WCBS Radio City Council Likely To Approve Ban On Toxic Pesticides In NYC Parks by Rich Lamb
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A bill to ban the use of toxic pesticides in New York City parks is up for a vote in the City Council on Wednesday.
The bill, which was proposed in 2019, has generated a slew of support from across the five boroughs.
As WCBS 880’s Rich Lamb reported, supporters stood on the steps of City Hall chanting, “No Roundup. No glyphosates. Stop spraying in our parks.”
Councilman Ben Kallos, who proposed the legislation, says the pesticides are harmful to the environment and humans.
“We’ve been working for five years since 2015. When we were ready to introduce the legislation in 2016, the World Health Organization had just announced that glyphosate, a neuro-disruptor and the active ingredient in Monsanto Roundup was a likely carcinogen,” he said.
The weed killer has been linked to leukemia and lymphoma and the manufacturer has settled multiple lawsuits from those who had used the herbicide.
“Our goal is to ban this from our parks straight and simple,” he said
The measure has 34 co-sponsors, a veto-proof supermajority and the de Blasio administration now says it supports it.