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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Marlena Giga, Treasurer and PEP Officer

4:49:42

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Marlena Giga, a long-serving NYC parks employee, advocates for increased funding and staffing across all city parks, emphasizing the need for equity in park maintenance and security beyond well-funded, high-profile locations.

Calls for an increase of 1,000 seasonal City Seasonal Aide (CSA) positions to assist with maintenance and security in playgrounds, pools, and beaches
Highlights discrepancies in Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officer numbers, noting only 37 officers in the Bronx to cover 6,824 acres
Urges restoration of budget for rangers, PEP officers, CSAs, and Associate Park Service Worker (APSW) positions to improve park cleanliness and quality of life

Marlena Giga

4:49:42

Thank you for having us.

4:49:44

My name is Marlene Aguiga.

4:49:45

I'm a treasurer and pep officer with over twenty years of service to New York City, born and raised in The Bronx.

4:49:52

The parks in New York City are vital to all communities, not just the parks like Brooklyn Bridge, Highline, and Central Park that have private funding for employees and non city employees to take care of the park these parks.

4:50:09

All New Yorkers deserve clean, safe, and public programs, not just the parks that can afford to pay for them.

4:50:18

The seasonal staff CSA position is vital to assist with maintenance and security in playgrounds, pools, and beaches.

4:50:27

The number of CSAs should be increased by a thousand.

4:50:33

Park enforcement also does not rely on NYPD despite what the commissioner stated.

4:50:41

The number of PEP offices currently in The Bronx which I verified while I was here is 37 offices, not 70, which is 6,824 acres to patrol with 37 offices.

4:50:59

And the fact that Rangers, council, and local nine eighty three has to beg for funding for park rangers in New York City is a disgrace.

4:51:12

And last, the APSW title, as the president said, is a hard to recruit title due to the CDL requirements and lack of vehicles which impact the cleanliness of parks and the quality of life for all.

4:51:28

Please restore the budget for rangers, PEP, CSA, and APSW titles.

4:51:34

Thank you.

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Testimony by Joe Puleo, President of DC37 Local 983, on Parks Department Staffing

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Testimony by Dejon Williams, President of Local 299, on Parks Department Staffing and Recreation Centers