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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alia Soomro, Deputy Director of New York City Policy at New York League of Conservation Voters
5:10:37
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115 sec
Alia Soomro from the New York League of Conservation Voters testifies on the need for increased funding for the New York City Parks Department in the FY 2026 budget. She emphasizes the importance of restoring lost positions and increasing resources for park maintenance and urban forest planning.
- Calls for $79.7 million restoration in FY 2026 to restore 795 critical NYC Parks positions
- Highlights that NYC Parks has lost almost 800 critical positions, leading to more trash, longer clean-up times, and less frequent tree maintenance
- Advocates for $1 million commitment for a multi-agency planning process for the New York City Urban Forest Plan
Alia Soomro
5:10:37
My name is Alia Sumro, and I'm the deputy director for New York City policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters.
5:10:42
Thank you chairs Brannan, Krishnan, and Brooks Powers.
5:10:45
I've submitted longer written test testimony.
5:10:48
First off, we really appreciate the city council's f y twenty six preliminary budget response calling for 65,700,000.0 for for the parks department.
5:10:58
That would restore in baseline over 600 jobs.
5:11:01
As a play fair member, we will continue to push the coalition's goal of a 79,700,000.0 restoration in f y twenty six, And that would restore seven ninety five critical New York City parks positions.
5:11:15
With that said, following several years of cuts to New York City parks and no restorations to the staff and programs, the mayor's f y twenty six executive budget once again under resources the staff and stewards of our city's parks.
5:11:28
While the mayor continuously celebrated baselining positions in his executive budget speech, New York City Parks was not included.
5:11:36
New York City Parks has lost almost 800 critical positions.
5:11:40
The city's parks workforce is operating at a historic low which means more trash, longer clean up times, less frequent tree maintenance.
5:11:48
I can go on and on.
5:11:49
Fully restoring these lost positions will create good paying union jobs that support working families.
5:11:56
So as a member of the Play Fair for Parks Coalition as well as the Forest for All Coalition, NYLCV is calling for restoring 79,700,000.0 to DPR and committing $1,000,000 for a robust multi agency planning process for the New York City Urban Forest Plan.
5:12:14
If we want to invest in our city's quality of life and safety and prepare for the climate crisis which is here right now, now is the time to restore our city's parks funding.
5:12:24
We stand with the Playfair Coalition and Forest For All calling for the full restoration and we look forward to working with you.
5:12:30
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.