City on the Edge: Climate Change and New York City
Low-Income Households Shortchanged on State Funding for Energy Saving Programs
The state’s Public Service Commission voted this month to commit 30 percent of the funding that goes into energy saving programs to low- and moderate- income New Yorkers. The rest will be earmarked for properties linked to homeowners or renters in higher income brackets—despite environmental groups' calls for a more even split.
These funded programs help New York residents keep energy costs down by covering their utility bills, insulating homes, and giving out tax rebates for more efficient heating and cooling equipment.
“Not committing more money to low-income programs means that not enough households are getting the help that they need. We are already seeing that more and more people are unable to afford their energy bills,” said Jessica Azulay, executive director for the Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE).
Whose Waterfront? Critics Say Brooklyn Terminal Plan Fails to Prioritize Public Input
“I can’t vote yes on a project in which the majority of the community doesn’t know what’s going on,” Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who sits on the task force that will vote on a final proposal for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, said at a rally in early April.
"As the city labors to meet the challenges of climate change such as extreme heat, flooding, and related issues, it makes little sense for our public dollars to be used to fuel one of the primary sources of these environmental dangers."
Opinion: Why NYC Needs Community Composting to Make Curbside Collections Work
"When people see the composting process up close—when they hold the finished product in their hands—they’re far more likely to separate their food scraps at home."
