Yonkers Insider: New York League of Conservation Voters Desk.

Here’s what we’re reading this week:

Congress Dithers on COVID-19 Relief Package, Putting MTA at Risk: In late June, we shared that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was seeking an additional $3.9 billion in emergency aid from Congress. Since then, their fiscal crisis has only worsened. Read more in our blog post and click here to send a message to your Congressmember urging them to invest in the MTA.

Back to School: Time to Get on the Clean Bus: We recently released our Clean Bus Guide, a toolkit of resources for community members and groups to launch their own campaign for electric school buses.

Green Tips: Going Green During Happy Hour at Home: Getting together for a socially-distant party is a nice way to celebrate with friends and family, even for small gatherings. We’ve put together a few ways you can make your at-home happy hour more eco-friendly. 

News Roundup:

Orsted and Eversource, the developers of the state’s first offshore wind farm that will provide energy for the South Fork, have reached agreement with the Town of East Hampton on the terms of a host community benefit package and easement details for the project’s underground transmission line. The proposed deal includes just under $29 million in cash over 25 years. The project, which NYLCV supports, will bring clean energy, clean air, green jobs, and a more resilient future to the East End. (Newsday)

Newly uncovered documents show that the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) knew that hundreds of their apartments contained lead but it was able to avoid making repairs to them. City Councilman Ritchie Torres promised to hold hearings to ensure the agency will comply with lead-removal requirements. NYLCV has been working on removing toxins like lead from the environment by advocating for better enforcement and more stringent standards. (New York Post)

Senator Schumer and Speaker Pelosi condemned the Trump Administration for cutting off the 2020 Census count ahead of schedule, which may make the count inaccurate. If the Census is inaccurate, federal investments, including in environmental programs, could be in jeopardy. (The Hill) The deadline to fill out the Census is September 30th - fill it out here and spread the word to your friends and family.

With a $12 million State grant, three SUNY schools are working together on solutions to improve recycling and waste reduction. (Wasted Today)

Adelphi University launched a postgraduate certificate program in environmental justice for social workers - the first of its kind in the county. The program will help social workers address the effects of climate change on frontline communities. (Garden City Patch)

The town of Kingston is partnering up with Bard College to collect air quality data and to educate Kingston residents about the harm of air pollutants. (Daily Freeman)

The City of Buffalo is seeking to build a large solar array on the Unity Island landfill to power the Buffalo Sewer Authority's wastewater treatment plant. The plan calls for a 4.72 megawatt system encompassing most of the landfill capable of producing 5 million kilowatt hours of energy to offset the sewer authority's electricity usage. The developer also intends to work with master gardeners and consultants to include a pollinator and conservation component, with native plants that would grow only a few feet in height so that they would not interfere with the array. (Buffalo News) 

Key Senate Republicans joined Democrats on Thursday in agreeing to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, toxic chemicals widely used in air conditioners and refrigeration that are leading contributors to climate change. (Washington Post)

Sincerely,

New York League of Conservation Voters