Irina Goman opposes 561-A and supports Intro 48

Good afternoon.

My name is Irina Goman, and I live with my children uptown.

I'm here because I know firsthand how the citizen air complaint program is making the air quality better in Upper Manhattan.

My family and I noticed that fewer trucks and buses idle than they used to.

We cannot go backwards on clean air in the city.

We have come too far.

Unfortunately, if this package of bill passes, I fear that New York's air will get dirtier.

I'm especially troubled by Intro 561A.

This bill will prohibit the DEP from issuing violations more than 60 days after a citizen complaint is submitted.

And it gives New Yorkers who are full-time workers, full-time caregivers, or disabled only 14 days to file a complaint.

This is a terrible idea.

Imagine if building owners could create an unsafe fire or ventilation situations, and then the DOB was barred from issuing citations if they found out too late, even if they had bulletproof video evidence.

Allow me to speak about Intro 48.

As you may be able to tell, English is not my first language.

I am fortunate to be extremely comfortable in English, but many New Yorkers who were born abroad are not.

Intro 48 corrects the unfair policy that kept those New Yorkers from having full access to the air complaint program.

These New Yorkers will not be able to report idling trucks and buses, drywall dust, and some other construction violations.

Language access is a necessary step in improving the air complaint program.

The rest of this bill will make this program more confusing and out of reach for everyday New Yorkers.

The program should be fair and more efficient.

Let it be clear.

The council cannot pass intro 561A, which will make pollution worse in the city.

The chair talked about the balance.

But you can't have a balance that includes more dirty air.

Just the last.

Note that I think that nothing changed behavior quite as effectively as a fine that hits your wallet.

Thank you.