Yonkers Insider: New York League of Conservation Voters: Environmental News for March 14th.

 

Here’s what we’re reading this week:

Lead-Free Kids New York Advocacy Day 2022 NYLCV participated in Lead-Free Kids NY’s advocacy day. Lead-Free kids is a statewide coalition working to end New York’s childhood lead exposure crisis through advocating for state level policy solutions. While lead paint was banned in the United States in 1978, the old housing stock in New York leaves our citizens vulnerable to lead exposure. Lead exposure puts our youngest New Yorkers at risk of their health as well as their learning and behavioral milestones being stunted. With that in mind, the day’s agenda consisted of both policy priorities and a bold $1 Billion budget to ensure no New York resident will have their health compromised by lead exposure.  Read More

NYLCV Testifies at Two City Council on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management Hearings In the last week, the City Council Committees on Sanitation and Transportation held hearings on clean streets and expanding vital sanitation services, and transportation equity respectively. The Sanitation Committee’s hearing covered key issues facing the New York region including eco-friendly waste management systems and composting programs, while the Transportation Committee’s forum addressed transportation infrastructure and traffic enforcement initiatives. At both of these hearings, NYLCV New York City Program Associate Carlos Castell Croke testified in support of expanding the city’s composting program as well as making transportation more equitable. Read More

Photo Credit to Yasemin Tulça A community art project organized by the New York League of Conservation Voters and League of Conservation Voters featuring melting ice was installed at Grand Army Plaza last Saturday. The exhibit is meant to call attention to climate threats. Observers were invited to use the podium to call for action on climate change. "We want the federal government, in particular the Senate, to follow the House and pass climate legislation, so we're investing in clean energy, clean transportation and building efficiency," said Julie Tighe, president of the New York League on Conservation Voters.   (CBS 2) + (News 12)

NYLCV's slate of endorsements was also highlighted in Politico's New York Playbook The New York League of Conservation Voters is endorsing 91 candidates for elected office at the state and federal level, citing efforts to preserve open space, fight climate change and protect clean air and water. The endorsements come as environmental groups overall are seeking more efforts to aid New York's implementation of a law meant to reduce the use of carbon-emitting fuels as part of an overall effort to combat climate change. The measure requires changes to how New Yorkers will fuel their cars and as well as their homes and offices in the coming decades.  The group is backing a bipartisan mix of candidates, including several Republicans in the state Legislature.    (Spectrum News)

While pleased by the progress made, such as with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal for electric school buses and a rebate on electric car purchases, State Sen. Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, Assemblyman Bill Conrad, D-Tonawanda, and climate change activists urged the U.S. Senate to pass significant climate investments, during a recent virtual press conference.  Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters said, “We need the Senate to take action. We’re so pleased that Sen. [Chuck] Schumer has been such a fierce advocate for climate and we appreciate his support and leadership. He’s really been driving these negotiations and making good progress but we need to ramp this pressure up across the state, our region and our country to get this once in a lifetime climate goal passed.” Brian Smith, the associate executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, cited recent flooding in West Seneca and pressed the need for investment in New York specifically.     (The Legislative Gazette)