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NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

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Procedure

Gennaro explains staff controls panel order

New York City Council · Oct 20, 2026 · starts 0:27:02 · 59 sec

Gennaro says he instructed staff to arrange panels fairly so both sides are heard and no group waits hours. He says he plays no role in deciding who testifies first and trusts staff to order the panels.

James F. Gennaro

I'm about to call the first panel, and I want to...

James F. Gennaro

And I want to note that, you know, when it comes to arranging the panels,

James F. Gennaro

I've instructed, as I always do, the staff to arrange, you know, the panels in such a way

James F. Gennaro

that it is fair and we get both sides and one group doesn't have to wait three hours to testify.

James F. Gennaro

And I want it known for the record that I play no role whatsoever in figuring out who's testifying when, what panels are first or last or whatever that is left to staff.

James F. Gennaro

I trust them implicitly.

James F. Gennaro

They always do a good job.

James F. Gennaro

But when it comes to the panels, I have no say in who goes first.

James F. Gennaro

With that said, here is the first panel.