Alia Soomro of NYLCV supports 48 and 11-A but says 561-A is not ready
Soomro says vehicle idling harms environmental justice neighborhoods near highways and warehouses. NYLCV supports Intro 48 and Intro 11-A, recommends more DEP and OATH resources, and says 561-A is not in the right place, especially its 30-minute school-bus idling allowance.
Oh, okay.
Can y'all hear me now?
Yes, yes.
Thanks.
Good afternoon.
My name is Alia Sumro, and I'm the Deputy Director for New York City Policy at the New York League of Conservation Voters.
Thank you, Chair Gennaro and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify today.
We're submitting longer written comments.
So every day, thousands of drivers idle their trucks and cars, harming public health and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Vehicle idling has detrimental cumulative health impacts, especially on environmental justice neighborhoods throughout the city, given the fact that many of these neighborhoods are located near peaker plants, highways, last mile warehouses, and other industrial facilities.
The Citizens Air Complaint Program can be a useful tool to combat vehicle idling and improve air quality.
To improve the program so that the benefits are shared equitably, NYLCV recommends that the submittal process and the interface are more accessible and user-friendly,
more resources are devoted to DEP, an oath for staffing to process these complaints in a more efficient manner, and the city ramp up enforcement and collections of idling infractions.
Additionally, we underscore the importance of working towards comprehensive solutions beyond this program, including but not limited to
rolling out more neighborhood delivery and loading zones to avoid double and triple parking, utilizing more electric cargo delivery bikes, implementing marine freight delivery such as the Blue Highways program.
And electrifying our school bus fleet.
The city council passed a law several years ago, and we really need to ensure that law is implemented.
And YLCV has the following thoughts on the bills being heard today.
We support the passage of Intro 48 to make the program more accessible and equitable.
We also support Intro 11A.
And we urge the city to increase idling enforcement and accountability.
And with that said, we don't think that Intro 561A is in the right place.
For instance, we think that allowing school buses to idle for up to 30 minutes is not right.
It's a little excessive.
Time has expired.
Yeah, we'd be happy to work with the council and other stakeholders to improve the program and get it in the right place.
Thank you, Alia.
As always, talk soon.
Right.
Bye-bye.
Michael McFadden.
You may begin.
We're going to jump down one.
Nandini Ashta Kanasia.
You may begin.