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Council Member Krishnan introduces legislation for wildfire prevention and mitigation
0:21:23
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94 sec
Council Member Shekar Krishnan introduces legislation (Intro 1185-A) requiring the Parks Department to develop a comprehensive plan for wildfire prevention and mitigation in New York City. The bill aims to address the increasing threat of wildfires due to climate change and improve the city's preparedness and response.
- The legislation mandates the creation of a preparedness plan by March 1, involving multiple city agencies.
- Key components include fire prevention training, improved surveillance of fire-prone areas, and enhanced enforcement against activities that contribute to fires in parks.
- The plan will be publicly accessible on the Parks Department website and regularly updated with data on recent fires.
Shekar Krishnan
0:21:23
Thank you so much.
0:21:25
It's a beautiful day today, but it's also a moment to reflect and remember that we're in the middle of a climate emergency.
0:21:31
Last fall, there were 250 wildfires in just two weeks in our city's parks across the city, from Brooklyn to The Bronx to Queens.
0:21:39
It sent a clear message that we have to do far more as a city to prepare and to protect our city from the worst effects of climate change and the lasting harm of wildfires.
0:21:49
That's why I'm proud today that we are passing my legislation, Intro eleven eighty five a, requiring the parks department to work with city agencies to come up with a plan to prevent wildfires where possible, to protect our city from the worst impacts of them when they do occur, and to educate New Yorkers on all that we can do together to make sure we are protecting our city's trees and green spaces from wildfires.
0:22:13
The bill would require the agencies to work together by March 1 and come up with a preparedness plan, a way to both prevent the wildfires, also require agencies to work together to increase response times when they do happen, more fire prevention training for city workers, better surveillance over fire prone areas of parkland, and improve enforcement against activities in parks that contribute to fires occurring.
0:22:35
The plan would have to be posted on the Parks Department website and be updated regularly with relevant data on any recent fires that occurred.
0:22:42
I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.
0:22:45
We are in the middle of a climate emergency that is getting worse every day from here across the country to LA.
0:22:52
We need to take decisive action and be prepared, and that's what this bill does.
0:22:56
Thank you.