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REMARKS
Need for efficient project management and sufficient, plannable funding
1:05:42
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156 sec
Library representatives emphasize the need for efficient handling of small projects and the importance of sufficient, plannable funding for timely project completion.
- Linda Johnson highlights the need for a construction authority to efficiently handle small projects like systems and roof repairs.
- Anthony Marx stresses the importance of sufficient and plannable funding to avoid delays and increased costs.
- Examples of delayed projects: Westchester Square and Woodlawn (ongoing since 2013).
- Marx suggests that with proper funding, libraries can work better with DDC, find alternative partners, or self-manage projects.
- Lack of committed resources leads to inefficiencies and higher costs, described as 'penny wise and pound foolish.'
Linda Johnson
1:05:42
Yeah.
1:05:42
I I wanna reiterate that point.
1:05:45
It would be great if DDC could efficiently handle all of our systems and roofs and all of the things, all of the the small projects.
1:05:56
I think I mentioned in my testimony that we have 39 open d d c projects right now.
1:06:02
We don't want to be responsible for building new roofs or installing new systems in our buildings.
1:06:09
It's not what it's not our business to do that, and so we'd very much like to have a construction authority that could do that efficiently.
Anthony "Tony" Marx
1:06:18
Madam chair, I'll just reiterate.
1:06:20
Look.
1:06:21
We we know that the folks, the good folks at DDC are working hard, but they're also working hard within a structure that doesn't make a whole lot of sense as far as we can tell.
1:06:31
We've talked about this over the years.
1:06:34
That's something for the city council and the mayor to fix.
1:06:38
And we know there have been attempts at reform, but they haven't gotten us where we need to get.
1:06:43
Things are better with design build, for instance, but I'll just reiterate the simple fact that without sufficient funding, without planable funding, we end up seeing delays of, you know, twice the time, you know, costing twice as much.
1:07:01
Westchester Square, that's an ongoing effort here that's been going on for way too long.
1:07:06
That neighborhood deserves a great library.
1:07:09
Woodlawn, since 2013, we've been trying to get that project off the ground and done.
1:07:15
We are so eager to get these done.
1:07:18
If we get ten year capital funding, then we can work better with DDC.
1:07:25
We can find alternative partners as we have with EDC for our five Carnegies.
1:07:30
We can find, in some instances, partners with private development for the the apartments above using the air to provide New Yorkers with housing, or self funded projects, self managed projects.
1:07:44
But we need to know that we have the resources so we can make plans, deliver projects at at least half the cost, half the time as otherwise.
1:07:57
When the city doesn't provide us with those kinds of commitments, in my view, it's being penny wise and pound foolish.
1:08:07
And everyone suffers because then we cannot deliver what the city expects and needs to have us deliver in terms of our capital projects.