As February winds down, we are alarmed that we just witnessed the 2nd warmest February on record - globally. Be on the lookout for a special e-newsletter soon documenting NYC-EJA, our members and allies' extreme heat policy advocacy - the significant policy wins we expect will reduce the disproportionate vulnerabilities of extreme heat for communities of color, plus new initiatives on the horizon. In the meantime, read on to learn more about some of NYC-EJA's work this past month. |
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Regulate Before It's Too Late |
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On February 16, the Last-Mile Coalition, city, state, and federal elected officials, called on Mayor Adams and the Department of City Planning (DCP) to mitigate the explosive growth of last-mile warehouses disproportionately clustered in already overburdened low-income communities of color. Speakers called attention to the assortment of tools to adequately address the issues caused by these facilities, including newly introduced city legislation and the Coalition’s zoning text amendment application.
Elected officials at the event included Councilmembers Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Selvena Brooks-Powers, Lincoln Restler, and Congressmember Daniel Goldman. To complement existing legislation that tackles the issues caused by these warehouses, Councilmember Avilés introduced new legislation that would mandate studies on trucks and delivery traffic, street design to reduce truck traffic, and active NYC ports to reduce truck traffic.
NYC-EJA, NYC-EJA members, including UPROSE and El Puente, and Red Hook Initiative shared concerns about these last-mile warehouses and called on the Department of City Planning to move forward with the zoning text amendment application. Other coalition members, including Earthjustice and NYLPI, echoed the calls and reiterated the health impact of these facilities.
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NY Renews Mobilization in Albany on 3/28 |
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To make this mass mobilization as powerful as possible, it’s critical we have broad participation from New Yorkers across the state, representing different constituencies and organizations. Lunch and transportation will be provided from NYC, Long Island, Hudson Valley (Kingston), Rochester, Buffalo, Ithaca, and Syracuse. Please RSVP so that we can coordinate logistics.
Come with us to rally, chant, and let legislators know that New Yorkers need the Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package. The package would create a healthy, just New York for all and eliminate toxic pollution that hurts our communities and the climate.
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Demand Cleaner Vehicles in New York State |
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On March 1st, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) hosted a virtual hearing on the Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) II rule. Just before the New Year, NYSDEC announced adopting two new rules to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. The ACC II rule would rapidly decrease emissions from new passenger cars and trucks by requiring an increasing number of those vehicles to be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs). The ElectrifyNY coalition has called on Governor Hochul to adopt these rules. The Final Scoping Plan notes that an aggressive and implementable mix of policies will be required to accelerate GHG emission reductions to the level needed by 2030. This policy will be instrumental in achieving the State’s goals.
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US Army Corps of Engineers NY/NJ HATS
Comment Period Deadline Approaches
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