0:33:23
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93 sec
Heat emergency days in New York City
Council Member Schulman inquires about the number of heat emergency days in New York City in 2024 and how it compares to previous years. Christina Farrell from NYC Emergency Management …
0:35:04
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50 sec
Climate change trends and weather forecasting concerns
Council Member Schulman asks about climate change trends, future heat waves, and concerns about potential changes to the National Weather Service. Christina Farrell from NYC Emergency Management discusses the city's …
0:35:54
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75 sec
Budget considerations for weather forecasting
Council Member Schulman raises the issue of potential budget needs for weather forecasting services, particularly if private contractors become necessary. Christina Farrell responds by highlighting the broader funding concerns for …
0:37:09
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44 sec
Guidance and assistance for New Yorkers during extreme heat events
Council Member Schulman inquires about the guidance provided to New Yorkers for extreme heat events. Carolyn Olson from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene explains the city's efforts to …
0:37:54
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138 sec
Air conditioner availability through the Home Energy Assistance Program
Council Member Schulman asks a follow-up question about the availability of air conditioners through the Home Energy Assistance Program. Carolyn Olson provides a brief response about the program's funding situation. …
0:40:12
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11 sec
Strategies for locating cooling centers based on air conditioning prevalence
Council Member Lynn C. Schulman inquires about strategies for locating cooling centers based on the prevalence of air conditioning in different areas. She suggests focusing on areas with fewer air …
0:40:25
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51 sec
Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) and its use in identifying vulnerable areas
Christina Farrell explains the Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) and how it's used to identify vulnerable areas for cooling center placement. She discusses various factors that contribute to heat vulnerability beyond …
0:41:17
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92 sec
Public education campaigns on health risks of extreme heat
Christina Farrell outlines the public education campaigns and initiatives conducted by the administration to educate New Yorkers about the health risks of extreme heat. She highlights their focus on specific …
0:42:49
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79 sec
Collaboration with parks department and other cooling initiatives
Christina Farrell discusses the city's collaboration with the parks department and other partners on cooling initiatives. She explains how they incorporate various cooling options into their public information and mentions …
0:44:08
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64 sec
Factors used to measure the Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI)
Carolyn Olson explains the factors used to measure the Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) in communities. She details the indicators used and how often the index is updated. - The HVI …
0:45:13
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80 sec
Neighborhoods with highest Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) risk ratings
Council Member Schulman inquires about the neighborhoods with the highest HVI risk ratings. Carolyn Olson doesn't have the specific information on hand but provides information on how to access this …
0:46:33
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31 sec
Trends in Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) risk and heat-related mortality
Carolyn Olson explains that while the HVI is not designed for trend analysis, they use heat mortality data to track trends in heat-related health impacts over time. She outlines the …
0:47:04
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57 sec
Process of activating the heat emergency plan
Christina Farrell provides a detailed explanation of the process for activating the heat emergency plan in New York City. She outlines the steps from initial monitoring to full activation and …
0:48:03
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4 min
Long-term projections for heat emergencies and planning considerations
Council Member Schulman inquires about long-term projections for heat emergencies in 2025. Christina Farrell explains that while there are no specific long-range projections, emergency managers plan for worst-case scenarios, considering …
0:52:33
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35 sec
Alternative cooling centers and emergency response measures
Council Member Schulman inquires about using hospitals as cooling centers. Christina Farrell explains that while hospitals have been considered in extreme situations, the city also employs other measures such as …
0:53:09
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51 sec
Comprehensiveness of the current heat emergency plan
Council Member Schulman inquires about potential additions to the heat emergency plan mandated by local law 85 of 2020. Christina Farrell explains that the current plan is comprehensive and has …
0:54:00
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32 sec
Methods for locating and reporting issues with cooling centers
Council Member Schulman inquires about ways to locate cooling centers and report issues. Christina Farrell outlines multiple channels for communication and problem-solving. - Elected officials can use the inner gov …
0:54:32
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73 sec
Adoption of recommendations from the NYC Controller's Report on Cooling Centers
Council Member Schulman inquires about the adoption of recommendations from the NYC Controller's Report on Cooling Centers. Christina Farrell highlights improvements made in response to the report. - The cooling …
0:55:45
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28 sec
Distribution of cooling centers in Queens and comparison to other cities
Council Member Schulman inquires about increasing cooling centers in Queens and compares NYC's program to other cities. Christina Farrell explains the city's efforts and highlights NYC's extensive program. - The …
0:56:15
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151 sec
Transportation services and communication with council offices
Council Member Schulman inquires about transportation services for vulnerable populations and communication challenges with council offices. Christina Farrell explains available options and communication improvements. - Some people use existing services …
0:58:46
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95 sec
Signage, language accessibility, and temporary closures of cooling centers
Council Member Schulman inquires about improvements in signage, language accessibility, and temporary closures of cooling centers. Christina Farrell provides information on these aspects. - Cooling center information is available in …
1:00:26
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66 sec
Water availability and potential implementation of clean air centers
