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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Chanel Short Sanchez Batroville, High School Senior and Founder of Highbridge Builders
5:16:25
·
3 min
Chanel Short Sanchez Batroville, a high school senior and founder of Highbridge Builders, testified about sanitation inequalities in the Bronx, particularly in Highbridge Park. She highlighted the lack of dog waste bag dispensers on the Bronx side of the park compared to the Manhattan side, and proposed solutions to address this issue.
- Requested support for legislation like Intro 02/2024 by Council Member Menon to install dog waste bag dispensers throughout the city, prioritizing underserved areas
- Called for allocation of funding for additional trash cans in Highbridge
- Suggested partnering with Highbridge Builders to raise awareness about pooper scooper laws and host dog licensing events
- Emphasized the importance of equitable service delivery across all boroughs and the impact of infrastructure inequality on community perception
High School Student
5:16:25
Good afternoon.
5:16:26
I'm Chanel Short Sanchez Batroville, a high school senior at the Braley School on the Upper East Side, Organizer and founder of Highbridge Builders, deeply invested in the intersection of urban policy, economics, and law with a focus on equity, systemic clarity, and public service.
5:16:42
I was born and raised in The Bronx, Highbridge to be exact, which is proudly served by council member Althea Stevens.
5:16:49
My building stands directly in front of Highbridge Park in a in friendly family neighborhood that loves its dogs.
5:16:55
I've witnessed firsthand how infrastructure inequality shapes perception.
5:16:59
When classmates parents from the Upper East Side were hesitant to visit my home, it wasn't about the people, it was a reaction to broken infrastructure, decades of disinvestment, and a Bronx's burning narrative that persists despite our vibrant community.
5:17:13
I founded Highbridge Builders to challenge this narrative turning those neighborhoods into our community through meaningful action.
5:17:20
I'm here today to address a specific sanitation inequality that connects directly to the work of this committee.
5:17:26
Highbridge Park connects Manhattan and the Bronx through a pedestrian bridge.
5:17:30
The Manhattan side features numerous free dog waste bag dispensers while the Bronx side has none.
5:17:35
With high dog ownership in our area and Manhattan residents frequently crossing into our neighborhood to walk their dogs, this disparity is particularly problematic.
5:17:44
Given that our median household income is less than half of adjacent Manhattan neighborhoods, many residents simply cannot afford to purchase dog waste bags regularly.
5:17:53
This creates a cycle that reinforces negative stereotypes.
5:17:56
Without access to proper disposal resources, our sidewalks accumulate waste, further cementing the harmful perception that The Bronx is inherently less clean.
5:18:04
This isn't a complex issue, it's a clear inequity with a simple fix, and to be clear, this isn't about increasing fines or criminalizing people in a neighborhood that's already over policed.
5:18:14
Hybridge needs support, not punishment.
5:18:16
We're offering a simple positive solution giving residents the tools to care for their streets without adding pressure or stigma.
5:18:23
I respectfully request that this community consider supporting legislation like intro o 02/2024 by council member Menon, which proposes installing dog waste bag dispensers throughout the city with priority for under deserved areas like Highbridge, allocating modest funding for at least two additional trash cans in our neighborhood, partnering with Highbridge builders to spread awareness about pooper scooper laws using 311 to report dog waste and to host dog licensing events since the since the city uses that data to track issues, count dogs, and guide funding.
5:18:58
This is a low cost, high impact investment, cleaner streets, increased community pride, and a powerful message that this administration values equitable service delivery across all boroughs.
5:19:09
I'm encouraged by efforts like council member powers scoop the poop PSA campaign which demonstrates how public education can reinforce civic responsibility and by council member Brewer's advocacy around responsible pet ownership and as the Zero Waste Act championed by council members NURCE and HANF shows waste equity must be addressed with just not just with penalties, but with infrastructure, education, and access.
5:19:34
Highbridge Builder Builders volunteers stand ready to partner with the department on implementation and maintenance.
5:19:41
Thank you for your leadership on these issues and for allowing me to speak on behalf of Highbridge today.