September Membership Meeting

Mark you calendar for our next meeting with be Saturday, September 13th from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. Check here for updates on the location and topics of discussion. RSVP

Community Pesticide Safety

Danielle Mangabat (above) will be among the speakers at a community event hosted by the New York Attorney General’s Office to raise awareness about the dangers of using illegal pesticides. We also distributed WE ACT’s Pesticide Action Plan, which features recommendations on how you can reduce pesticide use in your home and your community. Other resources shared included the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene flyer warning about illegal pesticides (below) and a series of “fotonovelas” to educate the public about illegal pesticides: It Takes a Village, Not Again, Princes Mischief, Two Step, and Unlabeled.

Video Replay: Watch the Harlem Week Climate Change Conference

As we mentioned last week, Peggy Shepard spoke (at the 25:04 mark) at the annual Harlem Week Climate Change Conference on August 6th, discussing environmental and climate justice issues in Harlem as well as the EJNYC Report and our upcoming outreach to help the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice develop a citywide environmental justice plan. Click here if you would like to get involved in developing the EJNYC Plan. Also, we failed to mention two speakers who were added to the panel: Christine Osuji, Con Edison’s Director of Environmental Justice, and Adaeze Okoli, Rethink Food’s Chief of Staff. Click here to watch the video replay of the event. WATCH

Update: Legionnaires’ Disease in Harlem

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has provided an update on the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Harlem. Gothamist has reported on the locations of the rooftop cooling towers found to have contained the bacteria. And the Brian Lehrer Show had the journalists who wrote that story on air to discuss it.

Legionnaires’ disease is a pneumonia (lung infection) caused by breathing in bacteria (Legionella) that is found naturally in the environment and grows in warm water. The City notes that the disease cannot be passed from person-to-person, nor from drinking water, showering, or even individual air conditioning units. People can only get sick by breathing in water vapor containing the bacteria.

Those who are over 50-years-old, smoke, have chronic lung disease, or have a weakened immune system are at greatest risk. The symptoms are similar to the flu and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, and shortness of breath. If you have flu-like symptoms, the City recommends you seek medical attention right away.

Learn more about this cluster of cases in English, Spanish, and other languages. And learn more about the disease here.

Help Raise Awareness

You can download, print, and share this poster in your building. And here is a postcard you can share with your friends and neighbors.

Uptown Chats Book Club: Powerless - The People’s Struggle for Energy (Part 2)

With more than 1.4 million New Yorkers struggling to pay their energy bills, energy insecurity is an issue that has been impacting environmental justice communities throughout the state, and across the country. Join Jaron and Lonnie for the second part of their Uptown Chats Book Club interview with Diana Hernández, PhD, a tenured Associate Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, about her new book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy. This is the second of a two-part series with Dr. Hernandez, who has worked with WE ACT on a number of projects over the years. LISTEN

Left to Right: Marciely Alvarado and Belen Gonzalez helped pack food for homebound NYCHA residents.

Marciely Alvarado (left) and Marileidy Pimentel (right) joined New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa (center) at her Annual Community Picnic for Manhattan District 10.

Left to Right: Marciely Alvarado and Marileidy Pimentel marched with New York State Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos at the Annual Dominican Parade.