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NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

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Public Testimony

Chris Pena testifies on parental alienation and youth health risks

New York City Council · Jun 23, 2026 · starts 1:55:32 · 1 min 17 sec

Chris Pena, a birth doula and EMT, testifies about high youth suicide, pregnancy, and STD rates linked to broken families. He shares his experience as a parentally alienated father and advocates for keeping families together through community programs and birthing centers.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

My name is Chris Pena.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

I am a birth doula and journalist out of CUNY Kingsborough Community College.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

I've noticed firsthand as an emergency medical technician why we need these beacons for the youth when I witnessed their high suicide rate.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

Their high pregnancy rate and their high STD rate due to not having any guidance from broken families.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

As a survivor of domestic violence and a parentally alienated father of two for 10 years and 15 birthdays, I began advocating for maternal care and against parental alienation.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

And to keep families together.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

And now CUNY Kingsborough Community College is helping me build my freestanding birthing center.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

So in order to get these beacons ready to go, I believe we should keep advocating against parental alienation to better guide these youth the way we do through our annual movements like the Brides March to bring

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

femicides rates down and keep guiding these youth because now everybody, all the youth around me, all want birthing centers now.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

So it works.

Member of the Public - Chris Pena

And thank you for having me.