Christine Berthet opposes 561-A and Intro 11
Berthet says her pedestrian-safety group CheckPeds works in a neighborhood with some of the city's worst air quality. She says the complaint program reduced idling and urges the Council not to dismantle a successful system.
Thank you, Chair, and for staying so long to hearing all of us and the Council.
I admire your presence.
I am the co-founder of CheckPeds, a 20-year-old organization dedicated to pedestrian safety.
We strongly oppose 561A and Intro 11.
And for us, it's personal.
Our neighborhood has the third worst air quality in New York City.
There are hundreds of buses and now construction trucks in our neighborhood.
Our children and senior health are at risk every day.
Ten years ago, no one was helping us.
Not DUP, not NYPD, not DOT.
The Citizen Enforcement Program changed all of that and saved our health by their dedication and hard work.
Now, idling is a thing of the past.
We breathe easier and it's really an extraordinary success.
I will tell you that as the program is successful, there will be less and less summonses and less rewards will be distributed.
So the program is going to adjust itself to the down.
And we should not dismantle the present system just because some bus and truck companies, and not all, by the way, cannot manage their driver or invest in proper technology.
That is not what I call a balanced solution.
If you care about the people in the city, and I know you do, don't dare break what is working.
We depend on it to breathe.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for staying so long and being patient.
And we appreciate your testimony.
Thank you.
Next witness, Rachel Optenacker.
You may begin.