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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Emily Ruby, Advocacy and Policy Coordinator at Riverkeeper
3:28:33
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142 sec
Emily Ruby from Riverkeeper testifies on the urgent need for increased funding and staffing for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address climate change challenges and infrastructure needs in New York City. She calls for six critical budget priorities to enhance the city's resilience and environmental protection efforts.
- Requests a $2 billion budget for DEP to restore cuts and support critical infrastructure upgrades
- Advocates for rejecting the $303 million payment from the NYC Water Board and allocating funds to water infrastructure instead
- Emphasizes the need for $4 million to fully staff and implement the Unified Stormwater Rule
Emily Ruby
3:28:33
It's nice to see you council member Ressler.
3:28:36
My name is M.
3:28:36
Ruby and I am the advocacy and policy coordinator at Riverkeeper.
3:28:39
Thank you chairperson Ressler and chairperson Gennaro and members of the committee for your leadership and for the opportunity to testify today.
3:28:46
I would also like to thank the staff of DEP for their very dedicated work.
3:28:50
So New York City is on the front lines of climate change and New Yorkers today face serious overlapping threats from rising sea levels, coastal storm surge, extreme rainfall and extreme heat.
3:29:00
However, the city's aging sewer system is not designed to meet today's extreme weather and coastal resiliency projects remain years from completion.
3:29:07
DEP has estimated that it will cost nearly $30,000,000,000 which they mentioned today to upgrade the city's sewer infrastructure to prevent the worst damage from storm water flooding.
3:29:16
However, this administration has proposed to take $1,300,000,000 over four years in the form of a rental payment from the water board, funds that should be going toward DEP's capital budget.
3:29:26
We cannot advocate in good faith for more state funding while our city continues to give away $1,300,000,000 in a rental payment over the next four years for non water purposes.
3:29:36
The severe drought last fall illustrated that New York is vulnerable and urgently needs investment in its water infrastructure now.
3:29:42
To address these challenges, we call for the council to support six critical priorities in this year's budget, to fully fund the Department of Environmental Protection at $2,000,000,000, to restore agency staffing to pre COVID levels and fill 800 vacancies, to reject the $303,000,000 payment in FY twenty six from the New York City Water Board, to provide 8,500,000.0 to fully staff the Bureau of Coastal Resiliency, to provide 4,000,000 to fully fund implementation of the unified storm water rule, and to provide 3,000,000 to begin the master planning effort for renewable Rikers.
3:30:13
$2,000,000,000 budget for DEP would restore the $38,000,000 in cuts from the FY '25 budget for the agency and support staff to upgrade and maintain critical infrastructure for storm water, drinking water, waste water and coastal resiliency to protect the city in the face climate change.
3:30:28
Today, are faced with unprecedented attacks on climate mitigation and resiliency work, on clean air, clean water and environmental justice from the federal government.
3:30:35
Now more than ever, we need bold leadership from this council to address these challenges and prepare our city.
3:30:40
And I'll just add on the unified stormwater rule that the 4,000,000 is for 20 staff members which will be critical for implementation of that rule.
3:30:48
We know there are issues and concerns from developers around the timeline and so that 4,000,000 I see as being critical for the success of that program.
3:30:55
Thank you.