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Public Testimony

Oli Kotik attempts testimony on microplastics; chair rules off-topic

New York City Council · Jun 23, 2026 · starts 1:56:49 · 2 min 17 sec

Oli Kotik attempts to testify about micro and nanoplastics exposure and children's health. Chair Stevens interrupts and rules the testimony off-topic for a hearing on Beacon and Cornerstone programs, offering to speak with Kotik afterwards.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

Sorry, I just felt my topic is a little different, but yeah, of course.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

Thank you so much, Chair Stevens and committee members, for the opportunity to speak in front of you.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

My name is Oli Kotik.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

I'm a New York City resident, and also I'm a representative of an international civic platform called Alatra, which is registered in the United States as a nonprofit organization.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

And Alatra brings together scientists, experts, professionals from different fields and more than 180 countries.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

Our main goal, we are united by a commitment to advance science, a public awareness, to help build a safe and sustainable future for all of us.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

And under our legal framework, we also have an established think tank, Alatra Global Research Center, which advances our mission, our educational and scientific mission.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

Through independent and volunteer-driven research and analysis.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

And today, I would like to draw your attention to an issue that concerns the health and future of New York City's children, the exposure of micro and nanoplastics, which is one of the areas that we work on.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

Micro and nanoplastics are tiny particles, tiny plastic...

Althea V. Stevens

I'm sorry, how is this connected to the topic, which is...

Althea V. Stevens

evaluating cornerstones and beacons, and then also...

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

I don't know why I was put in this line.

Althea V. Stevens

Well, this is the hearing of the topic.

Althea V. Stevens

I'm just trying to get an understanding.

Althea V. Stevens

Is it connected to those programs?

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

No, I registered to the hearing of youth and children, and I'm going to talk about how microplastics is impacting the health of children.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

I don't know if it's specific to cornerstones and beacons.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

I'm sorry about that.

Althea V. Stevens

The hearing is specific to cornerstones and beacon programs or some of the different resolutions that we heard, which was one of them, the father initiative and some baby bonds and some other ones around investments.

Althea V. Stevens

I felt like something.

Althea V. Stevens

And so I'm sorry, we have to keep you on topic.

Althea V. Stevens

So I can speak to you afterwards and we can have a conversation if that's OK.

Althea V. Stevens

OK.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

Yeah, I would love that.

Member of the Public - Oli Kotik

Thank you so much.