Volume 14, Issue 12

With December’s Winter Solstice behind us, we will be counting every extra second of daylight coming our way. Read on for the latest campaign news - and on behalf of the NYC-EJA family, we extend Happy Holiday wishes for you and your loved ones!

In early December, NYC-EJA joined congestion pricing advocates, elected officials, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) leadership for a rally in Union Square to recognize the significant milestone in implementing the congestion pricing program. The group acknowledged the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s (TMRB) tolling structure recommendations, and on December 06, the MTA Board adopted these recommendations. Rally participants viewed this announcement as a positive stride toward a future marked by better transit and the program sponsors' implementation of the traffic and emissions mitigation package.

On December 12th, our Research Analyst Victoria Sanders, along with NPCA and several other partner organizations, visited The Pentagon to discuss our ongoing advocacy and goals for the USACE NY-NJ Harbor and Tributaries Study with ASA Connor and his staff. In addition, they went to Capitol Hill to discuss furthering these goals with our congressional supporters on the issue including our leads on the work, Representatives Goldman and Velazquez. These meetings will help us continue to improve our advocacy and increase our ability to influence the USACE process and ensure environmental justice communities are protected appropriately.

On December 12th, our Energy Planner Daniel Chu was a witness at the City Council oversight hearing on the City's obligation to reduce emissions from government operations, where the Department of Citywide Administrative Services acknowledged that the City won't meet the 40% emissions reduction mandate by 2025. Daniel urged the City to: limit biogas generation at anaerobic digesters at Newtown Creek, electrify the city's polluting schools and vehicles, block carbon capture and storage as a primary emission reduction strategy, restore funds to community composting, commit to composting organic waste, and strive to meet existing solar and energy storage development mandates. Daniel also cautioned against the adoption of "renewable diesel" and alternative fuels. Read his testimony here.

The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Environmental Justice Coalition, led by El Puente, UPROSE, and NYC-EJA, has issued an open letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, demanding a comprehensive transformation of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). Comprising of residents, environmental justice advocates, community organizations, and allies, the coalition outlines specific objectives to achieve environmental justice and equity in communities affected by the BQE. Rooted in principles of equitable transportation access and the creation of healthier environments, the coalition seeks to address severe respiratory issues and public health hazards faced by communities of color, low-income individuals, and immigrants due to the current traffic volume on the BQE. Read the coalition’s full letter here.

NYC-EJA, along with some key allied organizations, successfully requested a comment submission deadline extension until January 29th, 2024 on the draft DEC Program Policy (DEP-23-1) Permitting and Disadvantaged Communities under the CLCPA. This extension will permit additional time for feedback to be informed by the State Comptroller’s audit report, which focused on the air quality monitoring with respect to the Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) issued facility permits and registrations. DEC held a public meeting on December 20th, 2023 where they shared their perspective on the findings as it relates to the implementation of section 7(3) of the CLCPA.

As world leaders convened at the UN's COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai earlier this month to discuss environmental policy on a global scale, our Executive Director Eddie Bautista, joined Alison Stewart on 'All Of It' to talk about some of the local impacts of climate change which includes flooding, changes in air quality and heat hazards as well as efforts to reduce climate harms that land heaviest on marginalized communities.

WNYC: Environmental Justice In NYC As COP28 Begins (12/1/23)

PIX11: A rally in favor of congestion pricing, day before crucial vote (12/5/23)

Streetsblog NYC: Red Hook’s Traffic is One-Fifth Trucks, Vans As More Warehouses Arrive (12/12/23)

Brooklyn Eagle: Pressure Builds To Put Brakes on BQE 'Boondoggle' (12/18/23)

Streetsblog NYC: Groups Call on Hochul to Stop City’s ‘Predetermined’ Plan to Keep BQE (12/18/23)

El Diario: Ambientalistas de NYC arrecian la pelea para que se regule la creciente instalación de galpones de empresas de comercio electrónico (12/18/23)

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