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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Michelle Luebke, Program Manager of Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (SWIM) Coalition
2:48:31
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142 sec
Michelle Luebke, representing the SWIM Coalition, testifies on proposed legislation regarding green infrastructure in New York City. She expresses concerns about the effectiveness of Intro 1253 and Intro 1254, suggesting they may have unintended negative impacts, particularly in environmental justice communities.
- SWIM Coalition opposes Intro 1253, citing existing notification processes and concerns about slowing down GI installation.
- They strongly oppose Intro 1254, arguing that the greened acre target may not effectively address flooding and could worsen water quality.
- Luebke mentions ongoing projects funded through the FEMA BRIC grant program and additional funding for the unified stormwater rule implementation.
Michelle Luebke
2:48:31
Sorry.
2:48:33
Hi.
2:48:34
Good afternoon.
2:48:34
My name is Michelle Lupe, and I'm the program manager at the Stormwater Infrastructure Matters or SWIM coalition.
2:48:40
Thank you for the opportunity to deliver public testimony, and thank you to chairman Gennaro and members of the committee for your leadership on promoting nature based solutions for climate resiliency and protecting water resources in New York City.
2:48:52
Swim Coalition is a group of more than 70 organizations dedicated to ensuring fishable swimmable waters around New York City through sustainable stormwater management practices and has long advocated for solutions to address flooding, stormwater, and climate resiliency, not only because green infrastructure has the capability to manage water in highly urbanized areas, but also because of the myriad co benefits associated with greening our cities.
2:49:16
While the SWIM coalition typically supports promoting green infrastructure throughout the city and has actively worked with the council and the DEP to expand the use of nature based solutions to address climate threat citywide, we have major concerns that the two bills being introduced today will not be effective solutions and may have unintended adverse impacts, particularly in environmental justice communities.
2:49:37
In opposition to Intro twelve fifty three, there are already notifications, as been mentioned, to council members when new GI assets are being installed, and we fear additional requirements could slow down or prevent new GI from being installed.
2:49:51
We strongly oppose intro twelve fifty four because the greened acre target goal does not accomplish what we understand the bill is intended to do, which is address flooding, and may in fact, result in worse water quality to we're working city to city to
2:50:19
FEMA BRIC grant program that will help address a lot of the MS four flooding issues and also including an additional $4,000,000 to fund implementation of the unified stormwater rule, including 15 additional staff at DEP, which will increase effectiveness of this program.
2:50:38
Thank you for hearing our reasoning for opposing these bills.
2:50:41
We will be submitting our written testimony with our concerns addressed in greater detail.
2:50:45
We echo our partners at Riverkeeper in extending the offer to gladly work further with counsel and DEP to find effective solutions for our common goals.
2:50:53
Thank you.
UNKNOWN
2:50:15
the projects being funded through the
2:50:34
The time has expired.
James F. Gennaro
2:50:36
Please continue.
2:50:37
Yeah.
2:50:37
Yeah.
2:50:37
Thank you.