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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Hunter Severini, Citizen Reporter of Air Code Violations
4:15:32
·
129 sec
Hunter Severini, a citizen reporter of air code violations, testified about his experiences with the citizen air complaint program and his concerns about the DEP's handling of self-prosecution requests. He argued that allowing more citizens to self-prosecute idling complaints could reduce DEP's workload and improve the program's effectiveness.
- Severini claimed the DEP has largely prevented him from self-prosecuting violations, contrary to the council's original intent for the program.
- He criticized the DEP's claim that the program stretches their resources, arguing that solutions are available but not implemented.
- Severini expressed opposition to Intro 941, stating it would hurt the Citizens' Air Complaint Program.
Hunter Severini
4:15:32
You very much.
4:15:33
I appreciate your time here, and I'll try to keep this quick.
4:15:36
My name is Hunter Severini, and I'm a citizen reporter of air code violations.
4:15:42
Prosecuted arguably more of these than any other citizen, so it's something I'm familiar with, and that's what I quickly wanted to speak about.
4:15:49
For years, I've been willing and able to prosecute these violations, yet the DEP has largely prevented this.
4:15:57
And I think it's contrary to the original intent of the the council in creating the law for the citizen air complaint program.
4:16:05
Whenever I have tried to do this, for the most part, requests have been denied, and I've been getting hearings scheduled en masse.
4:16:13
Like to give you an example, just in the past day or two, I've gotten a 54 hearings scheduled on this one date in October.
4:16:22
And so basically, they're anytime I request to self prosecute, seem to be prioritizing my complaints over that of other citizens.
4:16:32
And I just like to say that it's it's been a good I really appreciate the experience of self prosecuting these idling complaints.
4:16:38
It's been a good thing to do.
4:16:39
It would reduce resources for the DEP if they are as overwhelmed as I assume that they actually are.
4:16:46
And these cases are largely winnable based on the strength of the evidence.
4:16:49
I've had overwhelming success self prosecuting idling complaints.
4:16:53
And I think that more citizens who elect to do this, like me, I'm a single digit percentage of idling complaints in New York City, but I think that more citizens who elect to do this should be given the opportunity, especially since it's done by such a small group of people that know the system well.
4:17:08
And so for that, I just think it was a little bit disingenuous of the DEP to claim in a budget hearing that their resources are completely stretched by this program.
4:17:15
They claim that 94% of air noise administrative staff and 65% of air noise inspectors' time is spent on this program.
4:17:23
When there are already solutions available to them, the council has basically offered to them.
4:17:27
And Commissioner Agawala himself mentioned in his testimony that he's aware of these, and it's something they've deliberately chosen not to do, but I think they could do in the future.
4:17:36
And I'm also really against nine four one because I think it would also hurt the Citizens' Error Complaint Program.
4:17:41
So that's all.