🍎 citymeetings.nyc #11
NYC Ferry, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Animal Rescue, the Stated Meeting
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This week's highlights are from:
- A hearing on NYC Ferry's finances and operations.
- A hearing on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Pavilion project in the Upper East Side.
- A hearing on the state of animal rescue in NYC.
- This week's Stated Meeting.
Hearing on NYC Ferry's finances and operations
Two former council members testify regarding ferry service to Coney Island.
Bike + ferry tip: a bike ride to the Rockaways via the waterfront with stops at Coney Island and Shirley Chisholm Park followed by tacos, the beach, and a 40-minute ferry ride back to Brooklyn Army Terminal is a 🧑🍳😙🤌 summer day.
- There are four pieces of legislation aimed at expanding ferry service. Link
- To Willets Point, where there will one day be a soccer stadium. See this
- Along the Rockaway peninsula.
- A resolution to urge expansion to LaGuardia.
- To Coney Island.
- EDC's take on the above routes vary. Willets Point is being studied, the rest are either not viable, too expensive, or have low expected ridership. Link
- In 2019 an estimate of the city's subsidy was $10.73 per ride. However, an audit revealed that EDC failed to disclose over $224M, so the subsidy was understated. Link
- EDC reports that in 2023 the per-passenger subsidy was $8.55, and that it now has the third-lowest subsidy among major transit systems in the NYC region.
- The Citizens Budget Commission disagrees with EDC's estimate of the fare subsidy. They estimate it to be $12.50. They also recommend a higher fare for non-commuter rides. Link
- NYC ferry serves over 7MM rides annually. It's the largest passenger-only fleet in the country. Link
- The median household income of ferry rides if between $100K - $149K. Link
- Two former council members testified in support of service to Coney Island. Link 1 Link 2
- A maritime historian from Staten Island shares some history about Staten Island's involvement in the ferry system. Link
- A sailor in the Rockaways invites folks to join him on his sailboat one weekend to demonstrate the that NYC Ferry is not the vessel creating the wake there. Link
- Alex Stein, a right-wing personality whose entire schtick is to disrupt local government meetings showed up at this one. Link
- (He shows up to NYC council meetings a few times a year.)
Hearing on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Pavilion development
A member of the public unfurls a to-scale cardboard cutout of the MSK Pavilion and surrounding buildings.
Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) is seeking to build a cancer care center in the Upper East Side. Close to 50 people gave testimony.
- If approved, it will be 31 stories/594 feet with 28 operating rooms and 206 patient beds. Link
- Cancer rates are predicted to rise by 50% by 2050 across all age ranges. Link
- Manhattan Community Board 8 approved the application with a vote of 24-0-1, with conditions. Link
- In terms of the "cancer market", MSK serves 14% of people in NYC. Link
- PS 183 is on the same block as the development, and Julie Menin advocates for real-time air quality monitoring and noise mitigation efforts that exceed standard requirements. Link
- MSK discusses their height requirement, which is a central issue for residents. Link
- Lynn Schulman asks why this expansion isn't happening in her district in Queens. Link
- Lisa Barnhart, a long-time UES resident, tries to roll out a to-scale cardboard demonstration of the MSK Pavilion's height relative to neighboring buildings. Link
- George Janes, an urban planner, suggests a phased approach to MSK's expansion, citing that they might be wrong about the rise in cancer rates or that nonsurgical treatments might be developed over 25 years. Link
- Annette Rosenberg, a parent of a PS 183 student, testifies against, citing hazards from demolition and construction as well as shadows cast by the building. Link
- Kaitlin Griffin, a resident, argues that the process is overshadowed by the "virtues of the cancer crusade". Link
- Laura Ardizzone, Clinical Director of Nurse Anesthesia Services, testifies in support. Link
- Ben Wetzler, who is running for City Council District 4, testifies in support. Link
- Individuals who received or whose family members/friends received care from MSK testified in support. Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4 Link 5
- Dr. Akshay Ganju is a primary care physician living near the site who testified against. Link
- "Let's be serious. There's no way you guys are gonna, like, take the concerns of some parents over the concerns of Sloan Kettering. But let's also be serious. Sloan Kettering is amazing, and has saved a lot of lives. It's also trying to make money."
Hearing on the state of animal rescue in NYC
Voters for Animal Rights brought great t-shirts for everyone.
107 individuals gave public testimony at this ~8-hour hearing on animal rescue. You can filter chapters to see only these on the meeting page.
- Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC)'s dog adoption rate is less than half the pre-pandemic rate. Link
- NYC ranks at the 6th most expensive city to own a dog. Link
- It is hard to find housing in NYC. It harder to find housing that allows pets/is suitable for them, leading to surrenders. Link
- Justin Brannan introduces a bill to prevent the sale of cats and dogs in retail settings. Link
- City Hall turns into "Kitty Hall" for cat adoption events. Link
- 59% of animals entering shelters are not spayed or neutered. Link
- Lots of testimony by the ASPCA. Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4 Link 5
- Heidi Systo is a cat rescuer and social media influencer with over 2.4MM followers. Link
- Allie Taylor, President of Voters for Animal Rights, testifies. Link
- Latonya "Sassee" Walker, a tireless independent animal rescuer, testifies. Link
- A family could not afford spay/neuter services for their male and female cat, and ended up with 30 more. Link
- Manhattan CB 12 passed a resolution calling for the return of spay/neuter services that ended during the pandemic. Link
- A board member from Bronx CB 7 testifies. Link
Various highlights from this week's Stated Meeting
Alexa Aviles mourns and speaks fondly of Carlos Carrillo.
The Stated Meeting happens every 2-4 weeks. New legislation gets introduced + bills get passed + Speaker Adams addresses the chambers.
- Lots of tributes to Carlos Carrillo, a council staff member who served 25 years who passed away recently. Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4
- He worked for every speaker in the city's history.
- Mercedes Narcisses addresses rhetoric about Haitian immigratns. Link
- Gale Brewer highlights the passing of her resolution commemorating "Landing Day", when the first Jewish community arrived in New Amsterdam. Link
- Joanna Ariola introduces Intro 1015, prohibiting the wearing of ski masks in public places. Link
- Crystal Hudson acknowledges those who passed in a shooting at the West Indian Day Parade. Link
- Sandy Nurse introduces a bunch of bills, one including one requiring a plan for developing renewable energy production on Rikers Island. Link
- Jennifer Gutierrez introduces a bunch of bills, including one that creates a public list of AI tools approved for city agencies. Link
- Lincoln Rester introduces a bill to cap the cost of Citi Bike rides at the same price as a subway fare. Link
- Erik Bottcher introduces a bill to require graphic warnings in gun stores. Link
Thanks for reading!
Comments, questions, or feedback? Reply to this email or shoot me a note at vikram@citymeetings.nyc