Suhali Mendez of NYLPI urges passage of 11 and 48 and rejection of 561-A

Yes, hi.

Good afternoon, Chair Gennaro and Councilmember Epstein.

My name is Suhali Mendez, and I'm the Policy and Legislative Coordinator at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, which I'll reference as NOPI from going forward.

NOPI has three requests from the council today.

That is to pass Intro 11 to strengthen penalties and enforcement against repeat violators, pass Intro 48 to expand language access and participation in the Citizens Air Complaint Program,

and reject the current iteration of Intro 561A because of its broad exemptions would undermine the enforcement and effectively weaken one of the city's most successful anti-pollution programs.

NOPE works to advance environmental justice and clean air in communities that bear disproportionate burden of the transportation pollution.

And as someone who was born as well as raised in the Bronx, I've seen firsthand how vehicle emissions affect communities like mine, where residents live, work, and attend school near highways, truck routes, and bus depots.

Through our advocacy and research on school bus pollution, we have done...

Oh, wow.

Please continue.

Okay.

I have a soft spot for New York always.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We appreciate that.

We've documented real harm caused by excessive idling.

Illegal idling is not just a quality of life issue.

It is a public health and environmental justice issue.

And that is why NOPE supports Intro 11 and Intro 48.

Together, these bills will strengthen enforcement, increase accountability, as well as expand access to communities that are often the most impacted by transportation-related air pollution.

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to.

Yeah.

I mean, I got a soft spot, but it's not Jell-O, you know.

I respect that.

I will summarize by saying we urge the council to strengthen and weaken New York City's anti-idling laws by passing Intros 11 and 48 and rejecting 561A.

Before polluter convenience and environmental justice deserves stronger protections, not weaker ones.

And I thank you for your time and consideration.