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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jackson Chabot, Director of Advocacy and Organizing at Open Plans
3:40:35
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124 sec
Jackson Chabot, representing Open Plans, testified in strong support of universal daylighting in NYC, emphasizing its effectiveness for all road users and broad community support. He highlighted the organization's extensive outreach efforts and addressed DOT's concerns about implementation.
- Stressed that daylighting works for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and children, improving safety for all
- Detailed Open Plans' engagement with community boards and local organizations across NYC to build support for daylighting
- Argued that DOT's concerns about scale and cost are not insurmountable, urging citywide implementation of daylighting
Jackson Chabot
3:40:35
Good afternoon.
3:40:36
My name is Jackson Chabot.
3:40:37
I'm the director of advocacy and organizing at open plans.
3:40:40
We'll submit longer remarks for the committee's review, and I wanna highlight a few top line points that elevate what other folks have said here today, other folks will say here online later on.
3:40:50
It's not about us.
3:40:51
It's not about me.
3:40:52
It's about we.
3:40:53
We are all here today because we believe in street safety.
3:40:57
We are all here today virtually in community boards, in community organizations that Kevin has mentioned because everyone resonates with this.
3:41:07
Daylighting works for all road users.
3:41:09
It works for drivers, pedestrians, people biking, children scooting, it just works.
3:41:17
I'm especially proud of the community board conversations that we've had.
3:41:21
Team members of mine have gone to Rosedale Civics Association in person to speak with folks.
3:41:26
I've virtually shared information about daylighting with Queens community board thirteen.
3:41:31
I went up to Bronx community board five.
3:41:33
Our team has worked with so many of these community boards across the city because we know that community conversations are tough and we want to have them with folks.
3:41:42
This resonates with folks because we've been empathetic.
3:41:44
We've listened to their concerns and time and again folks who identify as drivers say, I would rather save the life of my neighbor, of a child crossing the street, in service and in sacrifice of a parking spot.
3:41:58
It just works.
3:42:00
The DOT's concerns are all about scale and money.
3:42:04
Those are not insurmountable and we've heard that from folks today.
3:42:07
We must implement this.
3:42:09
We must implement this across the city because as someone said earlier, we have a universal problem and this is a universal solution.
3:42:17
With the remaining time, I'd like to share a gratitude and appreciation to chair Brooks Powers for having this hearing today.
3:42:22
We've been in discussion for many months, and I really appreciate you listening not only to that, but also to the folks here today as well as for council member Juan for pushing to have this heard as well.
3:42:33
This is of the moment, and we are of the moment, and this is what we need.
3:42:37
Thank you.