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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alex Morano, Volunteer Co-Chair of Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Activist Committee on Universal Daylighting
2:21:44
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127 sec
Alex Morano, representing Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Activist Committee, testified in support of Intro 1138, which proposes universal daylighting in NYC. Morano emphasized the safety benefits of daylighting for vulnerable populations and highlighted its potential to create new public amenities and address climate-related challenges.
- Universal daylighting would reclaim 2,200 acres of public space, equivalent to nearly three Central Parks.
- The reclaimed space could be used for green infrastructure, including rain gardens to manage flooding and reduce urban heat island effects.
- Morano urged the city council to pass Intro 1138 without delay, citing its importance for street safety and climate resilience.
Alex Morano
2:21:44
Good afternoon.
2:21:45
I'm Alex Moreno, volunteer co chair of Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn activist committee, continuing our group's official testimony in support of Intro 11 30 eight.
2:21:55
Before I do that, I'll just note that I'm joined here by my sister and my brother who's also in the room.
2:22:00
We have two parents who are older New Yorkers and now, you know, a three year old nephew.
2:22:05
So for these vulnerable populations, street safety is an incredibly important issue.
2:22:10
That's why we're all here.
2:22:13
Doing work to make streets safer in our communities, we hear regularly from our neighbors.
2:22:18
There are few safety treatments that make people feel safer than a daylit intersection because it lets them see.
2:22:24
But the benefits of universal daylighting are not just limited to improving street safety, universal daylighting also provides an immediate scalable way to add new amenities in every neighborhood.
2:22:35
Universal daylighting would reclaim 2,200 acres of public space along the curb which is equivalent to nearly three central parks of additional public space.
2:22:45
This reclaimed curb space would allow communities to create new amenities including green space with benches, bus shelters, secure bike parking and rain gardens.
2:22:55
Rain gardens especially help manage localized flooding and reduce combined sewer overflow and all additional green spaces would provide numerous co benefits including improving air quality, providing shade and beauty, and reducing the urban heat island effect.
2:23:10
With universal daylighting, we can scale green infrastructure quickly because the space is already set aside on our streets for this infrastructure.
2:23:19
This is especially important right now, a time when the climate crisis is as real as ever.
2:23:24
More and more New Yorkers face extreme climate events like sweltering heat, devastating flooding, and this is most acutely affects the more vulnerable New Yorkers.
2:23:33
We need to take local action to build climate resilience, to mitigate flooding, help keep our neighborhoods cool, and keep the air clean.
2:23:40
And all of this is possible with universal daylighting.
2:23:43
All of this is why, our activist committee urges the city council to pass intro 11:38 without delay.
2:23:50
Thank you.