Tirza Crisp testifies on EMS system strain

Hi, my name is Tirza Crisp.

I'm here because I think that we have become far too comfortable asking EMTs and paramedics in our city to personally subsidize a public health system with our time, our bodies, and our financial security.

In March 2025, New York City changed its 911 destination policy because we could no longer afford to keep scarce ambulances out of service on longer transports.

I think that tells us something important.

The system is already rationing its time.

But patients do not experience hospitals as interchangeable.

When someone has repeatedly felt dismissed, mistreated, or unsafe at the hospital closest to them, they may refuse care there altogether.

That leaves both patients and providers in an impossible position.

A person may delay emergency care, decline transport, or then later rely on private EMS to reach a hospital farther away where they believe they will actually be heard and appropriately treated.

This should make us all feel deeply uncomfortable.

We tell EMTs, become better clinicians, get more education, and then we hand them tuition bills and hundreds of hours of clinical and field training while they're already working overtime or multiple jobs just to live.

I work for.

You should not have to give up your life to learn how to save somebody else's.

And we know this city understands the principle that essential workers deserve economic protection.

Just last week, the Mamdani administration secured a $131.5 million settlement after delivery workers were underpaid.

The city has said clearly that systems cannot be allowed to function by exploiting the workers that they depend on.

Depend upon.

EMS deserves that same urgency.

And this city already knows that there is a problem.

The council proposed $50 million in recurring funding to begin addressing EMS pay parity because low wages are contributing to recruitment and retention problems.

Bring that proposal back.

This year, New York City enacted a law requiring FDNY to how many units are actually available to respond and how many cannot.

So we are measuring this shortage.

Now, I believe it is our job to address one of the conditions creating it.

This is an essential infrastructure, and the city cannot afford to adequately pay, educate, equip, and retain the people providing it.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Just a reminder to members of the public that you may speak on legislation and an oversight topic that's being heard today, so try to keep your comments to the hearing topic today.

Thank you.