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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lisa Alpert, Senior Vice President of Development and Programming at Green-Wood Cemetery
4:01:55
·
122 sec
Lisa Alpert from Green-Wood Cemetery advocates for a $20,000 budget request to support climate resilience, environmental education, and women in green careers. The cemetery's 478 acres provide significant environmental benefits to New Yorkers.
- Green-Wood Cemetery's 8,500 trees sequester 220 tons of carbon annually
- Their stormwater abatement program diverts 51 million gallons of stormwater from the city's sewer system
- The cemetery serves thousands of students with environmental education programs
- They are launching a women's tree climbing workshop to promote careers in tree care
Lisa Alpert
4:01:55
Hi, guys.
4:01:56
I'm here from a green space in Brooklyn that spans 478 acres.
4:02:01
Sorry.
4:02:02
I wrote this for a council member from Queens.
4:02:03
I thought I could trick him.
4:02:04
It's, not a public park.
4:02:06
It's not a waterfront.
4:02:08
It's Greenwood Cemetery, and it is a natural landscape which is, as of this year, 187 years old.
4:02:15
These 478 acres delivered to Brooklynites and to New Yorkers significant environmental benefits, which I'll briefly describe in a second.
4:02:22
But first, for context, I am here to respectfully advocate for a budget request of $20,000, that we have made to the Greener NYC initiative.
4:02:33
Our modest request supports these three important activities.
4:02:38
First, climate resilience.
4:02:40
Our staff cares for about 8,500 trees that sequester 220 tons of carbon annually, and that same amazing staff has launched a really incredible stormwater abatement program at Greenwood that utilizes Greenwood's glacial ponds to divert a million 51,000,000 gallons of stormwater annually from the city's overburdened sewer system.
4:03:04
And second, the funds would support Greenwood's natural landscape as an outdoor classroom.
4:03:09
We serve thousands of students annually with programs in environmental education that align with DOE standards.
4:03:16
And finally, this we're really excited about, city council dollars would support women in green careers.
4:03:22
We are launching this women's tree climbing workshop this fall.
4:03:27
It'll take place at Greenwood utilizing the towering trees of Greenwood's accredited arboretum.
4:03:33
And in partnership with a woman owned and woman operated tree care company, we will train women for careers in tree care, a field where they currently make up just 5% of the workforce.
4:03:45
And with City Council support, we can provide scholarships for aspiring tree care specialists who lack financial resources.
4:03:52
So on behalf of Greenwood, I urge the council, to invest in these critical initiatives and