Council Member Schulman inquires about water availability at library cooling centers and the potential implementation of clean air centers in NYC. Christina Farrell and Carolyn Olson provide responses on these …
1:01:35
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3 min
Air filtration systems and challenges in implementing clean air centers
Council Member Schulman inquires about air filtration systems in schools and older adult centers, and the potential implementation of clean air centers in NYC. Carolyn Olson and Christina Farrell discuss …
1:04:46
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3 min
Council Member Narcisse emphasizes the importance of home air conditioning
Council Member Mercedes Narcisse emphasizes the critical importance of home air conditioning, especially for vulnerable populations like seniors. She suggests that having air conditioning at home could be a matter …
1:08:40
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87 sec
Discussion on expanding access to home air conditioning
Carolyn Olson from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene discusses efforts to expand access to home air conditioning, particularly through the Home Energy Assistance Program. She highlights the challenges …
1:10:08
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89 sec
Overview of cooling center distribution in New York City
Christina Farrell from New York City Emergency Management provides information about the number and distribution of cooling centers across the city. The discussion reveals that there are hundreds of cooling …
1:11:37
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53 sec
Elected officials' offices as cooling centers
The discussion focuses on the use of elected officials' offices as cooling centers and the challenges associated with their availability, especially on weekends. Christina Farrell explains that various types of …
1:12:31
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66 sec
Cooling center finder and hours of operation
Christina Farrell explains how the cooling center finder works, emphasizing the importance of checking for up-to-date information on cooling center availability and hours during heat emergencies. Council Member Narcisse responds …
1:13:37
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86 sec
Testimony by Shravanthi Kanekal, Senior Resiliency Planner at New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, on Cooling Centers and Intro 998
Shravanthi Kanekal, representing the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, testified in support of Intro 998 with amendments to improve the city's cooling center program. She highlighted the disproportionate impact …
1:17:29
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137 sec
Testimony by China Copperstone, Environmental Justice Research Analyst at We Stay/Nos Quedamos
China Copperstone from We Stay/Nos Quedamos testifies in support of amending Introduction 998 to improve cooling center accessibility and equity in environmental justice areas. She emphasizes the disproportionate impact of …
1:19:50
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161 sec
Testimony by Shelby Lester, Resiliency Planner at UPROSE, on Cooling Centers and Extreme Heat
Shelby Lester, Resiliency Planner at UPROSE, testifies about the inadequacies of New York City's current cooling center program and the disproportionate impact of extreme heat on environmental justice communities, particularly …
1:22:36
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115 sec
Testimony by Raisa Lin Garden-Lucerna, Environmental Justice Manager at El Puente
Raisa Lin Garden-Lucerna from El Puente testified in support of Intro 998, which aims to codify NYC's cooling center program. She emphasized the need for amendments to address environmental justice …
1:24:37
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126 sec
Testimony by Ariana Osorio, Resiliency Coordinator at The Point CDC
Ariana Osorio from The Point CDC testifies in support of Intro 998, emphasizing the need for improved heat emergency preparedness in environmental justice communities like Hunts Point. She highlights the …
1:27:38
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177 sec
Testimony by Anita Kwok, Policy Analyst at United Neighborhood Houses on Intro 998
Anita Kwok, representing United Neighborhood Houses, testifies in support of Intro 998 regarding cooling centers in New York City. She emphasizes the importance of cooling centers in the face of …
1:30:38
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126 sec
Testimony by Deaunte Johnson, Policy Fellow of New York League of Conservation Voters, on Cooling Centers and Intro 998
Deaunte Johnson, representing the New York League of Conservation Voters, strongly supports Intro 998-2024 to codify and improve NYC's cooling center program. He emphasizes the importance of addressing extreme heat, …
1:32:47
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126 sec
Testimony by Caleb Smith, Resiliency Coordinator at WE ACT for Environmental Justice, on Introduction 998
Caleb Smith from WE ACT for Environmental Justice testifies in support of Introduction 998, which aims to codify and improve NYC's cooling center program. He emphasizes the program's importance in …
1:35:49
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117 sec
Testimony by Elizabeth McMillan, Member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Elizabeth McMillan, a member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, testified in support of the cooling center program and Introduction 998. She emphasized the critical importance of cooling centers for …
1:37:51
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129 sec
Testimony by Sophia Melazo, Member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Sophia Melazo from WE ACT for Environmental Justice testifies in support of the cooling center program and Intro 998, emphasizing the critical importance of these centers for low-income New Yorkers …
1:40:03
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122 sec
Testimony by Rex Tai, Member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and Physician at NYC Health and Hospitals, on Cooling Centers and Heat-Related Health Impacts
Rex Tai, a member of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and a physician, testifies on the critical importance of improving access to cooling centers to address heat-related deaths and illnesses …
1:42:09
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132 sec
Testimony by Misha Sharp, Assistant Director of Policy at 32BJ Health Fund on Resolution 822 and the Fair Pricing Act
Misha Sharp from 32BJ Health Fund testified in support of Resolution 822, which calls for the New York State Legislature to pass the Fair Pricing Act. The Act aims to …
1:45:02
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91 sec
Testimony by Isabel Friedman, Environmental Health Advocate at Natural Resources Defense Council
Isabel Friedman from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) testifies in strong support of Intro 998, which would codify New York City's cooling center program. She emphasizes the importance of …
1:46:55
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111 sec
Importance of cooling centers and air quality in face of climate change
Council Member Schulman emphasizes the significance of cooling centers and air quality measures in light of worsening climate change. - Highlighted that climate change will exacerbate heat waves - Stressed …
1:49:32
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24 sec